West Virginia Roofing License Requirements (2026)

The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (WVCLB), housed within the WV Division of Labor, licenses roofing contractors under WV Code §21-11. Any contracting work valued at $2,500 or more requires a WVCLB license. Roofing falls under the Specialty Contractor classification. WVCLB requires the PSI Roofing trade exam, the WV Business and Law exam, a Wage Bond ($1,000 per employee under §21-5-14), proof of workers compensation, and proof of unemployment compensation insurance through Workforce WV. The WV Division of Labor enforces the licensing requirement aggressively in coal-country counties.

The Licensing Authority

West Virginia Division of Labor — Contractor Licensing Board (WVCLB) is the statutory authority responsible for issuing and enforcing this license under West Virginia Code Chapter 21 Article 11 (Contractor Licensing Act); WV CSR 42-5. The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board, housed in the Division of Labor, licenses general and specialty contractors statewide, administers the PSI examination program, and enforces the $2,500 contracting threshold under WV Code §21-11.

Official portal: https://labor.wv.gov/Licensing/Contractors/Pages/default.aspx
Address: 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, State Capitol Complex, Building 3, Room 200, Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: (304) 558-7890

Baseline Eligibility

The threshold requirements are straightforward: age 18 or above, plus a valid Social Security Number. No WV residency requirement.

Good moral character

WVCLB reviews fraud and construction-related offenses.

Background investigation

Disclosure on application.

Experience and Education Requirements

Rather than a set number of years, the cited materials define eligibility through no statutory minimum experience; the trade exam is gating.

Accepted proof of experience or eligibility

Project list

Education substitution

Not applicable.

The Licensing Examination

PSI Services LLC administers the required examination. Each part below must be passed before the license will issue:

WV Roofing Specialty Trade Exam — IBC Chapter 15, NRCA practices, hot-mop fire safety — 70 questions, 180 minutes, passing score 70%
WV Contractor Business and Law Exam — 50 questions, 120 minutes, passing score 70%

Examination fee: $80 per exam paid to PSI.

Retake policy: Failed exams retaken at $80; application valid one year.

Financial Security and Insurance

No statewide contractor license surety bond is required for this credential in the cited sources. Project-specific, permit, or public-works bonds may still apply, so confirm bonding before bidding a given job.

General liability

WVCLB does not set a state minimum, but most permits require $300,000–$1,000,000 GL.

Workers' compensation

Mandatory for every WV employer with one or more employees under WV Code §23-2-1. WV deregulated workers comp in 2008; coverage now available through BrickStreet Insurance and other private carriers.

Additional financial requirements

No financial statement. WV Wage Bond required under §21-5-14: $1,000 per employee for new employers, refundable after five years of compliant payroll.

Fee Schedule

Fee	Amount
Application (non-refundable)	$90
Examination	$160
Initial license	$90
Renewal (every year)	$90

License Renewal

The West Virginia Specialty Contractor License — Roofing (WVCLB) must be renewed every year. The fee to renew is presently $90. Annual renewal. Lapsed insurance or wage bond suspends the license.

Continuing education: No state CE required.

Downloadable Asset

2026 West Virginia Roofing License Roadmap (PDF) — a printable step-by-step checklist for the application process.

Download the PDF roadmap →

Reciprocity Map

West Virginia grants no NASCLA reciprocity for this classification.

Reciprocal State	Accepted Exam	Conditions
Virginia	Trade exam waived	Bilateral WVCLB–DPOR endorsement.
Maryland	Trade exam waived	Bilateral WVCLB–MHIC endorsement.

Business and Law never waived.

Weighing more than one jurisdiction? The national hub compares Roofing license requirements in every state — exam, bond, fee, and experience thresholds side by side.

The Licensing Roadmap

Register the business entity with the WV Secretary of State. LLC or corporation filing plus EIN.
Designate the qualifying party (QP). QP must be a bona-fide officer or full-time employee.
Pass the PSI Roofing trade and Business and Law exams. 70% on each.
Bind general liability and workers compensation. Workers comp through BrickStreet or private carrier under §23-2-1.
Post the WV Wage Bond ($1,000 per employee). Required for new employers under §21-5-14.
Submit the WVCLB application + $90 fee. Plus Unemployment Compensation account from Workforce WV.
Receive license and renew annually. Annual renewal $90 with updated insurance and wage bond.
Comply with municipal building permits per job. Cities like Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown issue permits separately.

Common Application Pitfalls

These are the recurring mistakes that most often delay or reject a West Virginia Roofing application, based on the official instructions cited here.

WV Wage Bond shock

Out-of-state contractors hiring 10 employees in WV must post $10,000 in wage bond before starting work. The bond is refundable but ties up cash for five years.

Working under the $2,500 threshold loophole

WVCLB exempts only projects under $2,500. Splitting a $5K reroof into smaller contracts is bid-splitting and unlicensed contracting.

Mountain snow loads

WV mountain counties (Pocahontas, Tucker, Randolph) enforce ground snow loads up to 60 psf. Reroofs exposing framing must verify the deck and rafters meet current loads.

Asbestos in older BUR

WV DEP requires AHERA notification and licensed abatement for ACM roof removal on buildings built before 1981.

OSHA fall protection

Federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501 at six feet. WV has no state plan — federal OSHA enforces directly with above-average penalties.

Before Filing: A Checklist

Have each of the following squared away before the packet goes to WVCLB:

☐ WV Secretary of State entity registration
☐ WVCLB application + $90
☐ PSI Roofing trade pass certificate (70%+)
☐ PSI WV Business and Law pass certificate (70%+)
☐ General liability certificate of insurance
☐ WV workers compensation declaration page
☐ WV Wage Bond ($1,000 per employee)
☐ Workforce WV Unemployment Compensation account

Preparation Resources

The following references are cited by the regulator, used in the application process, or commonly used to prepare for the trade scope. Listed for reader convenience; CLR receives no compensation for these recommendations.

WV Contractor Candidate Information Bulletin — PSI Services. Exam source list.
WV Code Chapter 21 Article 11 — State of West Virginia. Contractor Licensing Act.
WV State Building Code (IBC adoption) — WV State Fire Marshal. Roof assembly requirements.

Other West Virginia Trade Licenses

Looking at a different trade? CLR also publishes these West Virginia licensing guides:

Answers to Common Questions

What is the West Virginia threshold?

$2,500. Any contracting work valued at $2,500 or more requires a WVCLB license under WV Code §21-11.

What is the WV Wage Bond?

WV §21-5-14 requires new employers to post $1,000 per employee as a wage bond, refundable after five years of compliant payroll. This is unique to West Virginia.

Is workers comp mandatory?

Yes at one or more employees under §23-2-1. WV deregulated workers comp in 2008; coverage available through BrickStreet and private carriers.

Does WV accept reciprocity?

Yes with Virginia and Maryland for the trade exam. Business and Law never waived.

When does the license renew?

Annually with updated insurance and wage bond.

Primary Sources

Regulatory requirements on this page are drawn from the official board, statute, and exam-provider materials listed below.

Verified 2026-04-21 · Next scheduled review 2026-07-20