What is required to get a license in West Virginia?

For salespersons:

For brokers and associate brokers:

  • Proof of age 18 and above.
  • You must have at least 2 years of active experience as a Salesperson and submit the experience form.
  • You must get a Broker’s Affidavit on Salesperson’s Training from the brokers you have worked with.
  • If you are an attorney at law, you can present a “Certificate of Good Standing” from the West Virginia State Bar in order to get an experience and education waiver.
  • Proof of completion of 90 hours pre-license education if you are a licensed salesperson in West Virginia, otherwise you must complete 180 hours of pre-license education.
  • Complete and submit the application form for brokers or the application form for associate broker depending on the case.
  • You must go through a background check.
  • If you are not a resident of the United States, you need to fill in and submit an Affidavit of Residency, Irrevocable Consent for Service for Process and a Surety Bond.
  • Pass the real estate examination.
  • Fees: Examination Fees (Broker: $96). License (broker: $175).

What score do I need to pass?

The salesperson exam consists of 100 national questions and 50 state specific questions. To pass you must correctly answer 75 national questions and 38 state specific questions.

The broker and associate broker exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions and 10 simulation problems. To pass the multiple choice section you must correctly answer 48 questions. To score the simulation portion a minimum passing level (MPL) was established for the section using the scoring weights assigned to the options in that section and represents the level of performance expected of a “minimally competent practitioner.” The overall examination has an Information Gathering (IG) MPL and a Decision Making (DM) MPL, which represent the sums of the MPLs of all IG and DM sections on the examination. Your total raw scores must meet or exceed the MPL in both IG and DM to pass this examination.

You will receive your score immediately after you complete your exam.

How much time do I have to complete the exam?

For the salesperson exam: you are allowed 2 hours for the national portion and 1 for the state portion.

For the broker exam: you are allowed 1.5 hours for the multiple choice portion and 2.5 hours for the simulation portion.

What should I bring with me for the exam?

  • 2 Forms of identification with matching names, non-expired and containing a valid signature, one of them must be photo bearing (Driver’s license, passport, green card, U.S. social security card, debit or credit card with signature).
  • Basic, silent, non-scientific calculator which does not contain the alphabet.

What is the format of the exam?

The exam is given on a computer and is multiple choice.

What is on the exam?

The national portion for salespersons consists of the following sections:

  • Agency Relationships and Contracts
  • Real Property Ownership/Interest
  • Finance
  • Real Property
  • Marketing Regulations (purchase and rental)
  • Property Management
  • Real Estate Calculations

The state-specific portion for salespersons consists of the following sections:

  • Activities Requiring License; Exemptions From Licensure
  • Scope of Practice, Closing Statement and Fees
  • Advertising Rules
  • Trust Funds
  • Refusal, Suspension or Revocation of a License
  • Penalties for Violations
  • Complaints, Investigation, Hearings, Cost of Proceedings
  • WV Fair Housing
  • Agency Relationships
  • Purpose of License Law and Regulations and Role of the Commission
  • Duties of Licensees. Duration of Existing Licenses; Transfers
  • Renewal of License
  • Continuing Professional Education

The multiple choice section for brokers and associate brokers consists of:

  • Activities Requiring License; Exemptions From Licensure
  • Scope of Practice, Closing Statement and Fees
  • Advertising Rules
  • Trust Funds
  • Refusal, Suspension or Revocation of a License
  • Penalties for Violations
  • Complaints, Investigation, Hearings, Cost of Proceedings
  • WV Fair Housing
  • Agency Relationships
  • Place of Business
  • Brokerage Operation and Management
  • Human Resources Management and Interpersonal Skills

The simulation portion consists of the following topics:

  • Agency Relationships and Property Representations
  • Fair Housing and Other Governmental Regulations
  • Handling Money
  • Training and Supervision of Licensees
  • Agency
  • Contracts
  • Freehold and Leasehold
  • Property Management
  • Finance
  • Government Regulations and Private Restrictions
  • Description and Measurement
  • Valuation
  • Conveyance
  • Calculations
  • Ethical Behavior (must be incorporated in at least 4 problems)
  • Property Types: Residential, Commercial.
  • Property Management

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