West Virginia HVAC Contractor

West Virginia HVAC Contractor Exam Study Guide

This guide covers what you need for the West Virginia HVAC Contractor exam: the key facts from the official bulletin, the topics it tests, the reference books, sample questions with answers, and a plan to prepare. Prov gives the exam.

West Virginia HVAC Contractor Exam at a Glance

Here are the exam's key facts from the official bulletin:

On exam day

• Answers are selected by clicking a number (1, 2, 3, or 4) on the screen.
• You must present current, valid government-issued photo identification bearing your signature and matching your admission documents, sign the log, and be photographed.
• Doors open at least 15 minutes before scheduled appointments and candidates should arrive early enough to be seated when testing begins.
• Reference books must match the listed title (older/newer editions allowed), photocopies only when stated, nothing may be added or taped into a book, and a non-recommended book may be used only after signing a waiver.
• Permanent tabs are allowed but repositionable tabs or Post-its are not; highlighting and underlining in pen are allowed; handwritten notes and formulas are not allowed.
• Electronic devices and personal items such as notebooks, study materials, wallets, writing devices and food must be left out of the testing room in secure storage, and no note taking is allowed.

References you may bring

• International Mechanical Code 2018
• HVAC Basics for Contractors, 4th Edition
• SMACNA-Residential Comfort System Installation Standards Manual (2016)

Scheduling, changes and retakes

• Candidates schedule online at Prov's scheduling site or by calling or texting Prov at (801) 733-4455.
• You may reschedule or cancel online for free at least 3 days before your exam date, otherwise you forfeit the exam fee.
• Arriving late after the testing session has begun means you are turned away, forfeit your exam fee, and must reschedule for a future date.
• Your exam is graded immediately upon completion and results are automatically forwarded to your licensing authority.
• There is no limit on HVAC exam attempts and no waiting period between attempts.

Source: Contractor Licensing Board — Candidate Information Bulletin, WV CIB 2026.10.27 (Version 1.0, effective October 27, 2026). Check the bulletin before test day: fees and rules can change.

What the West Virginia HVAC Contractor Exam Covers

The official content outline has 8 topics:

How to Prepare for the West Virginia HVAC Contractor Exam

Start with the books. This is an open-book exam, so the references on the bulletin's list are your main study tool. Get the editions the bulletin names.

Learn where things are. Read the table of contents and the index of each book until you know where every major subject lives. On test day, finding an answer fast matters more than memorizing it.

Highlight the sections you use most. The exam facts above list the bulletin's rules on tabs and markings, so follow them exactly.

Take timed practice exams. The clock trains you to find answers at the pace the real exam needs: about 2 minutes 15 seconds per question.

Aim to pass more than once. One passing score can be luck. Several in a row means you're ready.

Reference Books for the West Virginia HVAC Contractor Exam

The HVAC Contractor exam lists the International Mechanical Code 2018, HVAC Basics for Contractors 4th Edition, and the SMACNA Residential Comfort System Installation Standards Manual (2016), all permitted as open book.

Where to get them:

• IMC 2018
• HVAC Basics 4th
• Residential Comfort System Installation Standards

On Test Day

• Go through the whole exam first. Answer every question you know and bookmark the ones you don't. Every exam lets you come back to bookmarked questions, but some lock the questions you've seen once you take a break, so work your bookmarks before any break.
• Then go back to your bookmarks and work them out.
• Don't let one question eat your time. You have 3 hours for 80 questions, which is about 2 minutes 15 seconds per question.
• Before you finish, answer anything you skipped. A blank can't earn a point.

Study Tips

Reading the material cover to cover usually isn't enough to pass. This is a multiple-choice exam, and multiple choice rewards practice — the more questions you work through under real conditions, the more the terminology and question style become second nature.

You're given plenty of time, so use as much of it as you need. Don't get rattled when other people finish early — finishing first isn't a prize. Work at your own steady pace and review your answers before you submit.

After each practice test, note the topics you miss most and spend your next session there. Re-testing weak areas yields far more score gain than re-reading what you already know.

Several 25–30 minute sessions across the week beat one long cram. Spaced repetition moves facts into long-term memory so they stick through exam day.

Sample West Virginia HVAC Contractor Practice Questions

These questions come from our practice question bank, each with its answer and reference.

Sample 1 — Equipment

Question: You are installing a refrigeration system in a commercial building and discover that the system contains more than 6.6 pounds of refrigerant in a single independent circuit. There is a gas-fired water heater in the same room. According to the IMC, what must be provided to protect against refrigerant decomposition?

• A. The gas-fired water heater must be immediately removed from the room
• B. A hood and exhaust system must be provided to exhaust combustion products to the outdoors
• C. A fire suppression system must be installed above the water heater
• D. The refrigerant charge must be reduced to less than 6.6 pounds

Correct Answer: B

According to the 2018 International Mechanical Code, Section 1104.3.4, where any device having an open flame or surface temperature greater than 800°F is used in a room containing more than 6.6 pounds of refrigerant in a single independent circuit, a hood and exhaust system shall be provided. Exceptions include using R-717, R-718, or R-744, ducting combustion air from outdoors, or using a refrigerant detector to stop combustion upon leak detection.

Reference: IMC 2018 Section 1104.3.4

Sample 2 — Load Calculations

Question: Different load-estimating packages use different glass terminology: one uses a heat transfer multiplier (HTM) while another uses a glass load factor (GLF). Which statement correctly distinguishes the two?

• A. HTM is based solely on design outdoor temperature; GLF is based on the projected indoor-to-outdoor temperature difference
• B. HTM is based on the window U-value only; GLF is based on the shading coefficient only
• C. HTM is based on the projected indoor-to-outdoor temperature difference; GLF is based solely on design outdoor temperature
• D. HTM is based on net glass area only; GLF is based on rough-opening area only

Correct Answer: C

Module 03407, Section 2.2.1 states that the HTM used in Manual J is based on the projected temperature difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures, while the ASHRAE glass load factor (GLF) is based solely on the design outdoor temperature. Results are comparable, but the factors used to reach them differ.

Reference: HVAC Basics for Contractors, Chapter 7 — Heating and Cooling System Design, Module 03407 Page 16

Sample 3 — Piping

Question: As an HVAC journeyman, you are installing a radiant floor heating system with PEX tubing that will be embedded in a concrete slab on grade. The slab meets a foundation wall at the perimeter. According to the 2018 IMC, what is required at the point where the heated slab meets the foundation wall?

• A. A waterproof membrane must be installed between the slab and foundation wall
• B. A thermal break consisting of asphalt expansion joint materials or similar insulating materials
• C. A minimum 2-inch air gap between the slab and foundation wall
• D. A steel reinforcement plate at the junction of the slab and foundation wall

Correct Answer: B

According to the 2018 International Mechanical Code, Section 1209.5.1, a thermal break shall be provided consisting of asphalt expansion joint materials or similar insulating materials at a point where a heated slab meets a foundation wall or other conductive slab.

Reference: IMC 2018 Section 1209.5.1

Sample 4 — Safety - OSHA

Question: You are inspecting a guardrail system built around an open-sided equipment platform where your crew will set an air handler. What are the minimum toeboard height and the maximum permitted clearance between the toeboard and the floor level?

• A. 4 inches high; 1/4-inch clearance
• B. 6 inches high; 1/4-inch clearance
• C. 4 inches high; 1/2-inch clearance
• D. 3 inches high; 1-inch clearance

Correct Answer: A

A guardrail must have a toeboard at least 4 inches (10 cm) high, securely fastened with not more than 1/4-inch (5 mm) clearance above the floor level, to prevent tools and material from falling through. (HVAC Basics for Contractors, Chapter 1, Book Page 29)

Reference: HVAC Basics for Contractors, Chapter 1 - Basic Safety (Construction Site Safety Orientation), Book Page 29

Why Practice Online Instead of With a PDF

A PDF shows you questions. It doesn't show you the clock. Our practice exams are timed and on a screen, so you practice finding answers under time pressure, not just reading them. Each attempt draws a new set of questions from our bank, and your results break the score down by outline topic so you know what to study next.

Start Practicing

Take the free West Virginia HVAC Contractor practice exam to see where you stand, then work through the topics that need attention. For the official rules, read the exam bulletin, and see the licensing board's website.