How to pass the West Virginia General Building Contractor exam

Two open-book exams, no waiting period to retest, and new reference books since the switch to Prov. Here’s how the West Virginia General Building license works and how to study for it, checked against the state’s own documents.

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At a glance

LicenseGeneral Building Contractor, issued by the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board. The Division of Labor handles administration and enforcement for the Board.

Who needs oneAnyone contracting for work that costs $25,000 or more on a commercial job or $5,000 or more on a residential job. A construction manager paid a professional fee counts as a contractor.

ScopeGeneral Building is the commercial, business and industrial classification, for jobs that need more than two contractor classifications. It does not include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, piping or general engineering work, except on residential structures.

The examsTwo exams, both open book: the Contractor Licensing Act exam and the General Building trade exam. You need 70% on each.

Who runs itProv, Inc. replaced the prior testing vendor in September 2024. Test at a Prov test center or at home through Prov’s Examroom service.

RetakesThere is no waiting period. If you fail, you can schedule the next available date. Each attempt costs $59.95.

The exams

Exam	Questions	Time	To pass	Books allowed
Contractor Licensing Act Required for every contractor license	90	3 hours	70%	Yes
General Building	80	3 hours	70%	Yes

Question counts, times, passing score and fees are from Prov’s West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board candidate bulletin (CIB 2026.05.07). The 70% passing score is also set by the Board’s rule, 28 CSR 2. The Board’s rule calls the first exam the West Virginia business and law examination; Prov’s bulletin calls it the Contractor Licensing Act exam.

Before you apply

Qualifier: the person who passes the exams for the business. A qualifier must be a member of Responsible Management or a full-time employee who works at least 30 hours a week for the contractor.
Exams: pass a written exam in each classification you want plus the West Virginia business and law exam, with at least 70% on each.
License fee: an annual fee of $90, paid when you apply and at each renewal. Renewing more than 15 days after the license expires adds a $25 penalty.
The rule most people miss: if your qualifier leaves, you have 45 calendar days to name a replacement. If you don’t, the Board may remove the classification or inactivate the license.
Bids and permits: no bid may be accepted unless it shows the contractor’s license number, and local building officials may not issue permits to someone who needs a license and doesn’t have one.
Out-of-state contractors: can get a conditional license for bid purposes only by passing just the business and law exam. If you win the job, you must upgrade to the right classification before starting work or hiring subs.

Step by step

Confirm your classification and examsProv can’t tell you which exams you need. Email the Board at clboard@wv.gov with your scope of work before you register. Taking the wrong exam means a lost fee.
Register with ProvSchedule at provexam.com/register or by phone. Every exam costs $59.95, first try or retake.
Buy and prepare the reference booksGet the editions in Prov’s bulletin. Older books from the prior vendor aren’t allowed. Prepare them with highlighting and permanent tabs only.
Pass both examsYour score is given at the test site and sent to the state automatically. Fail one and you can retake it at the next available date.
Apply to the BoardSend the application/affidavit, the qualifier’s affidavit for each passing score, and the $90 annual fee. Get the current forms from the Board before you apply.
Keep the license currentKeep a copy of your license on every job site. The Board sends a renewal notice at least 30 days before your license expires.

The reference books

The Contractor Licensing Act exam has one book: the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act Study Guide from Prov. All of the questions come from it. Prov says the older West Virginia Business and Law Study Guide (6th ed.) may also be used.

That exam covers the Contractor Licensing Act, W. Va. Code 30-42 (37 questions), the Board’s rule 28 CSR 2 (10), the Board’s written-contracts rule 28 CSR 4 (24), and W. Va. Code 21-11A on notice and opportunity to cure construction defects (19).

The General Building exam uses four books. The International Building Code (2018) is the big one and covers most of the questions. The others are the Study Guide for Commercial Building Contractor (2024), the Study Guide for Structural Steel (2012) and NCCER Concrete Construction Level 2 (2021).

Know where the points are: on General Building, Concrete (12 questions) and Structural Steel (12) are the largest sections, followed by Plan Reading and Estimating, Sitework, Masonry, Carpentry and Safety-OSHA at 8 each.

What you can bring: the listed books, prepared with highlighting and permanent tabs only. You may use older or newer versions of the same code, but answers follow the version in the bulletin.

A 6-week study plan

Week 1Confirm your classification with the Board. Get the Licensing Act study guide, the 2018 IBC and the General Building study guides. Read each table of contents.

Week 2Contractor Licensing Act: W. Va. Code 30-42 and rule 28 CSR 2. Licensing thresholds, qualifiers, fees and penalties.

Week 3Written contracts (28 CSR 4) and the construction defect notice law (21-11A). Then take the Licensing Act exam.

Week 4General Building: IBC chapters on structural design, concrete, masonry, steel and wood. Tab the IBC by chapter.

Week 5Commercial Building and Structural Steel study guides, plan reading and estimating math, sitework and OSHA safety.

Week 6Timed practice: 80 questions in 3 hours. Fix slow tabs and schedule the General Building exam.

On test day

Doors open at least 15 minutes before your appointment. If the session has started when you arrive, you’re turned away and lose your fee.
Bring a current, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID.
Bring only the books listed for your exam. Older books from the prior testing vendor aren’t allowed.
Only a simple 4-function calculator is allowed. No phones, tablets or special calculators.
Watch the clock: 2 minutes per question on the Licensing Act exam and 2.25 minutes on General Building.
You’ll sign a test center log and be photographed. Phones and other communication devices stay out of the testing room.

Quick answers

Do I need a license for a small commercial job?

Under W. Va. Code 30-42-3, you’re a contractor when the job costs $25,000 or more for commercial work or $5,000 or more for residential work.

Is there a waiting period after a failed exam?

No. Prov says you can retake a failed exam as often as needed and schedule the next available date. Each attempt costs $59.95.

Can I see what I missed?

After failing the same exam at least twice, and scoring within 10 points of 70%, you can pay for a 1.5-hour review of the questions you missed.

Can one passing score qualify more than one company?

Yes, in some cases. A qualifier can use the same score for another entity where they are also part of Responsible Management. A full-time employee can’t use the same score to qualify a second employer.

What if I work without a license?

The Board issues a cease and desist order. After a hearing, it can fine you $200 to $1,000.

Official sources

Rules, fees and exam details change. Always confirm with the board before you apply. Last checked October 2026.

ContractorDock is not affiliated with the licensing board or the testing company. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Get the printable study plan

The 6-week plan, a book-tabbing checklist and a test-day checklist for the West Virginia General Building contractor exam, all in one free PDF.

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