Article Summary: This article will help anyone looking for information pertaining to a real estate license in the state of West Virginia or anyone looking to become a real estate agent or realtor in West Virginia. Contents of this article may include information on real estate education, schools, training courses, continuing education, tests and exams, laws, license requirements, renewal information, forms and more..
The
West Virginia Real Estate
Commission, created in 1937, aims at protecting the public interest from the
unauthorized, unqualified and unregulated practice of real estate brokerage. The
main office of the Commission is in Charleston, West Virginia.
The
requirements for a real estate salesperson license in West Virginia
include being at least 18 years of age and having a high school diploma or GED.
Salesperson applicants need to complete 90 clock hours (six credit hours) of approved
pre-licensing real estate courses before applying. These courses need
to be completed within the five-year period preceding the application date. Licensed
applicants from other jurisdictions need to obtain a Certification of License
from the home state. All salesperson applicants must also pass the
real
estate exams. These exams are given six times a year. No license fees
are paid with the application.
The
requirements for a real estate broker license in West Virginia
include being at least 18 years of age and having a high school diploma or GED.
Broker applicants need to complete 90 clock hours (6 credit hours) in approved
real estate courses if already licensed as a real estate salesperson in West Virginia.
Those not already licensed as a salesperson in West Virginia must submit proof
of having successfully completed 180 clock hours (12 credit hours) in approved
real estate courses. All courses need to have been completed during the five year
period preceding the application date. All applicants for the broker license need
to have at least two years of
active experience as a real estate salesperson.
Proof of active experience is provided by providing information on all listings
and sales during the two year period. Recommendation affidavits need to be obtained
from all brokers with whom the applicant has been licensed as a salesperson. Although
Attorneys at Law do not have to satisfy the above experience and education requirements,
they do need to provide a 'Certificate of Good Standing' from the West Virginia
State Bar, and all attorneys must successfully pass the written real estate exams.
Licensed applicants from other jurisdictions need to obtain a Certification of
License from the home state to accompany the application. The examination is given
six times a year. No license fees need to be submitted with the application.
You can locate the approved
real
estate schools for prelicensure, and approved schools for
continuing
education online.
The
license fee for a real estate broker or associate broker is $100.00, and for a real estate salesperson
is $50.00.
West Virginia has
reciprocity
agreements with 19 other states. Applicants from other states need to fulfill
the regular West Virginia licensing requirements. However, credit may be given
for portions of the educational requirement that has already been fulfilled in
a different state. Applicants licensed in other states must maintain a definite
place of business in West Virginia if their state of residence requires West Virginia
brokers to maintain an office in their state. All applicants for a salesperson
or broker real estate license in West Virginia who are from a different jurisdiction
must provide a
Surety Bond in the amount of $2,000.00.
You can locate many of the
real
estate forms online. The license application forms are received from the approved
schools upon completion of the approved courses, and other forms may be obtained
from the Real Estate Commission.
Real estate careers are strengthened by membership in the many organizations
that provide services for the professional agent. Organizations like the
West
Virginia Association of Realtors and the National Association of Real Estate
Brokers (
NAREB)
assist many in locating
real estate jobs within the industry. The Association
of Real Estate License Law Officials (
ARELLO)
and The National Association of Realtors (
NAR),
the world's largest professional association, are excellent resources for real
estate education and professional enrichment.
We also offer information and resources for West Virginia Commercial Mortgage