How to get a Salesperson license in West Virginia

West Virginia real estate agent licenses

West Virginia issues 3 real estate agent credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for several of the West Virginia real estate agent licenses on this page, so they are shown once here, with the licenses they apply to. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

1. Every license level (all 3)

Requirements

Minimum age

18 years old¹⁴

High school diploma or GED

Required¹⁴

Background check

Background check required⁴
Fingerprints required¹⁴
Applicants whose check shows a criminal history must give additional information and be approved by the Commission before they can take the exam; background checks expire 90 days after the report date (rule: requested no more than 3 months before application).³

Social Security number

Application must include the applicant's Social Security number.¹⁴

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee; check it with the exam provider, Pearson VUE¹⁵¹⁶, when you schedule.

How to apply

Apply online

apps.wv.gov¹⁵

Processing time

Pearson VUE emails scheduling instructions within about 72 hours of approval.¹⁵¹⁶

Renewal

How often

Every year³

When it expires

All licenses expire June 30 regardless of issue date; online renewal opens May 1.³

Continuing education

At least 7 hours each renewal period⁷

Approved courses

Only Commission-approved providers and instructors; courses listed in CE Broker / the approved course list; courses may not repeat those used for the previous renewal; subject to audit.¹⁷

Exemptions

First renewal exemption for those who passed both national and state exams in that fiscal year and renew by June 30; inactive licensees are exempt (CE needed to reactivate); licensees continuously licensed since July 1, 1969 are exempt.³
Non-residents must meet WV CE, but CE from a home jurisdiction with a comparable requirement that recognizes WV CE is accepted.³

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50⁵ (in addition to the renewal fee)
Late renewal fee: $75⁵ (in addition to the renewal fee)
Late renewal fee: $100⁵ (in addition to the renewal fee)
Paper renewal processing fee: $35⁵ (only if renewing on paper instead of online)

If it expires

All licenses expire June 30. A lapsed license can be renewed with late fees until December 31; after that it is canceled and the person must re-qualify, including the exam.³

Renew online

apps.wv.gov¹⁸

From another state

2. Every license level except Broker

Fees

3. Every license level except Salesperson

Requirements

Education or training

At least 180 clock hours²

The board's words

“(a) Applicants for a broker’s license shall provide evidence satisfactory to the commission that he or she has completed at least 180 clock-hours, equivalent to 12 college semester credit hours, in a course or courses approved by the commission:”

Experience

As a licensed salesperson: at least 20 closed transactions in the 2 years before applying, or at least 40 closed transactions over any period (leasing-only and brokerage-management variants also count); documented on the Closed Transactions form with an Affidavit of Broker's Recommendation from each responsible broker.³
Substitute: Active WV attorneys: apply with a WV State Bar letter of good standing (in place of the criminal history check) and pass the written exam.¹⁹

Exam

West Virginia real estate broker examination (national and state portions)¹⁶
Given by: Pearson VUE¹⁶
When you can take it: After Commission approval of the online exam application with course certificates, driver's license, Affidavit of Broker's Recommendation and Closed Transactions form.¹⁶
Retakes: Exam approval is valid 3 months and for 2 attempts; after that, re-apply (new 3 months / 2 attempts). Re-applications are requested by email to [email protected].³
Time limit: Apply for the license within 90 days (rule: 3 months) of passing both portions.¹⁶
Exam waived: Brokers licensed in other jurisdictions take only the WV state portion.²⁰

Fees

How to apply

1. Meet the experience requirement (20 closed transactions in 2 years or 40 over any period) and complete the broker education (180 hours, or 90 more hours for WV salespersons).¹⁶
2. Get fingerprinted with IdentoGO (service code 228Q6K; valid 90 days).¹⁶
3. Submit the exam application online with course certificates, driver's license, Affidavit of Broker's Recommendation and Closed Transactions form; pay the $25 application fee.¹⁶ apps.wv.gov¹⁵
4. Schedule and pass both portions with Pearson VUE.¹⁶

Renewal

Renewal fee

$150⁵

Required topics

Brokers and associate brokers: 3 of the 7 hours must be broker-level continuing education (since fiscal year 2024).⁷

Who needs a Salesperson license

Entry-level license: a salesperson works for and in the name of a broker, under the broker's direct supervision.¹¹

Work that does not need this license:

• W. Va. Code §30-40-5(c) exempts, among others: owners/lessors acting for themselves, regular employees of an owner doing incidental management without extra pay, persons holding a valid power of attorney, court-appointed fiduciaries, public officers, timber/mineral and right-of-way dealings, a person employed exclusively as management/rental agent for one owner, and non-commissioned clerical staff of a broker. Attorneys are exempt but must pass the written exam to get a broker's license.²¹

Requirements for a Salesperson license

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 2 under Applies to every license level.

Education or training

At least 90 clock hours²
90 clock-hours (6 college semester credit hours) of Commission-approved prelicensing education: 30 hours Real Estate Principles and Practice, 20 hours Real Estate Law, 20 hours Real Estate Finance, 20 hours Real Estate Appraisal; at least 70% in each subject area; completed within 3 years before applying.²
Who may teach it: Course must be Commission-approved and offered by a Commission-approved provider following the Commission's salesperson course outline; a score of 70% or higher in each subject area is needed to sit for the exam.²²
Alternative: Courses completed before June 9, 2023 are accepted if within five years (REC page).²²

Experience

Supervision: Must obtain a sponsoring West Virginia broker (Verification of Sponsoring Broker form) before licensure.⁸

Exam

West Virginia real estate salesperson examination (national and state portions)³
Given by: Pearson VUE¹⁵
When you can take it: After the Commission approves the online exam application (with course certificate and background check); Pearson VUE then emails scheduling instructions.¹⁵
National portion⁹
West Virginia state portion⁹
Retakes: Exam approval is valid 3 months and for 2 attempts; after that, re-apply (new 3 months / 2 attempts). Re-applications are requested by email to [email protected].³
Time limit: Apply for the license and pay the fee within 3 months (REC: 90 days) of passing; one 3-month extension possible for good cause.³
Exam waived: Licensees of other jurisdictions take only the West Virginia state portion.²³

Also required

Applicant must be trustworthy, of good moral character and competent to transact business.¹⁴

Also required

No paper applications are accepted.⁸

How much a Salesperson license costs

How to apply

1. Complete the 90-hour Commission-approved prelicensing course (score 70%+ in each subject).¹⁵
2. Get fingerprinted with IdentoGO using WVREC service code 228Q6K (results valid 90 days).⁴
3. Submit the exam application online with the official course completion certificate and a copy of your driver's license; pay the $25 application fee.¹⁵ apps.wv.gov¹⁵
4. After approval, schedule and pass both portions with Pearson VUE (approval valid 3 months / 2 attempts).¹⁵
5. Within 90 days of passing, complete the online license application, upload proof of passing and the Verification of Sponsoring Broker form, and pay the $75 license fee.¹⁵

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$75⁵

Required topics

No mandatory topic is specified for salespersons in §30-40-16 or 174CSR1 §8.4; any Commission-approved course counts (must differ from courses used for the previous renewal).³

Moving to West Virginia with a license from another state

These are the routes WVREC publishes for the Salesperson license. The other real estate agent licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Associate Broker

A person who meets the broker qualifications but works for and under the direct supervision of a licensed broker instead of running a brokerage.¹¹

Requirements

Also required

Associate brokers are affiliated with a sponsoring broker; changing brokers requires a Change of Employing Broker request ($20).⁵

How to apply

1. Within 90 days of passing, apply online with your pass certificates and pay the $150 license fee (associate brokers do not need the company registration, subordination or trust fund forms that a broker files).²⁰

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1, group 2 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

Broker

License to run a brokerage: brokers supervise salespersons and associate brokers; for an entity, the license is issued through a member or officer designated by subordination resolution, and the broker must be listed with the WV Secretary of State.¹²

Requirements

Business requirements

Register the company with the WV Secretary of State with the broker listed as a member or officer; file a Subordination Resolution and a Trust Fund account form (or waiver).¹⁶

Also required

Salesperson upgrading to broker: the salesperson license is surrendered and no credit is given for the salesperson fee.³

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Within 90 days, apply online for the license with pass certificates, Subordination Resolution and Trust Fund form/Waiver, register the company with the Secretary of State, and pay the $150 license fee.¹⁶

From another state

More rules for this license are shared with other levels: group 1 and group 3 under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Associate BrokerStatewide license from the West Virginia Real Estate Commission; no local real estate agent license.¹

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a real estate agent in West Virginia, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in West Virginia is on the West Virginia license lookup page.

Look up a license

rec.wv.gov²⁴

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• W. Va. Code ch. 30, art. 40 (Real Estate License Act)
• W. Va. Code R. 174CSR1 (Licensing Real Estate Brokers, Associate Brokers, and Salespersons; effective April 7, 2026)
• W. Va. Code R. 174CSR2
• W. Va. Code R. 174CSR3 (Real estate courses, providers and instructors)
• W. Va. Code §30-1-27 (Universal Professional and Occupational Licensing Act of 2025)

Common questions

Real estate agent licenses in other states

• Alabama
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• District of Columbia
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