Tennessee to West Virginia: general contractor license reciprocity

1. 1Law / code exam. Pass a law, rules, or code exam. West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act examination, the Board's business and law examination: 90 questions, 3 hours, 70% to pass, administered by Prov, Inc. The Tennessee reciprocity form states that the applicant becomes eligible to apply for a West Virginia license upon approval of the form and passing this examination, so it is not waived..
2. 2Exam fee. Pay the exam fee ($59.95). $59.95 for each examination, first attempt or retake, paid directly to Prov, Inc. by the individual taking it. A reciprocity applicant normally pays for the Contractor Licensing Act examination only..
3. 3License fee. Pay the license or certificate fee ($90). $90 annual license fee, paid with the application/affidavit by check, certified check, cashier's check or money order payable to the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board, or by credit card at the Charleston office. A license expires twelve months from the date it is issued, and a renewal more than fifteen days late costs a further $25..
4. 4Business license. Obtain a business license. West Virginia Business Registration Tax number from the State Tax Department, which the application will not be processed without, and a Certificate of Authority from the West Virginia Secretary of State for a corporation, LLC, LLP, LP or PLLC. The Board checks that you are in good standing with both agencies before it issues or renews a license..
5. 5Insurance. Carry the required insurance. Proof of workers' compensation and unemployment compensation coverage for employees working in West Virginia, filed with the application: a copy of the workers' compensation certificate and the most recent quarterly unemployment report. An out-of-state business with no West Virginia-resident employees supplies its own state's certificate of insurance and its latest quarterly unemployment contribution page instead..
6. 6Surety bond. Post a surety bond (if applicable). Wage bond, required of a contractor with employees that has not been actively engaged in construction work in West Virginia for at least one year before the application: four weeks of gross payroll at full capacity plus fifteen percent for benefits. Exempt if the employer has been in business in another state for at least five years, holds at least $100,000 in assets, or is a subsidiary of a parent in business for at least five years. Every applicant files the notarized Wage Bond Status Affidavit either way, and commercial contractors with employees should verify their status with the Division of Labor Wage & Hour Section..
7. 7Other. The completed Tennessee/West Virginia Reciprocity Agreement Application, signed and returned by the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors, plus the notarized Qualifier Exam Score Acknowledgement and payroll records if the qualifier is a full-time employee rather than an owner, partner, member or corporate officer..

Published fees on this path total $149.95, excluding exam-vendor fees, bonds, and insurance.