West Virginia Plumber License Renewal

At a glance

Who needs it

Every person who performs or offers to perform plumbing work in West Virginia, whatever the size of the job, unless an exemption in W. Va. Code 21-14-3(c) applies (see the notes): each plumber on a job needs their own master, journeyman or plumber in training certification. It's issued to a person, never to a company

Contractor license too

A plumber certification lets you do the work; contracting for plumbing jobs can also need a West Virginia contractor license with the Plumbing classification, a separate license from the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board. Check with the Board which jobs need one

Renews every

Year. A license is valid for up to one year, and your renewal date is listed on your certification card

Renewal notice

The Division sends a renewal notice ahead of your expiration date: at least 45 days before, its rule says

Renewal fee

$75 for a master or journeyman plumber, $25 for a plumber in training

Renew

On or before your expiration date, with the renewal application and fee. Plumber certification renewal can be paid online through the Division's Online Payments page (the State Treasurer's ePay)

Late fee

$25 on top of the renewal fee if the renewal is received or postmarked more than 15 days after your expiration date

If it expires

The law requires a valid and current license to do plumbing work, so the days before the late fee starts aren't extra time to work on an expired one. A license that has been expired for 90 days or more can't be renewed: contact the Division (licensing@wv.gov, 304-356-3928)

Working unlicensed

Plumbing work without a license can bring a cease and desist order. Working on after one brings a fine of $200 to $1,000 for a first offense, $500 to $2,000 for a second and $1,000 to $5,000 for a third or later, and each day after official notice is a separate offense

On the job

Carry proof of your valid license whenever you're doing plumbing work. A license can't be transferred, and a master or journeyman can directly supervise no more than three plumbers in training

Duplicate card

$10, on a written request to the Division

Continuing education

None. Neither the Supervision of Plumbing Work Act (W. Va. Code 21-14) nor its rule (42CSR32) sets a CE requirement for renewal

Each plumber's renewal date is the one on their own card, so a company with several plumbers has several dates to watch.

Some plumbing work needs no certification, such as plumbing you do yourself on a single-family home you or an immediate family member (parent, spouse, sibling or child) owns or leases, and plumbing done while installing or servicing an HVAC system: see W. Va. Code 21-14-3(c) for the full list.

How to renew

1. Check the renewal date on your certification card, and watch for the Division's renewal notice before it.
2. Renew on or before that date: send in the renewal form the Division mails you, with the fee. Plumber certification renewal can also be paid online through the Division's Online Payments page.
3. Pay $75 for a master or journeyman license, $25 for a plumber in training.
4. Carry your new card on every job.

Deadline checklist

• 45 days outWatch for the Division's renewal notice, and check every plumber's renewal date on their own card.
• 14 days outRenew and pay: $75 for master or journeyman, $25 for a plumber in training.
• Expiration dateRenew by today. More than 15 days late adds a $25 late fee.
• 90 days afterA license that has been expired for 90 days or more can't be renewed.

Put this renewal in your calendar

Know your expiration date? Download a free calendar file with reminders before it, no sign-up needed. It's made in your browser: nothing you type is sent to us (your browser keeps it only if you follow the sign-up link, for your new ledger). A Google Calendar button sends just that one event to Google.

The file covers one date: once you renew, make a new one. How to add it to your calendar

Frequently asked questions