Contact the nearest WVMHST office  WVMHS&T office directory

All duplicate certifications cost $10.00

You must have a valid electrical card, proof of current federal and state retraining, and you must submit your score from the Virginia exam along with a $15.00 fee.

For many of the certifications a study guide is available: list of publications

No.  In order to drive a coal truck off of the job, you must have a valid CDL.

Check with the nearest WVOMHST Office for current reciprocity agreements with other states.d

Examinations are given in the Regional offices on a regular schedule, costs vary based on the exam to be taken schedule of exams and their fees

Classes are offered throughout the state by private certified instructors List of In State Certified Instructors – List of Out of State Certified Instructors

All certification application forms are available for download List of Certification Application Forms

Coal statistics are available on the following  web page Statistical Data

Production reports are filed monthly by the operators for each mine.  The law gives them 31 days from the end of the reporting month to file.  The reports have to be posted in our office and data compiled and loaded to the website.  As an example, January data may not be posted on the website until mid-March at the earliest.  

The number of mines changes frequently.  We have a year-to-date statewide summary on production, employment, accidents and the number of mines reporting production on WV OMHST homepage.  We also have historical data and totals at Statistical Data

• Maps of closed mines are micro-filmed and available through the Engineering staff in our Oak Hill at 304-469-8100.  We do have a searchable site on our web site at mine map archive page
• Maps of current operations are maintained in the regional offices in the permit files. Contact the specific office for availability.  Maps of current operations are considered confidential, however the law allows for exceptions check with the respective regional office for availability.

It depends on the year of the accident.  Prior to 1925 fatal accident information was listed in the Department of Mines’ Annual Reports with the name of the victim.  After that year no victim names were published, however investigations of individual fatal accidents were made.  Files of all such investigations have been transferred to the WV Division of Culture and History.   WV OMHST maintains copies of investigations for seven years before transferring records to Culture and History.  If your relative was killed in a disaster (multiple victims) there should be a much more detailed account of the accident.  Again, all such records have been transferred to the WV Division of Culture and History.

The annual reports and fiscal year reports contain mine listings with mailing addresses.  These reports are available for download; we no longer print the reports.  Go to Annual Reports.

• For a complete job descriptions for all types of mine safety inspectors use these links:  Underground Mine Inspector, Surface Mine Inspector, or  Electrical Inspector. The applicant must pass a comprehensive written and verbal examination, placing the applicant on a roster from which the director may hire. 
• If you wish to make application to take the examination for Underground, Surface or Electrical Mine Inspector please click on this link application forms
• Watch our website for notification of  the next scheduled test. 

• For a complete job descriptions for mine safety instructor use this link: Mine Safety Instructor,  The applicant must pass a comprehensive written and verbal examination, (grade of at least 75%, or an overall combined average score of 80%)
• If you wish to make application to take the examination for Mine Safety Instructor please click on this link application forms
• Watch our website for notification of  the next scheduled test. 

At the present time you can apply for a mine permit from any WVMHS&T regional office. There is a filing fee of $100.00 for each permit.  Most applications for permits are now on our web site forms page

Every permit must be extended (renewed) in January of each year.   The permit holder must apply on forms provided by the director, must have paid or appealed all WVMHS&T penalty assessments, must have filed all required tonnage reports and the application must be accompanied by a fee of $100.00. Permit Extensions may be filed on-line and the fee may be paid on-line as well; there are links on our main page. Most applications for permits are now on our web site forms page

Application forms are available from any WVMHS&T office or from this web site, use the link below to download the forms.   The applicant must have approval from the WV Division of Labor, be in compliance with Workers’ Compensation Division and Employment Security Division.  The applicant must also have an approved comprehensive safety program with WVMHS&T.  There is a $100.00 filing fee.  There is an application package on our forms page.  

You can order a copies of any of our printed publications from the Charleston Office by simply sending an email to the address below or you can order online and use a credit card to pay for your purchase.  Use this link to place an online order: list of publications