Professional Engineer (PE) / West Virginia
2026 data West Virginia board official source

West Virginia Professional Engineer (PE) License Requirements

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

Provides engineering services to the public. Requires FE + PE exams.

What the West Virginia data shows for Professional Engineer (PE)s

Becoming a licensed professional engineer (pe) in West Virginia means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on FE Exam then PE Exam, and 4 years of supervised work experience once the applicant turns 18. West Virginia regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree in Engineering".

Budget $196 to get started, plus $167 at each renewal on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 30-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For professional engineer (pe)s, the reciprocity picture is: NCEES model law: recognized in most states.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
21/100
Professional Engineer (PE) · West Virginia

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$196
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$84/yr
$167 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
15.0 hrs/yr
30 hours every 2 years
Experience Required F
4 years
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in West Virginia

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree in Engineering
Not specified
Exam Requirement
FE Exam then PE Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$196
Renewal Fee
$167
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
30 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Not Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Work Experience Required
4 years
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with West Virginia licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Professional Engineer (PE) in West Virginia?
West Virginia requires, passing an exam (FE Exam then PE Exam), and an initial fee of $196.
How do I get certified as a Professional Engineer (PE) in West Virginia?
West Virginia licenses professional engineer (pe)s who complete its requirements (4 years of experience) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the West Virginia licensing board.
Can I transfer my Professional Engineer (PE) license to West Virginia from another state?
Reciprocity for professional engineer (pe)s nationally works like this: NCEES model law: recognized in most states. Beyond that baseline, interstate compacts exist for many professions and may smooth a transfer into West Virginia. Verify the specifics with the West Virginia licensing board.
Does West Virginia require a background check for Professional Engineer (PE) licensing?
There's no state-level background-check requirement for professional engineer (pe) licensing in West Virginia; some employers choose to screen candidates anyway.
What are the continuing education requirements for Professional Engineer (PE) in West Virginia?
Licensed professional engineer (pe)s in West Virginia must complete 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The renewal fee is $167.

What to do with this professional engineer (pe) license

Professional Engineer (PE) in West Virginia, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a professional engineer (pe)-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the West Virginia licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.