How to become a real estate broker in West Virginia

Becoming a real estate broker in West Virginia means upgrading from a salesperson license to a license that lets you work independently, supervise agents, and handle escrow accounts. The process requires at least 2 years of salesperson experience, 90 hours of broker-specific pre-licensing education (180 hours if you do not already hold a WV salesperson license), a passing score on the Pearson VUE broker exam, and a $150 license fee paid to the West Virginia Real Estate Commission (WVREC). A broker and a REALTOR® are not the same: a broker holds a state license, while a REALTOR® is any licensed agent or broker who joins the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Real estate broker vs. real estate agent vs. real estate agent in West Virginia

The WVREC issues three license tiers: salesperson, associate broker, and broker. The salesperson license is the starting point for the broker pathway in West Virginia.

Becoming a real estate agent as a licensed broker

A broker gains REALTOR® status by joining a local West Virginia REALTOR® association, which enrolls them simultaneously in the state association (WVAR) and national association (NAR) through a single membership. REALTOR® status is voluntary and independent of the state licensing process; it adds the NAR Code of Ethics obligation but does not expand legal authority beyond what the state license provides.

Broker license eligibility requirements

The WVREC requires an Affidavit of Broker's Recommendation from the applicant's employing broker as part of the broker exam application, along with a closed-transactions form documenting deal volume. All applications must be submitted online through the WVREC broker licensing portal^[1]; paper submissions are no longer accepted.

A National Criminal Background Check valid for 90 days is also required. The online application requires course completion certificates and a driver's license copy in addition to the affidavit and transactions form.

Broker pre-licensing education in West Virginia

The broker-specific curriculum adds three courses to the salesperson foundation. These courses must have been completed within the 5-year period before the application date, per the WVREC Pre-Licensing Education page^[2].

Online pre-licensing courses are permitted if approved by the Commission.

The West Virginia broker licensing exam

Pearson VUE administers the West Virginia broker licensing exam under contract with the WVREC. The process starts with an exam application submitted to the WVREC; after approval, Pearson VUE emails the candidate to schedule the exam. The broker exam has two sections (national and state).

Candidates have 90 days or 2 attempts (whichever comes first) before having to resubmit an exam application to the WVREC. Appointments may be scheduled online or by calling Pearson VUE at 888-204-6218, up to 24 hours before the desired test date, subject to availability.

Applying for your broker license

After passing both portions of the broker exam, you have 90 days to submit your license application online to the WVREC. The broker or associate broker license fee is $150, due at application, per the WVREC Schedule of Fees^[3] effective January 1, 2023.

Required post-exam documents for brokers include:

• Copy of pass certificates from Pearson VUE
• Subordination Resolution
• Trust Fund Form or Waiver
• Registration with the WV Secretary of State's Office (the applicant must be listed as a member or officer of the company)

A broker who opens a branch office must pay a separate $150 branch office license fee. The following table summarizes the regulated fees a broker applicant can expect:

The $25 exam application fee and $150 license fees are set by the WVREC Schedule of Fees^[3]. The $59 per-section exam fee paid to Pearson VUE took effect as of February 2026, when the vendor increased the rate from $55, per the Pearson VUE West Virginia real estate page^[4].

Timeline for the broker upgrade

The broker pathway requires at least 2 years as a licensed salesperson before you can apply. The broker-specific pre-licensing course typically takes several weeks to a few months depending on study pace and course format. After course completion, the exam application, background check, scheduling, and license application add several more weeks.

Out-of-state brokers seeking a West Virginia license

Non-resident broker applicants who hold a current broker license in another jurisdiction are exempt from the pre-licensing education requirement. They must pass the state portion of the WV licensing exam but are exempt from the national portion, according to the WVREC Non-Resident Broker page^[5]. Applicants must submit a Certification of Licensure from every state where they are or were licensed (valid for 60 days), complete a National Criminal Background Check, and submit an Irrevocable Consent form.

West Virginia has a reciprocity agreement with Florida, as listed on the WVREC Reciprocity page^[6]. After passing the state portion, non-resident brokers must register with the WV Secretary of State's Office and be listed as a member or officer of the company. The same 90-day, 2-attempt exam window applies.

Broker continuing education and renewal in West Virginia

The WVREC requires annual continuing education in Commission-approved courses, with each hour equaling 50 minutes of instruction, as defined by WV Code §30-40-16^[7]. This requirement has applied since fiscal year 2024.

CE courses may be completed online through Commission-approved providers.

Licenses expire annually on June 30, and the renewal portal opens May 1. The annual renewal fee for brokers and associate brokers is $150. Late renewal penalties apply on a tiered schedule: $50 from July 1 to August 31, $75 from September 1 to October 31, and $100 from November 1 to December 31. Licenses not renewed by December 31 are cancelled, and the licensee must reapply from scratch, including retaking both exam portions.

Career outlook for real estate brokers

The median annual wage for real estate brokers in the United States was $72,280 in May 2024, compared to $56,320 for real estate sales agents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook^[8]. The BLS projects 3% employment growth for real estate brokers and sales agents from 2024 to 2034, with about 46,300 openings projected per year over the decade.

Next steps to becoming a West Virginia broker

If you hold a West Virginia salesperson license and meet the 2-year experience requirement, start by verifying your closed transaction count meets the 20-deal (2-year) or 40-deal (any period) threshold. Enroll in a Commission-approved broker pre-licensing course, request an Affidavit of Broker's Recommendation from your employing broker, and compile your Closed Transactions Form. Submit your exam application online through the WVREC portal with the $25 fee, complete your background check, and schedule your exam with Pearson VUE after receiving authorization. After passing both sections, submit your license application with the required post-exam documents and $150 fee within 90 days.