West Virginia Real Estate Exam: Everything You Need to Know

Passing the Virginia real estate exam is one of the last hurdles to make before getting your license and becoming an agent. This article will cover everything you need to know about the West Virginia real estate exam. Here’s a list of what you can expect to gain as you read on:

• How to schedule the West Virginia Real Estate Licensing exam 
• The requirements to register for the exam
• The cost of the exam
• Where you can take the exam 
• What is covered on the exam 
• The difficulty level of the exam 
• Best tips to pass the exam 

How to Schedule the West Virginia Real Estate Licensing Exam

To schedule the West Virginia real estate licensing exam, a candidate must: 

• Be 18 years or older
• Have, at a minimum, a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Be trustworthy, have good moral character and be competent to conduct business
• Complete 90 hours of pre-licensing coursework 
• Complete a state and national criminal background check‍
• File an application to the West Virginia Real Estate Commission.

This application should include the following: 

• Official Course Completion C​ertificate‍
• Resident Salesperson Exam Application Documents

Your application will be reviewed by the commission, and if approved, you’ll receive an email from Pearson VUE containing your Authorization to test letter. This authorization is only valid for ninety days or two exam attempts after approval, whichever comes first.

Once you receive your authorization letter, you can schedule your examination by visiting the Pearson VUE website. If you’re a first-time user, you’ll be required to create an account to create a candidate ID and be assigned a password. Follow the step-by-step instructions provided on the website to book your exam reservation. 

You can also make a reservation over the phone by calling (888) 204-6218. All exam reservations must be made at least 24 hours before the desired exam date. You’ll be required to pay an examination fee of $55 at the time of reservation. This fee is non-refundable, non-transferable, and can be paid via credit or debit card. 

Where Do You Take the West Virginia Real Estate License Exam?

Candidates for the West Virginia real estate licensing exam are to take their exams at any of the state's designated Pearson VUE test centers. These locations include: 

• Pearson Professional Centers, Charleston
• Pearson Professional Centers, Morgantown
• New River Community and Technical College, Beaver
• WVU Beckley, Beckley
• Citynet LLC, Bridgeport
• Metro Community FCU, Huntington, WV
• Mountwest Community and Technical College, Huntington
• nCompass Networks, Huntington
• Athena Training, Hurricane
• Blue Ridge Community and Technical College, Martinsburg
• Marshall County Schools, Moundsville
• WVU Parkersburg Riverhawk Resource Tutoring Center, Parkersburg
• Karen Preservati Center, Princeton
• BridgeValley Community and Technical College, South Charleston,

Note that testing locations are also available in other states and jurisdictions around the U.S.,  and the exam can be taken from any of these centers. 

Can You Take the Exam Online?

Yes, you can take the West Virginia real estate exam online. Candidates are allowed a one-time attempt to take the exam from their home or office via OnVue testing. To do this, choose the “Online at my home or office” option while scheduling your exam. 

If you’re testing online, watch this short video before you begin your online exam. You should also take note of the practices expected of a candidate testing online, such as: 

• Remaining in screen view of the proctor during the entire session,
• Workspace preparation
• Cell phones being placed out of reach
• General candidate behaviors
• Run a system test.

What to Bring on the Day of Your Exam

On the day of your West Virginia real estate exam, you are expected to bring the following: 

One form of VALID, non-expired, government-issued signature identification. This ID must contain your photo, and its name must match the name on your exam reservation. This identification must be in English. It can be any of the following: 

• Government-issued Driver’s License
• U.S. Dept. of State Driver’s License
• U.S. Learner’s Permit (plastic card only with photo and signature)
• National/State/Country ID card
• Passport
• Passport Card
• Military ID
• Military ID for spouses and dependents
• Alien Registration Card (Green Card, Permanent Resident Visa)

What is on the West Virginia Real Estate Exam?

The West Virginia real estate exam is made up of two sections, which are: 

• The national portion, comprising questions based on national real estate principles and practice
• The Virginia state-specific portion, comprising questions based on laws, regulations, and practice of real estate in West Virginia

National Portion

Here are the topics you will come across in the national portion of the salesperson exam, with the number of questions you can expect from each topic:

• Real Property Characteristics, Legal Descriptions, and Property Use; 9
• Forms Of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording Of Title; 8
• Property Value and Appraisal; 11
• Real Estate Contracts and Agency; 16
• Real Estate Practice; 14
• Property Disclosures and Environmental Issues; 8
• Financing and Settlement; 7
• Real Estate Math Calculations; 7

State Portion 

Here are the topics you will come across in the state portion of the salesperson exam, with the number of questions you can expect per topic:

• Activities Requiring License; Exemptions From Licensure; 5 
• Scope of Practice, Closing Statement, and Fees; 4 
• Advertising Rules; 5
• Trust Funds; 3 
• Refusal, Suspension or Revocation of a License; 5
• Penalties For Violations; 5
• Complaints, Investigation, Hearings, Cost of Proceedings; 3 
• WV Fair Housing; 4
• Agency Relationships; 4 
• Purpose of License Law and Regulations and Role of the Commission; 1
• Duties of Licensees. Duration of Existing Licenses; Transfers; 8
• Renewal of License; 2 
• Continuing Professional Education; 1

Will There Be Math on the Exam?

There will be 7 math questions on the West Virginia real estate salesperson licensing exam. These math questions will be related to basic mathematical skills involved in real estate calculations, including:

• Property area calculations
• Property valuations
• Commission/Compensation
• Loan financing costs
• Settlements and closing costs
• Investments
• Property management calculations

Candidates may use the following information in making mathematical calculations on the general section of the real estate examinations unless otherwise stated in the text of the question:

• 43,560 square feet/acre
• 5,280 feet/mile
• Round off calculations (where applicable)

Keep in mind that solving these math problems could be difficult and time-consuming. It is, therefore, best to save these questions for later while you continue to answer the other questions unless the answers are easy. This allows you to answer more questions and maximize your allocated time. 

Is the West Virginia Real Estate Exam Hard?

As can be expected of any professional certification exam, the West Virginia real estate exam is hard and will only get harder for poorly prepared candidates. This is why studying hard and getting all the help you can before taking the exam is important. 

How Many Questions Are on the West Virginia Real Estate Exam?

The West Virginia real estate salesperson exam has 130 multiple-choice questions. 80 of these questions fall under the national portion, while the remaining 50 fall under the state-specific portion. Candidates are given 3 ½ hours to complete the exam (2 ½ hours for the national section and 1 hour for the state section.)  

Note that 5-10 ‘pretest’ questions may be added to a candidate's test. These questions are used to evaluate the quality of the exam and develop future licensing examinations. These questions will not be scored, neither will the time used to answer them count against the testing time.  

To pass the West Virginia exam, you must have a passing score of 70% or higher.

Once you submit the exam, your score report marked “pass” or “fail” will be displayed on the screen. If you pass, you will submit your score report to the Commission as proof of passing the exam. If you fail, your score report will consist of a numeric score and diagnostic information about the examination, as well as information about reexamination.

What is the Passing Rate for the Real Estate Exam in West Virginia?

The passing rate of the real estate exam in West Virginia is above 70% for first-time takers.

Note that this passing rate may be affected over time due to changes in the exam content and difficulty level.

How Many Times Can You Take the Real Estate Exam?

After authorization, you have 90 days or two attempts to pass the West Virginia real estate exam, depending on which happens first. If you pass only one portion of the exam, you need only retake the failed portion, and you must do so within the authorization period. 

If you pass only one part of the exam within the first 90 days, and your authorization period expires, you must resubmit an initial application to the Commission, repay the reexamination fee, and be authorized again for the part you did not pass.

How to Pass the West Virginia Real Estate Exam

While the real estate exam in West Virginia is hard, it is not impossible to pass. To pass the exam on the first try, candidates must study hard. While you can obtain most of the knowledge you need during the mandatory pre-educational program, there are also certain effective study tools that you can adopt in your preparation to increase your chances of passing. They include: 

Create a Study Schedule 

When preparing for an exam like the West Virginia real estate exam, creating a study schedule can be very helpful in helping you balance your study sessions with your other daily commitments. A well-planned study schedule will improve your daily time management by ensuring that every minute of your time is accounted for. We recommend studying for a little bit every night or at least every other night.

Use Acronyms and Mnemonic Devices

Acronyms and mnemonic devices are memory aids that break down complex information into smaller and simpler chunks that are easier for the brain to process and remember. Acronyms are formed by taking the first letters of each word in a phrase and forming a word with it. A good example of a real estate acronym is CCIM, which is Certified Commercial Investment Member. 

Similarly, mnemonic devices are formed by associating a piece of information with something that can be easily related. A good mnemonic device detailing a property's four essential characteristics to have value would be “Don’t Utter Silly Things.”

• Don’t for Demand
• Utter for Utility
• Silly for Scarcity
• Things for Transferability

Join a Study Group 

Joining a study group can significantly increase your chances of success in the West Virginia real estate exam by improving your learning process. It provides like-minded people to be accountable to, boosts your motivation to study, and helps to breed a healthy competition within you that gears you to do more.

Get Guided Help

Studying for the West Virginia real estate exam could get difficult because you will have a lot of ground to cover. That's why we created our real estate exam prep package. It's an online course that gives you tons of resources to feel prepared and confident to pass the exam on your first try.

When you purchase the package, you’ll get access to the following helpful materials:

• 1,500 West Virginia real estate exam practice questions
• Customizable practice state exams
• Vocabulary flashcards
• Video explanations
• E-book study guide

Final Thoughts on the Real Estate Exam in West Virginia  

The West Virginia real estate exam is compulsory for all individuals who want to be licensed real estate salespersons. Passing this exam requires careful preparation and a solid understanding of real estate concepts and practices. To increase your chances of succeeding on this exam, follow the tips above and enroll in a reputable real estate school.