- National portion: 80 scored + 5 pretest questions, 150 minutes, 75 scaled score to pass.
- State portion: 60 scored + 5 pretest questions, 90 minutes, 75 scaled score to pass.
- Each portion costs $59 through Pearson VUE, plus a separate $25 Commission application fee.
- Broker Management is the largest state domain at 30%; Real Estate Contracts and Agency leads the national side at 18.75%.
Quick Facts Snapshot
This cheat sheet is built for candidates who already know the basics and just need a fast, accurate reference before test day. If you haven't yet worked through the full curriculum, back up to the WV-REB Study Guide 2026 for a structured plan, or start with What Is WV-REB? if you're still evaluating the credential.
| Item | National Portion | State Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Scored questions | 80 | 60 |
| Pretest (unscored) questions | 5 | 5 |
| Time limit | 150 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Passing scaled score | 75 | 75 |
| Cost | $59 | $59 |
| Outline effective date | April 1, 2025 | January 1, 2024 |
National Portion Domains (1-8)
Domains 1-8 follow the national broker outline effective April 1, 2025, and their percentages represent shares of the 80 scored national questions. For a full breakdown of subtopics under each domain, see the WV-REB Exam Domains 2026 guide.
Domain 4: Real Estate Contracts and Agency (18.75% - largest national domain)
This is the single most heavily tested area on the national portion. Candidates must be fluent in contract elements, agency creation and termination, and disclosure obligations tied to representation.
- Elements of a valid contract and remedies for breach
- Agency relationships, fiduciary duties, and dual agency disclosures
- Listing and buyer representation agreement terms
Domain 8: Real Estate Math Calculations
Math questions are scattered but concentrated enough to require dedicated drilling. Expect proration, commission splits, loan-to-value, and area calculations phrased as word problems rather than formulas.
- Prorated taxes, rent, and HOA dues
- Commission and net-to-seller calculations
- Area, volume, and lot measurement problems
Domains 1-3, 5-7: Property, Ownership, Value, Practice, Disclosures, and Financing
These domains round out the national portion and test practical brokerage knowledge rather than trivia.
- Legal descriptions (metes and bounds, lot-and-block, government survey)
- Forms of ownership, deeds, and recording requirements
- Appraisal approaches and factors affecting value
- Environmental disclosures and material defect obligations
- Loan types, settlement statements, and closing procedures
Key Takeaway
Because Real Estate Contracts and Agency carries the most weight nationally, prioritize contract law and agency duty scenarios over memorizing narrow definitions elsewhere.
State Portion Domains (9-14)
Domains 9-14 use the West Virginia broker outline effective January 1, 2024, and their percentages are shares of the 60 scored state questions. This portion is shorter but leans heavily into administrative rules specific to the Commission.
Domain 14: Broker Management (30% - largest state domain)
Nearly a third of the state portion tests how a broker must supervise a firm, manage trust accounts, and maintain records. This is the domain that separates broker-level knowledge from salesperson-level knowledge.
- Trust account handling and recordkeeping obligations
- Supervision responsibilities over affiliated salespersons
- Office policy, advertising compliance, and branch office rules
Domains 9-13: Commission Powers, Licensing, Practice, Agency, and Fair Housing
These smaller domains combine to make up the remaining 70% of the state portion.
- General Powers & Duties of the Real Estate Commission - disciplinary authority and rulemaking
- Licensing - categories, renewal cycles, and reciprocity basics
- Real Estate Practice (state-specific) - required forms and procedures
- Agency Relationships under West Virginia statute
- West Virginia Fair Housing - protected classes and complaint procedures
Fees, Scheduling & Authorization Rules
The financial and logistical mechanics trip up more candidates than the content itself. Here is the exact structure:
- Each Pearson VUE portion (national and state) costs $59, billed separately.
- The Commission charges a separate $25 exam application fee.
- The national and state portions must be scheduled separately - they are not booked as one appointment.
- Testing is closed book, available at a Pearson VUE test center or via OnVUE remote proctoring.
- Only one lifetime OnVUE attempt is allowed at the broker level - plan retakes around an in-person test center.
- Your testing authorization lasts 90 days or two attempts, whichever comes first.
- If you fail one portion, only that portion must be retaken within the authorization window.
For a line-by-line cost breakdown including prelicense education and background check expenses, see the WV-REB Certification Cost 2026 guide. For exact scheduling windows and deadline math, check WV-REB Exam Dates 2026.
Key Takeaway
Once you pass both portions, your license application is due within 90 days - don't let paperwork lapse after clearing the harder hurdle of the exam itself.
Scoring & Passing Requirements
Both portions use a scaled score, and you need a 75 on each - the national and state scores are not averaged or combined. Passing one and failing the other means only the failed portion goes back on the schedule, using the retake logic described above.
| Requirement | National Portion | State Portion |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum scaled score | 75 | 75 |
| Scored question count | 80 | 60 |
| Unscored pretest questions | 5 | 5 |
If you want a deeper explanation of how the scaled score is derived and what it means relative to raw questions answered correctly, read WV-REB Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass. To gauge how demanding this exam is compared to other licensing tests, see How Hard Is the WV-REB Exam? and WV-REB Pass Rate 2026.
Eligibility Checklist
Before you can even schedule a Pearson VUE appointment, confirm you meet every item below. This is the fast-reference version - full detail lives in the WV-REB Requirements 2026 guide.
- At least 18 years old
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Minimum two years of active salesperson experience
- 180 cumulative prelicense education hours completed
- 20 closed transactions in the preceding two years, or 40 over any period
- National background check completed
- Broker recommendation obtained
- Current West Virginia salespersons generally add 90 broker-specific hours on top of existing salesperson education
The Week-Before Review Plan
If you've already completed your 180 hours of prelicense coursework and any broker-specific hours, the final week should be pure review and light practice testing rather than new learning. Sequence your remaining time around the domain weights, not evenly across all 14 domains.
National Heavy-Hitters
- Review Domain 4 (Real Estate Contracts and Agency) scenarios - the largest national weight at 18.75%
- Drill Domain 8 math problems: proration, commission splits, loan-to-value
Remaining National Domains
- Skim Domains 1-3 and 5-7: property characteristics, ownership, appraisal, practice, disclosures, financing
- Take a timed 80-question practice set within the 150-minute limit
State Portion Focus
- Deep review of Domain 14 (Broker Management) - 30% of the state portion
- Read through Fair Housing, Licensing, and Commission powers/duties for Domains 9, 10, and 13
Final Simulation & Logistics
- Run a timed 60-question state practice set within the 90-minute limit
- Confirm Pearson VUE appointment details and test-center vs. OnVUE choice
This kind of weighted scheduling - spending more days on Domain 4 and Domain 14 because they carry the most points - is more useful than generic study techniques, because it directly mirrors how points are distributed on test day.
After You Pass: Licensing & Renewal
Passing both portions is not the finish line. You still need to submit your license application within 90 days of passing, and once licensed, an active broker license renews annually by June 30 for $150, requiring 7 continuing-education hours, including 3 broker-level hours.
Curious what brokers actually do day-to-day and who hires at this level? Browse WV-REB Jobs and weigh the investment against outcomes in Is the WV-REB Certification Worth It? and WV-REB Salary Guide 2026.
For hands-on preparation that mirrors the actual question style across all 14 domains, work through timed sets on our practice test platform before your Pearson VUE appointment - it's the closest simulation you'll get outside the real exam. You can also revisit the main practice hub for updated question banks as outline effective dates shift.
FAQ
No. Each portion is scored independently, and you need a scaled score of 75 on each. A strong national score does not offset a weak state score.
No. Only one lifetime OnVUE attempt is allowed at the broker level. If you use it and later need to retest, you'll need to test at a Pearson VUE test center.
You only need to retake the failed state portion within your 90-day or two-attempt authorization window - the passed national portion stands.
Each Pearson VUE portion is $59 (national and state, so $118 combined if taken once each), plus a separate $25 Commission application fee. See the full cost guide for prelicense education and other expenses.
Real Estate Contracts and Agency (18.75%) on the national portion and Broker Management (30%) on the state portion are the two highest-weighted domains and deserve proportionally more study time.