How to get a West Virginia life & health license
Requirements, exam, fees and the order to do things in — from the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner and the exam handbook.
Step by step
- Complete pre-licensing education — 20 hours from a West Virginia-approved provider.
- Schedule and pass the state exam with Pearson VUE ($84). Read the candidate handbook.
- Get fingerprinted if required — Required via IdentoGO after passing exam (cost unverified).
- Apply for the license through NIPR or the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner ($50).
- Get appointed by an insurance company (agents) and keep up with continuing education — 24 incl. 3 ethics per 2 yrs hours per renewal (license term: 2 years (birth month)).
Pre-licensing & exam prep courses
- Kaplan Financial Education — state-approved pre-licensing and exam prep, the long-running market leader
- ExamFX — pre-licensing and exam prep with a pass guarantee
- AceableAgent — mobile-first pre-licensing courses
- XCEL Solutions — low-cost online pre-licensing and exam prep
Pick a course approved in West Virginia. Some links may be affiliate links.
West Virginia Life & Health requirements
| Life | Accident & Health | |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-licensing education | 20 hours | 20 hours |
| Exam vendor | Pearson VUE | Pearson VUE |
| Exam fee | $84 | $84 |
| Questions / time | 120 min | 120 min |
| License application fee | $50 | $50 |
| Fingerprints | Required via IdentoGO after passing exam (cost unverified) verify | Required via IdentoGO after passing exam (cost unverified) verify |
| Continuing education | 24 incl. 3 ethics per 2 yrs hours · 2 years (birth month) | 24 incl. 3 ethics per 2 yrs hours · 2 years |
Life: Prelicensing certificate must be shown at test center (valid 6 months); hours per provider sources
Accident & Health: Separate exam
Minimum age 18. Sources: Pearson VUE West Virginia Insurance Candidate Handbook (rev 09/2026) · Kaplan WV state requirements (secondary). Checked 2026-10. Values marked verify haven't been confirmed against an official source yet.
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Life & Health license rules across the US
Other West Virginia licenses
Property & Casualty license · Adjuster license · All West Virginia insurance licenses
Questions
How long does it take to get a life and health insurance license in West Virginia?
The 20 hours of pre-licensing take most people 1–3 weeks. After you pass, license approval usually takes a few days to a few weeks after fingerprints clear.
How much does a West Virginia Life & Health license cost?
State fees (exam + application) come to about $268, plus fingerprints and a course if you take one.
Who runs the West Virginia insurance exam?
Pearson VUE. Book the exam on the vendor's site after reading the candidate handbook.