How to Become a Real Estate Agent in West Virginia

To become a real estate agent in West Virginia, you'll need to be licensed by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission. There are various requirements that must be met prior to applying for a real estate license including completing the required education at an approved real estate school.

 


Here's what you need to know to become a real estate agent in West Virginia
1) Licensing Requirements
2) License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
3) What is a REALTOR®?
4) Income Potential
5) Real Estate Schools


How to Become a Real Estate Agent in West Virginia

1) Real Estate Agent Licensing Requirements in West Virginia
You MUST be licensed by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission  in order to be a real estate agent in West Virginia.

To obtain your West Virginia real estate agent's license so that you can practice as a real estate agent in West Virginia, you must:

i) Satisfy the minimum requirements requirements to apply for the real estate license:

ii) Submit Application to take the Real Estate Salesperson Exam.

ii) Take and pass the West Virginia salesperson exam. There is a $25 exam fee.

iii) Submit License Fee of $50  to the West Virginia Real Estate Commission within 3 months of passing the exam.

 

2) License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements

The West Virginia sales associate license must be renewed every year. The license year begins on July 1 and ends on June 30. You will need to complete a continuing education requirement  and renew your license in order to continue practicing as a real estate agent in West Virginia.

The continuing education requirement is 7 hours (each hour equals 50 minutes of instruction) of continuing professional education at an approved real estate school.

 There is a renewal fee of $50.

 

3) What is a REALTOR®?

A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she pays an annual fee to be a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its Code of Ethics.

The agent generally join through the local board or association.

For example, in Raleigh County once you have obtain your real estate license, you may pay a fee to join the BECKLEY BOARD OF REALTORS®.

Joining the local board makes you a member of the West Virginia Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS®.

All REALTORS® are real estate agents but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.

 


4) Income Potential
Real estate agents are generally paid based on a percentage of the sales price. The seller may pay 4 to 7% of the sales price as the fee and that will usually be split 50/50 between the seller and buyer's broker.

In Jefferson County, West Virginia, the March 2005 median home price is approximately $290,000. Assume that the fee is 6%, the buyer's and seller's broker is each paid 3% or $8700.

This fee is then split further between the broker and agent. Generally, for starting agents, the split is 50/50. So in this case, the agent will end up receiving $4350 for the transaction.

There is no limit as to how much an agent can make in a year - the sky's the limit.

Based on West Virginia's average home price and the above example, a real estate agent in West Virginia can make about $43,500/year by selling 10 houses a year. By selling one house per week, the real estate agent in West Virginia will have a salary of $226,200.


5) Real Estate Schools

The first step to becoming a real estate agent in West Virginia is to take the required classes at an approved real estate school. School status may change so it is best to call the West Virginia Real Estate Commission at 304.558.3555 prior to signing up for a class.

Below are real estate schools in West Virginia that are currently approved by the West Virginia Real Estate Commission.

 

Real Estate Schools in Charleston, WV:

 

Edna McGill School of Real Estate
3 Vest Place
Charleston, WV 25314
304-346-9063 or 866-346-9063
Kanawha County Schools - Adult Education
422 Dickinson Street
Charleston, WV 25301
304-348-6195
Lighthouse School of Real Estate
718 Park Avenue
Charleston, WV 25302
304-720-7654
Real Estate School of West Virginia
c\o Old Colony Company
13 Kanawha Boulevard, West
Charleston, WV 25302
304-342-0069
Realty One, Inc.
203 Crestview Drive
Charleston, WV 25302
304-342-0505
Spruce School of Real Estate, Inc
1569 Nottingham Road
Charleston, WV 25314
800-864-7318 or 304-744-1286

 

Real Estate Schools in Fairmont, WV:

 

Brenda White School of Real Estate
603 Morgantown Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
304-363-2150
Fairmont State University
1201 Locust Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554-2489
304-367-4261 or 304-367-4183
Picket Fences Realty School of Real Estate
529 Fairmont Avenue
Fairmont, WV 26554
304-367-0543