On this page, you'll find a comprehensive guide for becoming a licensed insurance agent in West Virginia and the state requirements. We'll walk you through the process, and we'll be here to answer any questions you have along the way.

The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner requires each person selling insurance in the state to hold an insurance producer license. You will choose which line of authority you want to be licensed in: health insurance, life insurance, property and casualty insurance, or any combination of those lines.

Once you know which license you need, you’re ready to begin. In the State of West Virginia, there are 5 steps to getting your insurance license.

1. Complete a Prelicensing Course

The first step is to complete a prelicensing course. A.D. Banker offers prelicensing courses that will prepare you to successfully pass the state exam on your first attempt. Our online courses can be supplemented with web classes and learning tools like flashcards and study manuals to suit your preferred learning style.

In West Virginia, potential agents must complete 20 hours of prelicensing education for each line of authority before attempting the state exam.

After completing your course, you will need to pass a Certification Exam. This demonstrates completion of the prelicensing requirement. The Certification Exam must be monitored by a disinterested third party. It cannot be a friend, a family member, or someone with a financial connection to you. After passing the Certification Exam with a 70% or greater, you will receive a Certificate of Completion. The certificate is valid for 6 months from the completion date, and you will need to take the state exam within this timeframe.

2. Pass a Licensing Exam

After you finish your prelicensing course, you are now ready to take the state licensing exam. You must score 70% or higher to pass your state licensing exam.

3. Get Fingerprinted

The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner requires fingerprint impressions for all applicants for their initial resident insurance license and for those applying to add another line of authority. This applies to resident applicants applying or amending the following lines of authority: Life, Accident & Sickness, Property & Casualty, Personal Lines, Surplus Lines, and Viatical Settlement Brokers.

Applicants are required to schedule a fingerprinting appointment after successfully passing the state exam. You can register for an appointment online with Identogo or by calling 1-855-766-7746. Fingerprints will be captured by MorphoTrust at an IndetoGo Center, which electronically captures and transmits the digital fingerprints to the West Virginia State Police (WVSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a criminal history and a federal background check. Applicants will need to indicate that fingerprint impressions be sent to the Insurance Commission.

4. Apply for a License

After passing the exam, you are ready to submit your license application and pay the application fee with the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR).

5. Plan for Continuing Education

Continuing education (CE) is required for all West Virginia resident insurance agents and adjusters for license renewal. The continuing education requirements for agents are generally 24 hours every 2 years, including 3 hours of ethics training. There are additional requirements to sell certain products, such as annuities, long-term care, and flood insurance.

Nonresident license holders are currently required to adhere to their home state continuing education requirements.

It’s important to stay on top of any changes to state insurance statutes and continuing education requirements, which can be found on the West Virginia OIC website.

We’re Here to Help

Our goal is to prepare you for your insurance licensing exam, and then guide you through your career as a licensed professional. Once you pass your exam and successfully apply for a license, your license will need to be renewed every two years. Learn more about how to renew a WV insurance license by visiting our CE requirements page.

Once you begin the process of becoming a licensed insurance professional, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Get started today by reviewing our prelicensing course catalog.

West Virginia Licensing Exam FAQ

Where will I take the state exam?

Remote exams are available to ensure accessibility and safety. These exams require you to have a computer or laptop that is compatible with OnVUE, Pearson VUE’s remote testing platform. If you do not have a compatible computer, you must schedule an in-person exam.

Exams may also be taken in-person at a Pearson VUE testing site. Exams taken at a Pearson VUE location may include an additional provider fee.

How do I schedule my state exam?

Every insurance licensing exam is accompanied by an exam fee that must be paid by a credit or debit card, voucher, or electronic check. This fee must be paid at the time of reservation and will not be accepted at a testing center. You can schedule your state exam through Pearson VUE or by calling (800) 274-2614.

How should I prepare for my remote state exam?

Before scheduling your licensing exam, test the compatibility of your computer, webcam, and microphone. OnVUE requires the newest versions of Microsoft Edge, Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox. Exams must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance, and you are allowed to cancel or reschedule your exam up to 48 hours before your reservation time by calling Pearson VUE.

Next, download OnVUE. Please note that the download can take up to 30 minutes, so we recommend you do this before the day of your test to prevent any last-minute technical problems.

Login to the testing platform 30 minutes before your exam reservation time. A state or government ID is required to be presented to verify your identity. For remote exams, a military ID or certain secure access IDs are not accepted as a valid form of identification. Check with Pearson VUE if you are unsure if your ID will be accepted for remote proctoring.

Your remote test requires you to be alone in a private room for the duration of the exam. The surface you have your computer on must be clear of all objects. You cannot have a phone, headphones, or a wristwatch on you while you are taking the exam. Food, chewing gum, and tobacco products are also prohibited. You are permitted to have a beverage.

All exams are monitored by a third-party to ensure all testing requirements are followed. The monitors are able to answer questions that do not pertain to the content of the exam via live chat.

If technical issues occur while you are taking the exam, the proctor is there to resolve the issues in real-time. If the proctor cannot resolve the issue, they will file a case on your behalf. Your exam will be rescheduled, and Pearson VUE will provide either a reimbursement or a voucher for a new exam appointment.

Candidates taking an online examination are allowed only one attempt per exam. All subsequent examination attempts must be taken at a Pearson VUE testing center.

How should I prepare for my in-person state exam?

Report to the testing center 30 minutes before your exam time for the check-in process. You will be required to present a valid government-issued ID. If you arrive late, you will not be admitted to the test center and will forfeit your exam fee.

No personal items are allowed to be taken into the testing center. All personal items, including bags and wallets, will have to remain in your vehicle or be checked into provided storage space. Cell phones, calculators, electronic devices, and wristwatches are not allowed into the testing center. Food, chewing gum, and tobacco products are also prohibited. You are allowed to have a beverage. You must stay in the testing center for the duration of the exam. No breaks are allowed.

If you have any questions about the exam process, testing locations, or security measures, please contact Pearson VUE or West Virginia Department of Insurance.

What is the format of the state exam?

All licensing exams are taken on a computer and are multiple choice. The exam will cover both a general section with basic insurance product knowledge, and a state section with specific insurance laws, rules, regulations, and practices that are unique to West Virginia. A good prelicensing training course will feature practice exams that simulate the format of the state exams, so you should know exactly what to expect on the actual state licensing exam.

How long is the state exam?

Depending on which line of insurance you are testing on, the amount of time and number of questions on the exam vary.

Life Producer exam is 2 hours with 89 questions

Health Producer exam is 2 hours with 91 questions

Property Producer exam is 2 hours with 90 questions

Casualty Producer exam is 2 hours with 90 questions

Property & Casualty Producer exam is 3.5 hours with 158 questions

Personal Lines Producer exam is 2.5 hours with 118 questions

Adjuster exam is 1 hour with 80 questions

Public Adjuster exam is 1 hour with 45 questions

Surplus Lines exam is 1 hour with 50 questions

Viatical Settlement Broker exam is 45 minutes with 35 questions

Workers Compensation Adjuster exam is 1 hour with 45 questions

What score do I need to pass?

For all insurance exams, you need to score 70% or higher to pass. Immediately after your exam, you will receive a pass or fail notification.