Educational Resources: Take West Virginia Real Estate Sample Tests, Application Steps and Tips

rThere are 150 multiple-choice questions on the salesperson exam covering a variety of topics that are relevant to West Virginia real estate law. To pass the West Virginia real estate exam, you’ll need a score of at least 75%.

Real Estate Exam Breakdown

There are a total of 150 questions on the exam: 100 National questions and 50 State questions. This means you can miss up to 12 questions on the State portion and 25 questions on the National portion, and still pass the exam.

The 90 hours prescribed course consists of:

• Thirty clock hours: Brokerage Operation and Management
• Twenty-five clock hours: Human Resources Management & Interpersonal Skills
• Thirty-five clock hours: West Virginia Specific Real Estate for Brokers

State-specific topics include information about the West Virginia Real Estate Commission,¹ West Virginia Requirements for a License, the West Virginia License Act,² West Virginia Fair Housing,³ West Virginia Disclosures and Agency Rules, and West Virginia Real Estate Advertising Laws.

Topics covered on the National portion of the real estate exam include, but are not limited to the following areas. Some sample questions follow below.^{4, 5, 6}

• Financing
  • In terms of financing involved for a real estate purchase, which custom is practiced in West Virginia?
    • Title Theory
    • Lien Theory
    • Intermediate Theory
    • General principles of agency
    • Common Theory
• Property Disclosures
  • Which of the following disclosures falls under the federally mandated disclosure requirement?
    • Lead paint disclosure
    • Wetlands disclosure
    • Floodplains disclosure
    • Asbestos disclosure

• Leasing and Property Management
  • When a broker or property manager signs a contract to manage the owner’s property, she becomes a:
    • Fiduciary
    • Salesperson
    • Commissioner
    • Homeowner

• Fees and Commission
  • In West Virginia, the amount a broker may charge for a commission is:
    • 0.06%
    • Up to 6%
    • Up to 7%
    • Negotiable in the listing contract

• Continuing Professional Education
  • How many hours of continuing education for real estate license renewal in West Virginia?
    • 7 hours
    • 12 hours
    • 18 hours
    • 21 hours
    • 30 hours

• Contracts
  • The contract of sale states that the earnest money deposit is to be placed in an interest-bearing account with any interest earned to be given to the buyer. This is:
    • Illegal
    • Not okay, and the broker should resign from the listing
    • Okay, because the buyer and seller have agreed to this
    • Commingling

Other important topics for study include:

• Transfer of Title
• Practice of Real Estate
• Property Ownership
• Land Use Controls and Regulations
• Valuation and Market Analysis
• Real Estate Calculations

Consider taking an online prep course for the exam. There are several options online – both free and paid-for prep tests that you can complete to prepare.

What happens if you do not pass the exam? You are allowed to retake the exam.

You must apply online by emailing [email protected] to request a link to reapply to take the exam. It will take 24–48 hours for you to receive the link via email.

You may also print and complete the re-take exam application and mail the fee and application to:

West Virginia Real Estate Commission Licensing
300 Capitol Street
Charleston, WV 25301

Applying for Your West Virginia Real Estate Division License: A 5-Step Guide

The five steps required to apply for your West Virginia Real Estate Division license are to:

Step 1: Submit Application

Submit your application for the exam:⁷The West Virginia Real Estate Commission (WVREC) gives you the option of completing an online application or a paper application for your salesperson license.⁸

An online application is the fastest and easiest way to work through the application process.

Step 2: Submit Fingerprint

Submit fingerprints for a national criminal history check:⁹ This is an important step for moving forward in the process of becoming a real estate agent, or salesperson, in West Virginia.

Step 3: Find Sponsoring Broker

Find a sponsoring broker: To work as a real estate agent you need to have a sponsoring broker. What that means is that you must work for a brokerage company to get licensed.

Most brokerages want new agents so you will interview a few brokerages before you choose the one you want to work with. Without an employing broker, your application won’t be approved, and you won’t be able to sit the exam.

Step 4: Submit Paper Application

Upload or include with your paper application: The Official Course Completion Certificate and the Resident Salesperson Exam Application Documents—a letter of recommendation from your identified real estate broker.¹⁰

After your application is approved, you will receive an email from the testing vendor to schedule your exam date. If you do not receive the email within 72 hours, please contact the licensing department by phone at (304) 558-3555 or by email at [email protected].

Important: You have ninety (90) days or two attempts (whichever comes first) before you have to resubmit an application to sit for the exam.

You have ninety (90) days to apply for a license after you pass BOTH portions of the exam.

Step 5: Submit All Other Documents

Congratulations! You have passed the West Virginia Real Estate Licensing exam.
The final step is to submit your online application,¹¹ a copy of your proof of passing both sections of the exam, and your License Letter.¹²

The License Letter must be signed by your broker and included with the $75 license fee paid to the West Virginia Realty Commission.

West Virginia Real Estate Division Fee Structure

The schedule of fees involved in becoming a real estate agent includes the following:¹³

• State exam fee: $55
• Application to sit for the exam fee: $25
• Application for license fee for a real estate agent, or salesperson: $75
• License renewal fee: $75, per year
• Late renewal fee: $50

Other miscellaneous fees may include:

• Change of Employing Broker: $20.00
• Duplicate license: $10.00
• Certification of Licensure: $20.00
• Change of Company Name: $10.00
• Change of Office Address: $20.00
• Change of Licensee name: $10.00

Failure to pay any of the fees required is just cause for revocation or refusal to issue or renew a license. Mark your calendar with important dates!

Voluntary Application for National Association of Realtors® (NAR)

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. NAR periodically accepts applications for its Volunteering Work grant and mentoring program, a program that matches mentors with real estate agents who have a commitment to public service.

All NAR members involved in charitable efforts with growth potential are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. Those selected receive a $1,000 grant to help improve their community programs and receive one year of one-on-one mentoring from a member of NAR’s Good Neighbor Society.

What’s the Typical Length of the Real Estate Application Process?

The West Virginia Realty Commission states that the processing of applications typically takes 4-6 weeks from the date the application is received. After the application is processed, the Commission will issue a real estate license to the applicant.