Plumber License from Pennsylvania to West Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does West Virginia accept a Pennsylvania plumbing license?
There is no Pennsylvania state license to carry to West Virginia: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license. West Virginia does license this work, so ask the West Virginia Division of Labor — Plumber Licensing (Office of the State Commissioner 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: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license — plumbing there is regulated at the contractor level or by cities and counties — so there is no Pennsylvania state license for West Virginia to verify or endorse. West Virginia does license plumbers, through the West Virginia Division of Labor — Plumber Licensing (Office of the State Commissioner of Labor), and it reviews out-of-state plumbers for endorsement, but that route starts from a state license. Ask the board, in writing, whether it credits a local Pennsylvania license, a contractor-level credential or your documented hours; otherwise plan to qualify as a new journeyman applicant. All master and journeyman applicants must pass a written exam on the International Plumbing Code (minimum score 70%) EXCEPT under Legislative Rule 42CSR32 section 14: the Commissioner of Labor may, at his or her discretion, grant a license of the same classification WITHOUT examination to a plumber licensed or authorized by another state whose licensing requirements are equivalent to the WV Plumber Licensing Act (Code 21-14) and rule, on proof of qualifications and payment of the license fee. There are no named partner states; the waiver is discretionary and equivalence-based, not a bilateral agreement.
What's different between Pennsylvania and West Virginia
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into West Virginia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Pennsylvania to West Virginia (this page): No state license to transfer.
West Virginia to Pennsylvania (the reverse move): No state license to transfer.
Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so neither direction is a state-license transfer.
- Does coming from Pennsylvania matter?
Coming from Pennsylvania matters here: only 9 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into West Virginia.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (41).
- Fee and processing
Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so there is no Pennsylvania state license application fee or processing time to compare with West Virginia's.
- Exam rules on record
West Virginia and Pennsylvania carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- West Virginia (this move): All master and journeyman applicants must pass a written exam on the International Plumbing Code (minimum score 70%) EXCEPT under Legislative Rule 42CSR32 section 14: the Commissioner of Labor may, at his or her discretion, grant a license of the same classification WITHOUT examination to a plumber licensed or authorized by another state whose licensing requirements are equivalent to the WV Plumber Licensing Act (Code 21-14) and rule, on proof of qualifications and payment of the license fee. There are no named partner states; the waiver is discretionary and equivalence-based, not a bilateral agreement
- Pennsylvania (the reverse move): Not applicable — Pennsylvania has no state-level plumber license, so there is no statewide exam to waive or transfer; each municipality sets its own plumber licensing and exam rules (for example, Philadelphia requires passing the ICC-based Journeyman Plumber Examination on the Philadelphia Code)
What changes, Pennsylvania → West Virginia
| Pennsylvania (current) | West Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | No statewide fee. Fees are set locally; for example, Philadelphia's journeyman plumber license is $126 initial (including a $25 non-refundable application fee) and $126 annual renewal | $75 ($75 annual journeyman (or master) license fee (initial and renewal); plumber-in-training $25; $25 late fee; $10 duplicate. The examination fee is set separately by the Commissioner/testing agent and paid to the testing agent or the Division (no fixed figure published on the fee page)) |
| Processing time | No statewide process; processing time is set by each municipality | No board-stated processing time; licenses without examination are granted at the Commissioner's discretion |
| Licensing authority | No statewide board — plumber licensing is handled by Pennsylvania municipalities (e.g., Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections; Allegheny County Health Department for the Pittsburgh area) | West Virginia Division of Labor — Plumber Licensing (Office of the State Commissioner of Labor) |
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 Division of Labor — Plumber Licensing (Office of the State Commissioner of Labor) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Ask the West Virginia Division of Labor — Plumber Licensing (Office of the State Commissioner of Labor) whether it credits a local Pennsylvania license or your documented experience: Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber 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 listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my Pennsylvania credential after I'm licensed in West Virginia?
Nothing changes it. Pennsylvania issues no statewide journeyman plumber license, so any local or contractor-level Pennsylvania credential you hold runs on its own authority's renewal rules, independently of your West Virginia license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- WV Legislative Rule 42CSR32 — section 9 (fees $75), section 10 (exam, min 70%, master 1 year after journeyman), section 14 (Reciprocity; Work Experience — discretionary license without exam for equivalent-state licensees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WV Code section 21-14 — Supervision of Plumbing Work (license classes; rules to include reciprocity provisions) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WV Division of Labor — Plumber Certification Fees ($75 journeyman/master; $25 PIT; $25 late; $10 duplicate) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- City of Philadelphia — Get a Journeyman Plumber License (representative municipal program; requirements and fees; no state license) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
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