Contractor License from Illinois to West Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
There is no Illinois state license to carry to West Virginia: Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license. West Virginia does license this work, so ask the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
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Verdict
No state license to transfer
The issue on this move is the starting point: Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license, so there is no Illinois state license for West Virginia to recognize. West Virginia does license general contractors through the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor): ask whether it credits a local license or documented experience, and expect its full application, business/law exam, financial statement and bond otherwise.
What changes, Illinois → West Virginia
| Illinois (current) | West Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | General contractor fee: none at state level — general contractor licensing is local, so the city or county sets any fee | $59.95 (Contractor Licensing Board examinations are $59.95 each, first sitting or retake, and the Contractor Licensing Act exam is always required. The contractor licence fee itself, and the State Fire Marshal's individual electrician licence fee, are billed separately. Retried 2026-09-01 and still not verifiable: wvclboard.wv.gov again refused all connections, and the Division of Labor's fee index at labor.wv.gov/fees publishes only HVAC technician, plumber and manufactured-housing fees, with no contractor licence fee page. W. Va. Code 30-42-7/30-42-8 sets only a statutory ceiling (application and annual licence fees not to exceed $150), not the amount actually charged, so it cannot be used as the figure. Left null rather than guessed.) |
| Processing time | None at state level — set by the local authority | Neither the Contractor Licensing Board nor the State Fire Marshal publishes a processing-time range; set null rather than estimated |
| Licensing authority | General contracting: licensed locally (city or county); trade licenses: Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing Program (general contractors are licensed municipally) | West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor); individual electricians licensed by the WV State Fire Marshal |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — West Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Review West Virginia's requirements on the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) whether it credits a local Illinois license or your documented experience: Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license, so there is no state license to verify.
- Otherwise apply as a new applicant: meet West Virginia's education/experience requirements and pass the exams it requires.
- Submit the application with fees ($59.95 (Contractor Licensing Board examinations are $59.95 each, first sitting or retake, and the Contractor Licensing Act exam is always required. The contractor licence fee itself, and the State Fire Marshal's individual electrician licence fee, are billed separately. Retried 2026-09-01 and still not verifiable: wvclboard.wv.gov again refused all connections, and the Division of Labor's fee index at labor.wv.gov/fees publishes only HVAC technician, plumber and manufactured-housing fees, with no contractor licence fee page. W. Va. Code 30-42-7/30-42-8 sets only a statutory ceiling (application and annual licence fees not to exceed $150), not the amount actually charged, so it cannot be used as the figure. Left null rather than guessed.)). Processing time: Neither the Contractor Licensing Board nor the State Fire Marshal publishes a processing-time range; set null rather than estimated.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does West Virginia accept an Illinois contractor license?
There is no Illinois state license to carry to West Virginia: Illinois issues no statewide general contractor license. West Virginia does license this work, so ask the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) whether it credits a local license or your documented experience; otherwise you qualify as a new applicant.
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
West Virginia's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Illinois-to-West Virginia move cost and how long does it take?
$59.95 (Contractor Licensing Board examinations are $59.95 each, first sitting or retake, and the Contractor Licensing Act exam is always required. The contractor licence fee itself, and the State Fire Marshal's individual electrician licence fee, are billed separately. Retried 2026-09-01 and still not verifiable: wvclboard.wv.gov again refused all connections, and the Division of Labor's fee index at labor.wv.gov/fees publishes only HVAC technician, plumber and manufactured-housing fees, with no contractor licence fee page. W. Va. Code 30-42-7/30-42-8 sets only a statutory ceiling (application and annual licence fees not to exceed $150), not the amount actually charged, so it cannot be used as the figure. Left null rather than guessed.) Processing time: Neither the Contractor Licensing Board nor the State Fire Marshal publishes a processing-time range; set null rather than estimated.
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
Possibly, for the trade it covers: West Virginia's board accepts a NASCLA accredited exam in place of its own trade exam (verified 2026-08-07). The business/law exam, bond and application still apply.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- WV Contractor Licensing Board — Candidate Information Bulletin (classification list, Contractor Licensing Act exam, $59.95 per exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WV Division of Labor — Licensing section (Contractor Licensing Board, HVAC and Plumber certification programmes) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TN Board for Licensing Contractors — Trade Exam Waiver (Reciprocity) with Tennessee (West Virginia row: Residential, Commercial, Industrial Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Masonry; waiver limited to the trade exam) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board — Master Electrician Reciprocity Verification of Licensure (requires WV Master Electrician licence from the WV State Fire Marshal plus WV Contractor Electrical Licence) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- NASCLA — West Virginia Contractors Licensing Board, commercial-exam participating agency (will not accept exam scores or transcripts prior to 2013-09-01) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WV State Fire Marshal — Regulatory and Licensing Division (individual Master/Journeyman/Single Family Dwelling electrician licensing) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Illinois Department of Public Health — Plumbing (licensing, forms; reciprocity form is Chicago-only) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Illinois IDFPR — Roofing Contractors (no reciprocity provision) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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