Page 1 of 178
West Virginia (WV) Excavation Contractor
Practice Exam Questions & Rationales
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
West Virginia (WV) Excavation Contractor Practice Exam
This practice exam is designed to help you prepare for the West Virginia Excavation Contractor
licensing exam. The actual exam is a 50-question, open-book test with a 3-hour time limit,
requiring a minimum score of 70% to pass. It covers key topics such as General Knowledge,
Survey and Layout, Excavation, Trenching and Shoring, Safety (OSHA), and Erosion Control .
Exam Coverage Summary
• Licensing & Regulations – WV Contractor Licensing Act (W. Va. Code §30-42), licensure
requirements, exemptions, building permit prerequisites, mandatory written contracts.
• Survey & Layout – Reading site plans, interpreting topographic maps, contour intervals,
cut and fill calculations, soil volume (swell/shrinkage), surveying instruments.
• Excavation Methods – Soil classification (OSHA Type A, B, C), clearing and grubbing,
equipment selection, cut and fill operations.
• Trenching & Shoring – OSHA Subpart P regulations, protective systems (sloping, shoring,
shielding), trench boxes, competent person, egress requirements, benching.
• Safety & OSHA – Competent person responsibilities, utility location (WV 811),
hazardous atmospheres, clearance from power lines, confined space safety, equipment
inspection.
• Erosion & Sediment Control – BMPs (silt fence, sediment basins), WV DEP stormwater
requirements, stabilization, dewatering.
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
Section 1: WV Licensing & Regulatory Framework
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Question 1
Under the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act (W. Va. Code §30-42-3), at what project cost
threshold does an excavation contractor need to be licensed?
A) $1,000
B) $2,500
C) $5,000
D) $25,000
Answer: C
W. Va. Code §30-42-3 defines a "contractor" as anyone who undertakes construction or
excavation work where the cost is $5,000 or more for residential projects. A handyperson may
work on projects under this threshold without a license .
Question 2
Which entity is responsible for issuing contractor licenses in West Virginia?
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A) West Virginia Division of Labor
B) West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board
C) West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
D) Local county building inspector
Answer: B
The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board is the regulatory authority that issues licenses and
enforces compliance for all contractor classifications in the state .
Question 3
Before a building permit is issued for an excavation project, what must the contractor provide?
A) A certificate of insurance only
B) Proof of valid contractor license or affidavit of exemption
C) A completed tax return
D) A list of all subcontractors
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Answer: B
W. Va. Code §30-42-10 requires that before a building permit is issued, the applicant must
either furnish satisfactory proof they are licensed or file a written affidavit that they are not
subject to licensure .
Question 4
A contractor must have a mandatory written contract for excavation work when the aggregate
value exceeds what threshold?
A) $1,000
B) $2,500
C) $5,000
D) $10,000
Answer: D
West Virginia (WV) Excavation Contractor
Practice Exam Questions & Rationales
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR
West Virginia (WV) Excavation Contractor Practice Exam
This practice exam is designed to help you prepare for the West Virginia Excavation Contractor
licensing exam. The actual exam is a 50-question, open-book test with a 3-hour time limit,
requiring a minimum score of 70% to pass. It covers key topics such as General Knowledge,
Survey and Layout, Excavation, Trenching and Shoring, Safety (OSHA), and Erosion Control .
Exam Coverage Summary
• Licensing & Regulations – WV Contractor Licensing Act (W. Va. Code §30-42), licensure
requirements, exemptions, building permit prerequisites, mandatory written contracts.
• Survey & Layout – Reading site plans, interpreting topographic maps, contour intervals,
cut and fill calculations, soil volume (swell/shrinkage), surveying instruments.
• Excavation Methods – Soil classification (OSHA Type A, B, C), clearing and grubbing,
equipment selection, cut and fill operations.
• Trenching & Shoring – OSHA Subpart P regulations, protective systems (sloping, shoring,
shielding), trench boxes, competent person, egress requirements, benching.
• Safety & OSHA – Competent person responsibilities, utility location (WV 811),
hazardous atmospheres, clearance from power lines, confined space safety, equipment
inspection.
• Erosion & Sediment Control – BMPs (silt fence, sediment basins), WV DEP stormwater
requirements, stabilization, dewatering.
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
Section 1: WV Licensing & Regulatory Framework
,Page 2 of 178
Question 1
Under the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Act (W. Va. Code §30-42-3), at what project cost
threshold does an excavation contractor need to be licensed?
A) $1,000
B) $2,500
C) $5,000
D) $25,000
Answer: C
W. Va. Code §30-42-3 defines a "contractor" as anyone who undertakes construction or
excavation work where the cost is $5,000 or more for residential projects. A handyperson may
work on projects under this threshold without a license .
Question 2
Which entity is responsible for issuing contractor licenses in West Virginia?
,Page 3 of 178
A) West Virginia Division of Labor
B) West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board
C) West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
D) Local county building inspector
Answer: B
The West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board is the regulatory authority that issues licenses and
enforces compliance for all contractor classifications in the state .
Question 3
Before a building permit is issued for an excavation project, what must the contractor provide?
A) A certificate of insurance only
B) Proof of valid contractor license or affidavit of exemption
C) A completed tax return
D) A list of all subcontractors
, Page 4 of 178
Answer: B
W. Va. Code §30-42-10 requires that before a building permit is issued, the applicant must
either furnish satisfactory proof they are licensed or file a written affidavit that they are not
subject to licensure .
Question 4
A contractor must have a mandatory written contract for excavation work when the aggregate
value exceeds what threshold?
A) $1,000
B) $2,500
C) $5,000
D) $10,000
Answer: D
