West Virginia

West Virginia Licensing Overview

West Virginia licenses 67 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are less burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 41st in the nation. West Virginia licensed occupations includes occupations that are rarely licensed elsewhere. Few other states license Upholsterer (9 other).

On average, West Virginia requires $200 in licensing fees, 214 days of education and about 2 exam.

Which occupation in a West Virginia is the most regulated?

Out of the 67 occupations that require an occupational license in West Virginia, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $423 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a West Virginia is the least regulated?

Out of the 67 occupations that require an occupational license in West Virginia, licenses for Animal Breeder, Travel Guide have the lowest burden.

Which occupational license in West Virginia is the most expensive?

An occupational license in West Virginia costs the most for Mobile Home Installer. A Mobile Home Installer license requires $694 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in West Virginia is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in West Virginia costs the least for Milk Sampler, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide where the license costs $10.

Which occupational license in West Virginia takes the most time to obtain?

In West Virginia, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School. It takes 2190 days (6 years) total. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $423 in fees, 2 exams, 2 years experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupational license in West Virginia takes the least time to obtain?

In West Virginia, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Mobile Home Installer, Interpreter, Sign Language, Wildlife Control Operator, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Child Care Home, Family, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler, Upholsterer, Animal Breeder, Travel Guide.

In West Virginia, which occupational licenses require exams?

In West Virginia, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Earth Driller, Water Well, Athletic Trainer, School Bus Driver, Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Veterinary Technician, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Truck Driver, Other, Cosmetologist, HVAC Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Barber, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Pest Control Applicator, Makeup Artist, Skin Care Specialist, Auctioneer, Manicurist, Pharmacy Technician, Coach, Head (High School Sports), Massage Therapist, Mobile Home Installer, Emergency Medical Technician, Interpreter, Sign Language, Wildlife Control Operator, Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Residential), Pipelayer Contractor, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Landscape Contractor (Residential), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 7 exams.

West Virginia’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are the nation’s 44th most burdensome. They require, on average, $172 in fees, 210 days of education and experience, and around two exams. But because West Virginia licenses more occupations than most states—70 of the 102 studied here—it ranks as the 14th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

West Virginia licenses several occupations that are not licensed elsewhere, such as upholsterers (licensed by nine other states), crane operators (17 others) and sign language interpreters (21 others). West Virginia also licenses auctioneers—who are unlicensed in 21 states—and does so quite onerously. While the licensed-state average of days lost to education and experience is an estimated 94 days for auctioneers, West Virginia requires more than twice as much: an estimated 201 days, or six months of experience and 80 hours of education.

West Virginia also imposes requirements on some occupations that seem excessive compared to those for others with a stronger connection to public safety. For example, in West Virginia, manicurists and massage therapists face more stringent requirements than EMTs. To provide their services, these workers must complete between 93 and 117 days of education. EMTs, on the other hand, can become licensed after completing only around 35 days (150 hours) of education. West Virginia could create more economic opportunity by reducing or repealing many of its occupational licenses, or—if government regulation is necessary—by replacing them with less restrictive regulatory alternatives.

Burden Rank	Occupation	Number of States that License	Fees	Education/Experience (Days)	Education	Experience	Exams	Minimum Grade	Minimum Age
1	Preschool Teacher, Public School	50	423	2190	4 years	2 years	2	0	18
2	Earth Driller, Water Well	51	567	1460	None	4 years	4	0	18
3	Athletic Trainer	49	643	1460	4 years	None	1	0	18
4	School Bus Driver	51	179	1106	52 clock hours	3 years	7	12	21
5	Bus Driver, City/Transit	51	169	730	None	2 years	5	0	18
6	Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer	51	159	730	None	2 years	5	0	18
7	Veterinary Technician	36	425	730	2 years	None	2	0	18
8	Fire Alarm Installer	39	277	730	None	2 years	3	0	18
8	Security Alarm Installer	37	277	730	None	2 years	3	0	18
10	Truck Driver, Other	51	159	730	None	2 years	4	0	18
11	Cosmetologist	51	186	420	1800 clock hours	None	3	12	18
12	HVAC Contractor (Residential)	35	356	365	None	1 year	3	0	18
12	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential)	36	356	365	None	1 year	3	0	18
14	HVAC Contractor (Commercial)	37	296	365	None	1 year	3	0	18
14	Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial)	37	296	365	None	1 year	3	0	18
16	Barber	51	134	280	1200 clock hours	None	2	12	18
17	Vegetation Pesticide Applicator	51	100	365	None	1 year	4	0	0
18	Pest Control Applicator	51	100	365	None	1 year	3	0	0
19	Makeup Artist	37	221	140	600 clock hours	None	3	12	18
19	Skin Care Specialist	51	221	140	600 clock hours	None	3	12	18
21	Auctioneer	28	250	202	87.5 clock hours	6 months	3	0	18
22	Manicurist	51	221	93	400 clock hours	None	3	12	18
23	Pharmacy Technician	44	142	143	620 clock hours	None	1	12	0
24	Coach, Head (High School Sports)	47	250	2	14.5 clock hours	None	3	12	18
25	Massage Therapist	45	545	117	500 clock hours	None	1	0	0
26	Mobile Home Installer	37	694	0	None	None	2	0	0
27	Emergency Medical Technician	51	218	35	150 clock hours	None	2	0	16
28	Interpreter, Sign Language	22	275	0	None	None	2	0	0
29	Wildlife Control Operator	23	50	0	None	None	1	0	18
30	Gaming Cage Worker	30	100	0	None	None	0	0	21
30	Gaming Dealer	29	100	0	None	None	0	0	21
30	Gaming Supervisor	31	100	0	None	None	0	0	21
30	Slot Supervisor	29	100	0	None	None	0	0	21
34	Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial)	24	195	0	None	None	2	0	0
34	Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential)	30	195	0	None	None	2	0	0
34	Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)	26	195	0	None	None	2	0	0
34	Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential)	30	195	0	None	None	2	0	0
34	Mason Contractor (Commercial)	26	195	0	None	None	2	0	0
34	Mason Contractor (Residential)	31	195	0	None	None	2	0	0
34	Pipelayer Contractor	27	195	0	None	None	2	0	0
41	Child Care Home, Family	44	55	0	None	None	0	0	18
42	Landscape Contractor (Commercial)	47	202	0	None	None	1	0	0
42	Landscape Contractor (Residential)	48	202	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial)	25	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential)	30	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Door Repair Contractor (Commercial)	24	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Door Repair Contractor (Residential)	29	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial)	25	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential)	30	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Floor Sander Contractor (Commercial)	22	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Floor Sander Contractor (Residential)	27	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Glazier Contractor (Commercial)	26	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Glazier Contractor (Residential)	30	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Insulation Contractor (Commercial)	24	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Insulation Contractor (Residential)	30	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Painting Contractor (Commercial)	22	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Painting Contractor (Residential)	27	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Paving Contractor (Commercial)	24	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Paving Contractor (Residential)	28	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial)	26	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential)	31	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial)	23	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
44	Terrazzo Contractor (Residential)	28	142	0	None	None	1	0	0
64	Milk Sampler	43	10	0	None	None	1	0	0
65	Upholsterer	9	90	0	None	None	0	0	0
66	Animal Breeder	29	10	0	None	None	0	0	0
66	Travel Guide	37	10	0	None	None	0	0	0

West Virginia Occupational Licensing

67 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

41st most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$200