West Virginia insurancelicense requirements
West Virginia insurance license at a glance
- Prelicensing course
- 20 hours per line
- Exam provider
- Pearson VUE
- Passing score
- 70 (scaled score)
- Exam fee
- $84 per exam
- License fee
- $50
- Fingerprints
- Required, through IdentoGO
- Continuing education
- 24 hours every 2 years
How to become an insurance agent in West Virginia
Below, you'll find the steps to a West Virginia insurance license, the exams for each line, and what it takes to keep your license active.
Requirements for West Virginia insurance producers
Contact the West Virginia insurance department
How much do insurance agents make in West Virginia?
West Virginia average insurance agent salary (all lines): $59,560
That is the mean annual wage for insurance sales agents in West Virginia in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 survey.
Estimates by line, from Achievable's May 2026 salary research (not BLS figures):
- Life insurance agent: $68,876
- Health insurance agent: $55,683
- Property and casualty insurance agent: $36,981
Please note that salaries will vary based on experience level and local demand.
Does West Virginia require prelicensing education?
West Virginia requires producer licensing candidates to take and complete a state-approved prelicensing course (20 hours for each line: Life, Accident & Health, Property, Casualty and Personal Lines). You will also need to apply for your license with the state insurance department and register for the state licensing exam. Make sure to register for all 3 (prelicensing course, license application, state exam) using the personally identifiable information exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID. Discrepancies will delay the licensing process.
How do I get my insurance license in West Virginia?
Becoming an insurance producer in West Virginia requires passing a state-mandated insurance exam in the specific line or lines you wish to specialize in, as well as completing the following steps:
- Step 1: Complete a Department of Insurance-approved prelicensing course. After finishing, download and print your certificate of completion from your Achievable account. This certificate is valid for six months.
- Step 2: Book your exam with Pearson VUE online at https://www.pearsonvue.com/us/en/wv/insurance.html or call (800) 274-2614. The exam fee is $84 per exam and is due at booking. If you need to reschedule or cancel, do so at least 48 hours in advance to avoid forfeiting the fee. Make sure the name you use for scheduling and applying matches the name on your ID.
- Step 3: On exam day, bring two forms of signature ID, one government-issued with a photo and signature and the other with a valid signature, and your certificate of completion. You must meet these requirements to take the exam. West Virginia requires fingerprinting after passing the exam. Schedule this at an IdentoGO center at https://www.identogo.com by calling (855) 766-7746 or visiting www.identogo.com. Ensure your fingerprints are sent to the West Virginia Insurance Commission and keep the receipt with the 12-digit TCN number for your application. Fingerprinting incurs a fee.
- Step 4: Submit your license application via NIPR at https://nipr.com/; the license fee is $50. Fax the fingerprint receipt from IdentoGo to the Agent Licensing Division at (304) 558-4966.
If you need assistance with any of these steps or have questions about specific requirements, contact the West Virginia insurance department for the most current information.
West Virginia insurance exam information
West Virginia Life Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 89 Total Questions (78 scored, 11 pretest) |
| Time limit | 2 Hours |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Pass rate | 47.6% (389 of 817 first-time test takers, 2025) |
West Virginia Health Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 91 Total Questions (80 scored, 11 pretest) |
| Time limit | 2 Hours |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Pass rate | 58.0% (543 of 936 first-time test takers, 2025) |
West Virginia Property and Casualty Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 3.5 Hours |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Pass rate | 38.2% (121 of 317 first-time test takers, 2025) |
West Virginia Personal Lines Insurance Examination
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Questions | 120 Total Questions |
| Time limit | 2.5 Hours |
| Passing score | 70 (scaled score) |
| Pass rate | 57.1% (12 of 21 first-time test takers, 2025) |
Pass rates are for first-time test takers, from the NAIC's state exam reports. Each rate shows its year, and it is the most recent NAIC figure we have for that exam.
Additional requirements
West Virginia insurance licensing fees
- Resident new license: Insurance Producer $50, Surplus Lines Broker $200
- Nonresident new license: Insurance Producer $50, Surplus Lines Broker $200
- Renewal: Resident Insurance Producer $50, Surplus Lines $200; Nonresident Insurance Producer $50, Surplus Lines $200
- Late renewal/reinstatement: Up to 1 year
West Virginia insurance license citizenship requirements
Background check required; fingerprints required (IdentoGO with application)
Where can I apply for a resident insurance license in West Virginia?
Apply through NIPR
How can I apply for a non-resident insurance license in West Virginia?
- 1. Must be fingerprinted at initial application.
- 2. Must answer background questions.
- 3. Reciprocity generally applies. Must hold an active resident license in your home state.
- 4. Certain line combinations are prohibited.
- 5. Apply via NIPR ($50 plus NIPR processing fees).
West Virginia carrier appointments and insurance license terminations
- Required to report appointments: Yes
- Permits JIT appointments: Yes
- Initial appointment deadlines: Within 15 days of contract execution or first business submission
- Appointment deadline rule: WV ST § 33-12-18
- Can be processed via NIPR: Yes
- Fees for resident/nonresident agency or individual: $25
- Appoint agencies: No (except travel insurance agencies)
- Adjuster appointments via NIPR: No
- Appointment effective date can be specified: Yes; may be backdated up to 15 days prior to application date
- State requires appointment renewal: Yes via NIPR Portal (June 6 – Aug 31)
- Appointment renewal fee: $25
- Licenses require appointment or affiliation: No
West Virginia insurance license termination details
- Terminations processed via NIPR: Yes
- Termination reasons: Voluntary termination, inadequate production, cancelled by general agent, death, company defunct/liquidation, company indebtedness, poor service, agent moved, appointed in error
- Termination date can be specified: No (processed date used)
- Termination fee: No
- Allows carriers to terminate if license expired: No
- Not-for-cause termination notices: Must be mailed
West Virginia insurance license renewals
Resident renewal period begins: 90 days before expiration ; Resident renewal date: Last day of birth month every 2 years based on year of first license issue ; Nonresident renewal period: 90 days before expiration ; Nonresident renewal date: Last day of birth month every 2 years based on year of first license issue
West Virginia insurance license continuing education (CE) requirements
- Total CE hours per renewal: 24
- Renewal period: 2 years
- CE due before license renewal
- Ethics: 3 hours
- Flood-specific: 3 hours NFIP
- LTC-specific: 8-hour initial + 4 hours every 2 years
- Annuity: one-time 4-hour course
- Exemptions: Newly licensed after July 1 of second year of biennium, limited line licensees, adjusters exempt
- CE rollover: Up to 6 hours
- CE instructors can get credit: Yes
- CE transcript lookup: https://sbs.naic.org/solar-external-lookup/license-manager
West Virginia insurance license FAQs
There is no set timeline: most of it depends on how long you study and how soon you can book an exam. Start with the prelicensing requirement: 20 hours per line. Allow time for your fingerprint appointment too. After you pass, you have 1 year to apply.
Expect to pay $84 per exam for the exam and $50 for the license. Fingerprinting and any exam prep are extra.
Yes. West Virginia sets this requirement: 20 hours per line.
The passing score is 70 (scaled score). In 2025, 58.0% of first-time test takers passed the West Virginia health exam, according to the NAIC.
Yes. Resident applicants in West Virginia are fingerprinted through IdentoGO.
Apply through NIPR after you pass your exam.
West Virginia requires 24 hours every 2 years to keep your license active.
For what an agent does, the types of insurance and how multi-state licensing works, see our guide to insurance licensing by state.
Sources
- Prelicensing: wvinsurance.gov
- Exam provider, exam fee, license fee, fingerprints, passing score, where to apply and time to apply after passing: pearsonvue.com
- Continuing education: wvinsurance.gov
- Pass rates: NAIC state exam reports
- Average salary: Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025
Compiled from official West Virginia and exam provider sources as of . Licensing rules and fees change, so confirm them with the West Virginia insurance department before you apply.
Conclusion
If you're ready to start your journey toward becoming a licensed insurance agent in West Virginia, Achievable's license exam prep covers each major line: Life & Health insurance license exam prep, Property & Casualty license exam prep, and Personal Lines license exam prep. Our comprehensive study materials and practice exams are designed to help you pass your licensing exam on the first attempt.
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