How to Become a Real Estate Agent in West Virginia (2026 Guide)

Ready to get your West Virginia real estate license?

If you want to become a real estate agent in West Virginia, we’ve broken it down into five simple steps for you and will share everything you need to know! Your legal title will be “salesperson” and you’ll need to complete 90 hours of pre-licensing courses, pass the state exam, submit to a background check, and find a sponsoring broker.

Now let’s walk you through the entire process together and help you get your West Virginia real estate license so you can start your new and exciting career.

We’ll cover:

5 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in West Virginia

The West Virginia Real Estate Commission (WVREC) has a few requirements to become a salesperson. You must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma (or equivalent). If you meet the prerequisites, you can complete the following steps:

STEP 1 | Complete the 90-Hour Real Estate Pre-License Course

  • West Virginia’s 90-hour Real Estate Principles and Practice course covers property law, ownership, contracts, agency, financing, closings, appraisal, fair housing, and West Virginia-specific law. Your education is good for 5 years from the completion date.

STEP 2 | Apply for Exam Approval + Background Check

  • Submit your application and course completion certificate to the WVREC along with a $25 exam authorization fee. As part of this step, you’ll also go through a background check (about $45.75). Once approved, Pearson VUE (WVREC’s testing vendor) will contact you by email to schedule your exam.

STEP 3 | Schedule + Pass the West Virginia Real Estate Exam

  • Once approved, you’ll have 90 days to schedule and take your exam at a Pearson VUE testing center (locations include Beckley, Bridgeport, Dunbar, Fairmont, and Huntington). The exam fee is $110, paid directly to Pearson VUE.
  • The exam has 130 questions (80 national, 50 West Virginia-specific), and you’ll need a passing score of 70% on each portion. You’ll have 2 hours for the national portion and 1 hour for the state portion. See our FAQs section to learn more.

STEP 4 |  Find a Sponsoring Broker

  • A West Virginia salesperson license can’t be active without a sponsoring broker — you cannot practice independently. In order to activate your license, you’ll need to select a brokerage. Keep reading below for tips on what to look for when picking a firm.

STEP 5 |  Submit Your West Virginia Real Estate License Application

  • Once you’ve passed both portions of the exam and lined up a sponsoring broker, submit your license activation form along with your original exam report and a $75 license fee. This must be received within 90 days of passing the exam. The WVREC will send your license to your employing broker — once they receive it, you’re officially licensed!

How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License?

Once you decide to become a real estate agent in West Virginia, you’re probably excited and want to get started immediately.  Before you leave your current position, it’s important to understand how long the process can take.  Here is what an average timeline looks like:

  • 4 to 8 weeks to complete your 90-hour West Virginia pre-licensing course
  • 1 to 2 weeks for the WVREC to approve your exam application
  • 1 to 2 weeks to get your state real estate exam scheduled
  • 1 to 3 weeks to interview and select a sponsoring broker
  • 1 to 2 weeks for the WVREC to process your license application

While this timeline may seem a little daunting, there are a few ways to expedite things. First, taking an online course is the way to go.  Instead of attending scheduled in-person classes, you can learn at your own pace online.  We also highly recommend interviewing brokerages while you are finishing up your real estate course, so you are ready to hang your license with a broker as soon you pass the state exam.  All in all, it’s definitely possible to become a real estate agent in West Virginia in about 8 to 12 weeks.

Cost to Get a Real Estate License in West Virginia

There are several fees involved when working to become a real estate agent in West Virginia…

  • Pre-License Real Estate Course – $300 to $700
  • Exam Authorization Fee (WVREC) – $25
  • State Exam Fee (Pearson VUE) – $110
  • Fingerprinting / Background Check – $45.75
  • License Fee – $75
  • State exam prep courses or materials – $25 to $150 (optional)

** Total Cost to Get Licensed = $556 to $956


More Costs to Expect as a Brand New Realtor

Getting a license is just the beginning! What many aspiring agents don’t always realize is that there are several other expenses to consider when you become a real estate agent in West Virginia. Keep in mind you are officially opening your own business, so there are always start-up costs involved.

One thing that’s unique to West Virginia: your license renews every year, not every two years like most states. Each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30), you’ll need to complete 7 hours of continuing education and pay a renewal fee before the June 30 deadline.

To follow are some of the most common expenses in West Virginia:

  • Annual Continuing Education (7 hours, due every June 30) – $75 to $150
  • License Renewal Fee (every year) – $75
  • National and Local Board of Realtors / Examples:
  • Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – about $150 to $175 quarterly (sometimes this is built into your Realtor board dues, so be sure to double check when joining the board)
  • SentriLock or Supra eKey to show homes – $130 to $240 annually
  • Business cards and signage – varies
  • Marketing materials and advertising – varies
  • Brokerage joining fee – $0 to $500 (average is about $250)
  • Monthly Brokerage fee – ranges from $0 to $350 monthly

** Total Cost to Become a Real Estate Agent in West Virginia = $1,306 to $2,406

OTHER EXPENSES TO EXPECT IN YOUR FIRST YEAR >>

Find the Best Real Estate Course

To get your real estate license, you’ll have to attend a real estate school that’s approved by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission. There are approved schools throughout the state. Most are online, others in person, and a few do a combination of the two. Please note that some of the school links below are affiliate links. If you enroll through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Here are a few of the most popular:

SEE OUR SCHOOL COMPARISON GUIDE >

When shopping for the best online real estate schools, you’ll want to compare pricing, but there are a few other things you will need to consider:

  • Do they share their “pass rate”? This will tell you what percentage of their students passed the state exam on the first try.
  • Does the school offer any guarantees if you don’t pass? For example, one school will pay the fee for you to retake the state exam.
  • Are practice tests given to the students or is there any additional charge?
  • Do they offer a separate exam prep course or a weekend cram course? If you need additional exam prep, try PrepAgent or Exam Scholar.

How to Select a West Virginia Real Estate Broker

In West Virginia, you must work under a sponsoring broker in order to legally help home buyers and sellers — salespersons can’t operate independently. Picking the right brokerage to work with can be key to your success as a newly licensed agent.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A BROKER >>

While many newly licensed agents are looking for the best commission splits when shopping for brokers, we would highly recommend that you make that #2 or #3 on your list. The most important thing you should look for in a brokerage is how they support brand new real estate agents. Do they have a formal training program? Will you have at least 3 people you can reach out to if you have questions? Are they available outside traditional business hours? Do they have mentors – and what exactly will the mentors do to assist you? All important things to consider when you are ready to become a real estate agent in West Virginia!

West Virginia Real Estate License: FAQs

How difficult is the state real estate exam?

The exam has 130 questions (80 national, 50 West Virginia-specific), and you’ll need a passing score of 70% on each portion. You’ll have 2 hours for the national section and 1 hour for the state section.

What if I fail the real estate exam in West Virginia?

It’s not uncommon for people not to pass the exam on the first try, so don’t be too hard on yourself! You can retake just the section(s) you failed, though you’ll need to pay the $110 exam fee again. All registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable, so make sure you’re prepared before scheduling.

Can I get a West Virginia real estate license if I have a misdemeanor or felony on my record?

Having a criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you. The WVREC requires a background check as part of your application and reviews each applicant individually. If you have concerns about your background, we’d recommend contacting the WVREC directly before investing in a pre-license course.

I have a real estate license in another state. Does West Virginia offer reciprocity?

Yes, and it’s fairly generous. If you currently hold an active real estate license in another state, you’re exempt from the national portion of the exam and only need to pass the West Virginia-specific portion. You’ll still need to submit a Certificate of Licensure showing your current or past license history. Contact the WVREC directly to confirm the process based on your specific license.

How do I become a real estate broker in West Virginia?

You’ll need at least 2 years of experience as a licensed salesperson, along with either 20 closed transactions in that 2-year window or 40 closed transactions regardless of how long you’ve been licensed. From there, you’ll complete 90 hours of broker-specific coursework (30 hours on brokerage operations and management, 25 hours on human resources and interpersonal skills, and 35 hours of West Virginia-specific broker law) — or 180 hours total if you’re not already a licensed West Virginia salesperson. You’ll also need a Broker’s Affidavit of Salesperson’s Training from each broker you’ve worked under, a national criminal background check, and a passing score of 70% or higher on each portion of the broker exam. Attorneys licensed in West Virginia can skip the education and experience requirements with a Certificate of Good Standing from the State Bar, though they still have to pass the exam.

Do I need to be a West Virginia resident to get licensed?

No, West Virginia doesn’t require salesperson applicants to be state residents. There’s an extra step if you’re not a US resident, though — you’ll need to file an Affidavit of Residency, an Irrevocable Consent for Service of Process, and a surety bond along with your application. If that applies to you, it’s worth contacting the WVREC directly to confirm exactly what’s needed before you get too far into the process.