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If you want to be an HVAC contractor in West Virginia, you will have to get a license that allows you to install, repair and maintain HVAC systems.
Article Table of Contents
License Details
To get it, you need to pass a trade exam as well as a law and business exam that requires a 70% passing score.
If you cannot take the exams, you need to hire at least one person who can or did, in order to start a business.
Other requirements:
- workers’ compensation,
- tax registration,
- employment security insurance.
In this state, the contractor’s license needs to be renewed after one year.
The skills you need to have as a contractor include knowing how HVAC systems and refrigerators work, understanding their components and how to replace them, and analyzing the levels of heating or humidity.
You will also need to complete 2,000 hours of experience in HVAC systems and a total of 6,000 hours of experience in the HVAC system but also other tasks related to sheet metal.
The locations below can help you train and possibly offer a position so that you accumulate the required hours.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| 2J Supply HVAC Distributors | 602 Jackson Ave, Huntington, WV 25704 |
| Ben Franklin Career Center | 500 28th St Dunbar, West Virginia 25064 |
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | 13650 Apple Harvest Dr, Martinsburg, WV 25403, |
| Cabell County Career Technology Center | 1035 Norway Ave Huntington, West Virginia 25705 |
| Carver Career Center | 4799 Midland Dr Charleston, West Virginia 25306 |
| Dudley's HVAC & Maintenance | 37 Meadow Ln #3807, Martinsburg, WV 25404 |
| Fayette Institute of Technology | 300 W Oyler Ave, Oak Hill, WV 25901 |
| J & M Heating & Air Conditioning | 367 Daytona Dr, Princeton, WV 24739 |
| James Rumsey Technical Institute | 3274 Hedgesville Rd, Martinsburg, WV 25401 |
| Johnstone Supply | 824 Fairview Ave, Parkersburg, WV 26101 |
| Mercer County Technical Education Center | 1397 Stafford Dr, Princeton, WV 24739 |
| Monongalia County Technical Education Center | 1000 Mississippi St, Morgantown, WV 26501 |
| Putnam Career and Technical Center | 300 Roosevelt Boulevard Eleanor, West Virginia 25070 |
| Ralph R. Willis Career and Technical Center | Three Mile Curve, Logan, WV 25601 |
| Virginia Air Distributors | 800 1st Ave S, Nitro, WV 25143, U |
| West Virginia Northern Community College | 1704 Market St. Wheeling, West Virginia 26003 |
The exam
The test has 84 questions, lasts for 3 hours and you need a 70% score to pass.
The topics cover:
- general regulations,
- load calculations,
- code requirements,
- controls,
- fuel systems,
- ducting,
- insulating,
- piping,
- safety.
You will have to pay a $42 fee as well.
The manuals that you can use in the exam are:
- 2012 International Mechanical Code
- HVAC Basics for Contractors
- Residential Comfort Systems Installation Standards Manual, 7th Edition
How to apply
Get an application from West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board and pay a $90 fee.
You will need to submit a certificate of authority from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office if you apply as a corporation.
Some addresses you might need are:
West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board at (304) 558-7890
West Virginia Division of Labor
Contractor Licensing Board
State Capital Complex, Bldg. 9, Rm. 749
Charleston, WV 25305
To apply for an examination:
ProV
200 Association Drive, Suite 190
Charleston, WV 25311
866-720-7768 or 304-414-0190 Ext.4 (Locally)
EPA Certification
You are required to get an EPA Section 608 certification if your work includes handling refrigerants.
This is a federal law that applies all over the US.
The certification requires an exam based on the type you apply for: type 1, type 2, or type 3, and these are limited to specific appliances.
There’s also a universal one that covers all 3 types.
Income
Income is usually what drives people to choose a career over another.
In West Virginia, the median salary per year is $41,404 while the top 10 earn on average $46,915 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $42,567 |
| Huntington | $41,273 |
| Morgantown | $45,750 |
| Parkersburg | $41,497 |
| Wheeling | $45,750 |
| Weirton | $45,585 |
| Fairmont | $45,750 |
| Martinsburg | $51,484 |
| Beckley | $42,193 |
| Clarksburg | $41,123 |
Regional Salary in West Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 100 | $41,440 | $19.92 | $58,530 | $29,210 |
| Charleston, WV | 390 | $50,030 | $24.06 | $76,840 | $31,070 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 440 | $47,790 | $22.98 | $66,560 | $31,200 |
| Morgantown, WV | 160 | $46,120 | $22.18 | $63,610 | $30,710 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 80 | $39,000 | $18.75 | $55,970 | $29,710 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 70 | $47,260 | $22.72 | $63,310 | $31,120 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 130 | $51,040 | $24.54 | $73,850 | $34,140 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Conclusion
West Virginia offers solid career options for HVAC technicians and you will not need a license if you don’t plan to become a contractor.
As an entry-level tech, you will be supervised by a licensed contractor in order to develop your skills.
Read the full guide: How to Become an HVAC Technician
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