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100+ Free WV Excavation Contractor Practice Questions

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: WV Excavation Contractor Exam

50 Q

Official Exam Questions

Prov WVCLB CIB 2026.05.07

70%

Passing Score

Prov WVCLB CIB 2026.05.07

3 hr

Time Allowed

Prov WVCLB CIB 2026.05.07

USD 59.95

Prov Exam Fee

Prov WVCLB CIB 2026.05.07

Open Book

Book Policy

Prov WVCLB CIB 2026.05.07

West Virginia Excavation Contractor Examination is the official Board/Prov open-book exam: 50 questions, 70%, 3 hours, USD 59.95 (bulletin dated 2026.05.07). Official delivery is English.

Sample WV Excavation Contractor Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your WV Excavation Contractor exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Under the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board excavation classification, which work is included in the license scope?
A.Installing structural steel frames and precast concrete buildings
B.Installing, altering, or repairing earthen material by digging, trenching, grading, or compacting
C.Installing interior plumbing, fixtures, and water heaters
D.Installing electrical service equipment and branch circuits
Explanation: The Board defines the Excavation Contractor classification as the installation, alteration, and repair of earthen material by digging, trenching, grading, or compacting. That scope also includes crib walls, gabion walls, and similar devices not more than six feet high that control the movement of earthen materials.
2West Virginia excavation contractors may install crib walls, gabion walls, and similar earth-retaining devices only up to what maximum height?
A.4 feet
B.6 feet
C.8 feet
D.10 feet
Explanation: The official Board classification includes crib walls, gabion walls, and other devices used to control earthen-material movement, but those devices may not exceed six feet in height. Taller retaining work is outside this classification.
3According to IBC 2018 Section 1804.1, what must be done before an excavation reduces vertical or lateral support for an adjacent foundation?
A.Notify the owner after the adjacent wall begins to crack
B.Underpin or otherwise protect the foundation against detrimental movement first
C.Increase the excavation depth to below the adjacent footing
D.Place the spoil pile against the adjacent foundation for extra weight
Explanation: IBC 2018 §1804.1 requires that excavation not reduce vertical or lateral support for any foundation or adjacent foundation unless the foundation is first underpinned or otherwise protected against detrimental lateral or vertical movement. Adjacent structures must be protected before the cut removes their support.
4Which pair of official references is listed for the West Virginia Excavation Contractor examination?
A.IRC 2021 and ACI 318-19
B.NEC 2023 and IPC 2018
C.IBC 2018 and Study Guide for Excavation Contractors, 3rd edition (2024)
D.AASHTO Green Book 2018 and MUTCD 2009
Explanation: The official Prov bulletin lists the 2018 International Building Code and the Study Guide for Excavation Contractors, 3rd edition (2024), as the open-book references for this trade examination. Study those two sources rather than unrelated electrical, plumbing, or highway manuals.
5In earthwork estimating, what do bank, loose, and compacted volumes describe?
A.Three unrelated soil types that cannot be converted
B.The same soil measured in place before excavation, after excavation or loading, and after placement and compaction
C.Only truck-box capacities published by manufacturers
D.Only laboratory Proctor mold volumes
Explanation: Bank cubic yards (BCY) measure soil in its undisturbed in-place state. Loose cubic yards (LCY) measure the same soil after excavation and swell. Compacted cubic yards (CCY) measure the soil after it is placed and compacted, usually at a smaller volume than bank because of shrink.
6What is a gabion wall?
A.A cast-in-place concrete cantilever retaining wall with a heel and toe
B.A wire-mesh basket filled with stone used to retain or control earthen material
C.A steel sheet-pile wall driven to refusal
D.A masonry brick garden wall laid in running bond
Explanation: A gabion is a wire-mesh basket or mattress filled with stone. Stacked gabions form a flexible, free-draining wall used to retain soil, armor slopes, or control erosion. In the West Virginia excavation classification they are limited to six feet in height.
7What is a crib wall used for in excavation work?
A.A temporary timber or concrete-member cell filled with soil or rock to retain earth
B.A roof truss used to span an excavation
C.A drainage pipe laid on the trench bottom
D.A survey monument set at a property corner
Explanation: A crib wall is built of interlocking timber, concrete, or similar members that form cells. The cells are filled with soil or rock so the mass retains earth. The West Virginia excavation classification allows crib walls only when they do not exceed six feet in height.
8What is the angle of repose of a soil?
A.The steepest angle at which a piled or sloped soil remains stable without sliding
B.The angle between magnetic north and true north
C.The maximum slope allowed only for Type A soil by OSHA Table B-1
D.The angle of a motor-grader moldboard during finish grading
Explanation: The angle of repose is the steepest natural slope at which a given soil remains stable. It depends on particle size, shape, moisture, and cohesion. OSHA maximum allowable slopes are regulatory limits based on soil type and are not the same thing as a soil's natural angle of repose.
9Which soil condition most increases the chance of a cave-in after a trench has been opened?
A.Dry, unfissured clay classified as Type A and inspected daily
B.Free seepage, vibration, or previously disturbed soil that weakens the excavation face
C.Stable rock that can stand vertically while exposed
D.A trench less than 5 feet deep that a competent person has examined and found stable
Explanation: Water seepage, vibration, and previous disturbance all reduce soil strength and can reclassify otherwise stronger material as Type B or Type C. OSHA Appendix A specifically excludes fissured, vibrating, previously disturbed, or seeping soils from Type A. Those conditions are common cave-in triggers.
10What is the primary purpose of a silt fence or similar perimeter control on an excavation site?
A.To increase the compacted dry density of structural fill
B.To intercept sediment-laden runoff and keep eroded soil on the site
C.To replace the need for a construction entrance
D.To serve as the only required trench protective system
Explanation: Silt fences and similar perimeter controls trap sediment so stormwater leaving the site carries less soil. They are erosion-and-sediment-control devices, not compaction tools or cave-in protective systems. They must be installed on the contour, trenched in at the base, and maintained after storms.

About the WV Excavation Contractor Exam

The West Virginia Excavation Contractor Examination is the official Board trade examination administered by Prov. The official exam has 50 questions. Passing is 70% in 3 hours. The examination is open book. Prov lists USD 59.95 per attempt (West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board Candidate Information Bulletin dated 2026.05.07). The classification covers installation, alteration, and repair of earthen material by digging, trenching, grading, or compacting, including crib walls, gabion walls, and other devices not over six feet high. Candidates must also pass the Contractor Licensing Act examination. This bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation. It does not replace required trade experience, Board approval, or the official examination.

Assessment

Open-book computer-based or paper-and-pencil multiple-choice. Official references: 2018 International Building Code and Study Guide for Excavation Contractors, 3rd edition (2024). Remote Examroom testing is available.

Time Limit

3 hours

Passing Score

70%

Exam Fee

USD 59.95 (Prov, Inc. (for the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board))

WV Excavation Contractor Exam Content Outline

10%

General Knowledge

General Knowledge (5 official items)

10%

Survey and Layout

Survey and Layout (5 official items)

10%

Excavation

Excavation (5 official items)

10%

Clearing and Grubbing

Clearing and Grubbing (5 official items)

10%

Dewatering

Dewatering (5 official items)

16%

Grading

Grading (8 official items)

12%

Safety

Safety (6 official items)

12%

Estimating and Plan Reading

Estimating and Plan Reading (6 official items)

10%

Equipment

Equipment (5 official items)

How to Pass the WV Excavation Contractor Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 70%
  • Assessment: Open-book computer-based or paper-and-pencil multiple-choice. Official references: 2018 International Building Code and Study Guide for Excavation Contractors, 3rd edition (2024). Remote Examroom testing is available.
  • Time limit: 3 hours
  • Exam fee: USD 59.95

Keys to Passing

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

WV Excavation Contractor Study Tips from Top Performers

1Distribute study time to the official Prov Excavation content outline (bulletin dated 2026.05.07)
2Use the Study Guide for Excavation Contractors, 3rd edition (2024), which accounts for 82% of official items
3Moveable tabs and Post-it notes are prohibited in the Prov center
4This bank is an English-language MCQ study aid, not an official Prov form

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the West Virginia Excavation Contractor Examination?

The official Prov examination has 50 questions. Passing is 70% within 3 hours (West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board Candidate Information Bulletin dated 2026.05.07).

How much does the West Virginia Excavation Contractor exam cost?

Prov lists USD 59.95 per attempt, including retakes. The Board charges a separate USD 90 annual contractor license fee under 28CSR2 §28-2-5.5 (effective May 4, 2026).

What height limit applies to excavation retaining devices?

The Board defines the Excavation Contractor classification as including crib walls, gabion walls, and other devices not to exceed six feet in height for controlling the movement of earthen materials.

Do I also need the Contractor Licensing Act exam?

Yes. The Board requires every contractor license applicant to pass the Contractor Licensing Act examination in addition to any applicable trade classification examination.