West Virginia PreLicensing Requirements

Individual Resident Producer Requirements

To qualify for a resident West Virginia state insurance producer license, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be a resident of the state of West Virginia
• Satisfy the Insurance Commissioner that he/she is trustworthy and competent
• Complete an approved prelicensing course of study (see prelicense requirements below)
• Pass a written examination and file a license application
• Submit fingerprints (effective 6/1/15)

PreLicense Education Requirements (PLE)

Applicants must complete prelicense education (PLE) for each major line of authority (LOA), as follows:

• 20-hours Life Insurance
• 20-hours Accident and Health Insurance
• 40-hours Life, Accident and Health Insurance
• 20-hours Property Insurance
• 20-hours Casualty Insurance
• 40-hours Property and Casualty Insurance

State Candidate Handbook

Before making an exam reservation Applicants should thoroughly review the State of West Virginia Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook which contains the exam content outlines and important information regarding eligibility and the examination and licensing application process.

PLE Course Delivery

Per West Virginia PLE requirements, applicants are required to complete all of the lessons in the prelicense education course sequentially before they can be issued a certificate of completion.

PLE Course Exam

• Passing Score: Applicants must pass the PLE final exam with a 70% or higher to receive a certificate of completion.
• Exam Proctor Requirements:  PreLicense.com final exams must be monitored by a disinterested third party. Proctors must not serve for examinations of family members, relatives, or dependents; employers or supervisors; employees or subordinates; partners, joint ventures, co-owners, or business associates; or for anyone in whom the proctor or instructor has an economic or other interest in assuring the successful outcome of the examination.

Certificate of Completion

PreLicense.com provides online, printable certificates of completion in West Virginia.  An applicant must meet West Virginia’s PLE requirements before a certificate of completion is issued.  The certificate of completion is valid for 4 months from the date of completion.

State Reporting Requirements 

Prelicense.com sends course completion rosters to the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner daily.

State Licensing Exam

Methods of Registration

• Register Online:  Click here to register for the state licensing exam online (must register at least 24 hours in advance)

• Register by Phone: (800) 274-2614 (must register at least 24 hours in advance)
• Register by Fax:  Fax completed registration form to (888) 204-6291.
• On-site registration is not allowed.

Materials Needed to Present at Exam Site

• Candidates must present two (2) forms of current signature identification. The primary identification must be government-issued and photo-bearing with a signature and the secondary identification must contain a valid signature. Identification must be in English.
• PLE Certificate of Completion

Testing Sites, Fees, and Schedules

• Testing Sites:  Click here to view a list of testing centers in West Virginia
• Exams and Fees:  A list of Insurance License Exams and exam fees can be found on the back cover of the West Virginia Insurance Licensing Candidate Handbook.  Currently, the exam fee is $110.00.

State Exam Passing Score

• Applicants must pass the state licensing exam with a 70% or higher to file a license application.
• Pursuant to West Virginia rules, candidates who fail part one of the exam need retake only the part they failed, as long as the Certificate of Completion is still valid.

License Application Process

Important: Applicants who are not licensed within 1 year of passing their exam must complete pre-licensing and retake the examination.

Ways to Apply

• Apply Online: Click here to submit your license application online.
• Apply by Paper:  Click here to download the Uniform Application for Individual Producer License

Materials Needed to Apply

• Completed Resident Agent Application
• Appropriate license application fees
• Copy of passed exam results
• Copy of PLE certificate completion

New Resident Producer Requirements

New residents who still hold an active license in their previous home state may not be required to complete prelicense education or take an examination as long as they meet the following requirements:

• Licensed in a reciprocal state and applying for same lines of authority
• Cancelled former home state license within 90 days of applying in West Virginia

License Application Process

Ways to Apply

• Apply Online: Click here to submit your license application online.
• Apply by Paper:  Click here to download the Uniform Application for Individual Producer License

Materials Needed to Apply

• Completed Resident Agent Application
• Appropriate license application fees

Nonresident Producer Requirements

Nonresident license candidates may obtain a West Virginia agent license, without having to complete the prelicense education requirement or take a license examination, as long as they are currently licensed as a resident and in good standing in their home state.

License Application Process

Ways to Apply

• Apply Online: Click here to submit your license application online.
• Apply by Paper:  Click here to download the Uniform Application for Individual Producer License

Materials Needed to Apply

• Completed Resident Agent Application
• Appropriate license application fees

State-Required Product Training

Your state has special training requirements in order for licensed agents to sell the following products:

Annuity Training:  All producers currently licensed to sell, solicit, and negotiate annuity products must complete a one-time annuity training course approved for at least 4 hours prior to selling, soliciting, or negotiating such products.

Long-Term Care: Before selling, soliciting or negotiating LTC insurance products in West Virginia producers must complete a one-time state-approved training course of no less than 8 hours.

Purchasing state-required Product Training with your exam prep course from the PreLicense.com catalog will allow you to take one of the special training requirement courses from WebCE. Additional fees for state filing, books or shipping may apply at the time you register to begin taking the product training course.

Click here for more information regarding state-specific product training.

Contact Information

West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
P.O. Box 50541, 1124 Smith Street
Charleston, WV 25305-0541
Phone:  304-558-0610
Email: agent.licensing@wvinsurance.gov
Web Site: http://www.wvinsurance.gov/Home.aspx

Pearson VUE
Phone:  (800) 274-2614
Web Site: http://www.pearsonvue.com/wv/insurance/