West Virginia Insurance Continuing Education

Resident Requirements

Resident producers must complete a minimum of 24 hours of approved CE subjects during each two-year (biennial) reporting period. Three of these credit hours must be in ethics subjects. There are no other subject requirements for completing biennial CE training. 

CE credit hours may be completed via any combination of in-classroom, self-study, or online coursework. 

Additional guidelines to this CE requirement exist for licensees who sell specific products, including: 

• Long-term care: A one-time, eight-hour training requirement must be completed along with at least four hours of ongoing LTC training every subsequent biennial period.
• Annuities: A one-time, four-hour training course must be completed. 
• Flood policies: Producers must complete a one-time, three-hour course that covers the training requirements set by FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Producers who are licensed only in pre-need burial insurance or telemarketing insurance products that use a Commissioner-approved script must complete only six hours of CE training each biennial period, including three hours in ethics subjects. 

Rules for Non-Residents

Non-resident producers in compliance with their state's CE requirements are exempt from completing West Virginia CE.

If a licensee's home state does not have CE requirements - or those requirements do not meet the standards for the license type or line of authority in West Virginia - the licensee will have to complete the associated CE requirements in West Virginia. This includes requirements set for licensees authorized to sell annuities, LTC, or flood products. 

The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner may verify a non-resident's compliance and standing with their own state's license requirements.

Carryover of Excess CE

Licensees are encouraged to complete additional CE training, and up to six hours of this supplemental credit may be carried over into the next renewal period. 

Any excess credits earned in ethics or LTC subjects will count toward general credit in the next term. 

Insurance License Term Renewal Requirements

The license expiration date is the last day of the licensee's birth month biennially, based on the year of original licensing. A producer whose license was awarded in an even-numbered year, for example, will need to complete renewal requirements before the last day of their birth month in the next even-numbered year. 

Individuals are eligible to renew their licenses beginning 90 days prior to their license expiration date. All CE requirements must be met to process a license renewal. 

Licenses may be renewed online at the National Insurance Producer Registry website or by mail. A paper renewal form can be downloaded at the Department's website and must be received by mail with the renewal fee before the license expiration date. 

The license renewal fee is $50. There is an additional $6.18 transaction fee applied to online renewals.

Online renewal is unavailable for non-resident adjusters who have completed the West Virginia adjuster exam. 

The state of West Virginia sends licensees a renewal invoice approximately 60 days prior to expiry. This reminder is sent to the licensee's address on record with the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. It is the licensee's responsibility to keep their contact information up to date with the Office and report any changes.

Failure to renew by the expiration date will result in license suspension. Licensees may reinstate their license within 12 months of the lapse by submitting a renewal application and the associated fees. A late penalty will be applied in addition to the individual's renewal fee. 

Rules for Taking the Exam

CE exams are closed-book. Students may not access or refer to course material during the exam. 

Online and self-study exams must be monitored by an unbiased third party. Family members, friends, colleagues, or anyone with an interest in the licensee's passing of the exam is not permitted to act in this role. 

The monitor must complete an online Declaration of Compliance. This document confirms acknowledgment of and adherence to the specific requirements outlined by the State Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. 

Students completing self-study coursework must sign and return a Disinterested Third Party Affidavit with their exam.

Failure to submit either of these documents will disqualify exam results.

A score of 70 percent or higher is required to receive CE credit for a course. Unlimited retakes are permitted until a passing score is achieved. 

Rules for Repeating a Course

Courses may not be repeated within the same renewal period. A licensee can repeat courses already taken to meet CE requirements for a subsequent renewal period. 

Credit for Instructors

CE course instructors are eligible to receive the same credit as that received by the students enrolled in the course they teach. Instructors are only eligible to receive credit for an individual course taught once per renewal period, however. 

Reporting Rules

Credits must be submitted to the state directly by the course provider within 30 days of course completion. Licensees must keep copies of course completion certificates in their files for four years. 

It is recommended to complete all CE at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of your license to give the CE provider sufficient time to report successful completions to the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner. However, CE courses can be completed at any time within the current license term. 

A $1.50-per-course reporting fee will be automatically charged to the licensee. 

Insurance CE Requirement Exemptions 

Some resident licensees may qualify for full or partial CE exemptions, including:

• Insurance adjusters
• Individuals licensed only for limited lines credit
• Individuals with limited lines licenses that do not require a certification exam
• Individuals with limited or restricted licenses that may be declared exempt by the State Commissioner  
• Producers who sell only pre-need burial insurance, who must complete six hours of CE training each biennial period, including three hours in ethics subjects
• Producers engaging only in telemarketing insurance products that use a Commissioner-approved script, who must complete six hours of CE training each biennial period, including three hours in ethics subjects

Licensees who qualify for CE exemptions should contact the State Offices to verify this eligibility. 

West Virginia Annuity Insurance Requirements

Before selling, soliciting, or negotiating annuity products in West Virginia, producers must complete a one-time, four-hour annuities training course. 

This course covers topics including:

• The fundamentals of annuity contracts, individual suitability, and sales practices
• Variable and fixed annuities, immediate and deferred plans, and different types of premiums and appropriate tax rules

This requirement may be waived for licensees who have satisfied similar annuity suitability requirements for another state. 

West Virginia Long-Term Care Training Requirements

Producers selling long-term care (LTC) products in West Virginia must complete a one-time, state-approved training course consisting of a minimum of eight hours. 

To maintain their status, producers selling LTC products are required to complete four hours of ongoing CE training every subsequent biennial period. 

Both the initial and ongoing training coursework can be applied to producers' 24-hour CE requirement for license renewal. 

West Virginia Flood Training Requirements

Producers who sell flood insurance must complete a one-time, three-hour course that covers the training requirements set by FEMA and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).