West Virginia Seal

West Virginia

state commissioner

Allen L. McVey

STATE phone
(304) 558-0610
STATE LICENSE DIVISION ADDRESS

West Virginia Lottery Building

Address

900 Pennsylvania Avenue

Charleston, West Virginia, 25302

Appointments & Terminations

Required to report appointments?

Yes

Permits Just-in-time (JIT) appointments?

Yes

Initial appointment deadlines

Within 15 days of contract execution or first business submission

Initial appointment deadline rule

JIT appointments permitted. Appointment must be submitted within 15 days of the date the agent/agency contract is executed or the first piece of business is submitted to the carrier

Can be processed via nipr?

Yes

Fees for appointing a resident agency or individual?

$25

Fees for appointing a nonresident agency or individual?

$25

Appoint agencies?

No

Agency appointment notes

West Virginia doesn't appoint agencies, EXCEPT travel insurance agencies, which MUST have an appointment with a carrier to operate.

Adjuster appointments via NIPR?

No

Appointment effective date can be specified?

Yes

Appointment effective date rule

May be backdated up to 15 days prior to application date, but must not precede effective date of appointee.

State requires appointment renewal?

Yes

Appointment renewals via

Via NIPR Portal

When is the state renewal period?

June 6 through August 31

Appointment renewal fee

$25

Licenses require appointment or affiliation?

No

State terminates appointment if license expires?

Yes

Terminations processed via NIPR?

Yes

Termination reasons

Voluntary termination; inadequate production; cancelled by general agent; death; company defunct or liquidation; company indebtedness; poor policyholder services; agent moved; appointed in error

Termination date can be specified by carrier?

No

Termination Effective date rule

Effective date of an approved termination will always be the date the transaction is processed. If a requested effective date is given in the transaction, it will be ignored

Termination fee

No fee

Allows carriers to terminate the appointment if license has expired?

No

Can a not-for-cause termination notice be emailed?

Notices must be mailed

Licensing

Initial individual new license fee

Resident New License Insurance Producer: $50
Resident New License Surplus Lines Broker: $200
Nonresident New License Insurance Producer: $50
Nonresident New License Surplus Lines Broker: $200

License renewal fee

Resident: Insurance Producer Renewal Fee: $50 Late Renewal Fee: $50 Surplus Lines Renewal Fee: $200 Late Renewal Fee: $100 Viatical Settlement Broker Renewal Fee: $100 Late Renewal Fee: $50 Adjuster Classes Renewal Fee: $50 Late Renewal Fee: $50 Nonresident: Insurance Producer Fee: $50 Late Renewal Fee: $100 Surplus Lines Fee: $200 Late Renewal Fee: $300 Viatical Settlement Broker Fee: $100 Late Renewal Fee: $150

When does the resident individual producer license renewal period begin?

90 days before expiration

What is the resident individual producer license renewal date?

Last day of birth month every 2 years based on year of first state license issue

Late renewal or reinstatement period for resident individual producer license?

Late renewal allowed up to one year after expiration

When does the nonresident individual producer license renewal period begin?

90 days before expiration

What is the nonresident individual producer license renewal date?

Last day of birth month every 2 years based on year of first state license issue

Late renewal or reinstatement period for nonresident individual producer license?

Late renewal allowed up to one year after expiration

Can a producer use a P.O. Box in their resident or business address?

N/A

Are individuals required to list their county as part of the address?

No

What addresses are required for individual license maintenance?

Residence, Business, and Mailing

State individual licenses include

Viatical Settlement Broker, Independent Adjuster, Surplus Lines, Property & Casualty, Life, Insurance Producer, Company Adjuster, Public Adjuster, Crop Adjuster, Risk Retention

State recognizes a licensing exemption for nonresident commercial lines producers with multistate contracts?

Yes

State broker license rule

Included in Producer License Class. Insurers are not required to appoint Brokers per NAIC PLMA

Requires pre licensing courses?

Yes

Study method requirements

Supervised instruction, monitored self study

Submission of completion certificate rule

Original certificate must be presented at exam site and submitted with the license application.

How long is the pre licensing certification valid?

The applicant must appear for the licensing examination within 90 days of receiving the certificate of pre-licensing course completion.

Exemptions to pre licensing requirements

Pre-license education is not required of: a. a CLU or CPCU designee; or b. an applicant for a license that does not require an exam.

Prelicense education requirement

An applicant for a new license, or a producer adding authority to an existing license, must complete an approved pre-licensing education course before sitting for the license examination. The required hours of pre-license education are: a. 30 hours for life only; b. 30 hours for accident and sickness only; c. 40 hours for life, accident and sickness; and d. 40 hours for property and casualty

Fingerprints Required?

Yes, for Resident Licensing

Fingerprint Submission Details

Required with Application - Taken through IdentoGO

State Pre-Licensing Exam Website

Pearson VUE

How Long are State Pre-Licensing Exams Active?

One Year

Where to apply for resident license?

NIPR Gateway

What Transactions are Retaliatory Fees Applied to?

None

Submit Partial License Renewals through NIPR?

No

Has Personal Lines LOA?

Yes

Deadline to report personal data changes (address, name change, phone number, etc.)

A licensee must notify the Commissioner of a change in name, physical address, mailing address, or email address within 30 days. a. The notification must be completed by means acceptable to the Commissioner. b. A notice of name change must include proper documentation (i.e., copy of marriage certificate, court order). Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway.

Name Change Form

Individual and Business Entities can process via NIPR

Penalty for failure to timely report personal data changes

Failure to timely inform the Commissioner of a change in legal name, residency, mailing address, or email address may result in penalty under WV ST § 33-12-24.

Agency

Can a sole proprietor be licensed as an entity?

Yes

DRLP must have active state license

Yes

DRLPs must cumulatively cover all LOAs in application

No

Agency Licensing renewals

March 1st until June 30th, annually. Late renewal period ends one year after expiration date.

Agency License required?

Yes

Affiliations: Indicates if producers selling on behalf of/through an entity must be formally affiliated with that entity and if the entity must notify the department of changes

All producers selling on behalf of or through a business entity are affiliated.

Branch office

Main license meets requirements

Deadline to report key business entity changes (address, dba, phone, email, etc.)

A licensee must notify the Commissioner of a change in name, physical address, mailing address, or email address within 30 days. Contact Change Request supported via NIPR Gateway.

Adjuster

Requires adjuster license?

Yes

Offers designated home state?

Yes

Reciprocity states

AK, AL, AR, AZ, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MT, NC, NH, NM, NV, OK, OR, SC, TX, UT, VT, WA

Which states require an exam for reciprocity?

CA, HI, NY, PR, WY

Independent adjuster LOAS

Property and Casualty Crop Workers’ Compensation

Independent adjuster fees

Licensing Fee: $50 Renewal Fee: $50.00 Late Renewal Fee: $50.00

Independent adjuster exam required?

Yes

Independent adjuster details

Nonresident applicants must be a licensed resident of a state that grants reciprocal licensing to West Virginia adjusters. On July 1st. 2021, Crop adjusters will be changed to have both the company and individual crop adjuster licenses.

Public Adjuster Renewal Period

Biennially, on the last day of the birth month.

Public Adjuster Details

Nonresident applicants must be a licensed resident of a state that grants reciprocal licensing to West Virginia adjusters. On July 1, 2021, Crop adjusters will be changed to have both the company and individual crop adjuster licenses.

Public Adjuster LOAs

Property and Casualty

Public adjuster fees

**Licensing Fee: **$50 **Renewal Fee: **$50.00 **Late Renewal Fee:** $50.00

Public adjuster exam required?

Yes

Emergency adjuster details

In the event of an emergency, one that is not licensed in WV can adjust claims. The fee for the application is $25 and the license will expire on the date the commissioner specifies. If none is specified, it will expire on May 31st.

Requires Staff Adjuster License

Yes

Staff Adjuster Reciprocal States

CT, DE, FL, KY, LA, NV, NH, NM, NC, OK, RI, SC, TX, VT, WY

Staff Adjuster LOAs

Property and Casualty, Crop, Workers' Compensation

Staff Adjuster Fees

Licensing Fee: $200

Staff Adjuster Exam Required?

Yes

Staff Adjuster Renewal Period

Biennially, on the last day of the birth month.

Staff Adjuster Details

As of July 1st, 2021, those with a Company Adjuster license will be granted both a company and independent adjuster license with Property & Casualty and Workers' Comp. Adjusting companies and firms cannot apply before July 1st, 2021.

DHS Exam Required?

Yes

Requirements to Adjust a Worker's Compensation Claim

To be licensed in WV for workers compensation, you must take the exam and get fingerprinted.

Address change request through NIPR?

DHS Contact Change Request Only

Continuing Education

Total hours per renewal period

24

Renewal period

2 years

CE due before license renewal date?

Yes

License renewal date is

Last day of birth month

License renewal year based on...

Year of first license issuance

When is the CE due?

Prior to license expiration.

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

90 days prior to expiration date

How long before expiration does state send CE reminder?

90 days prior to expiration date

Exemptions to CE

Producers newly licensed after July 1 of the second year of the biennium are exempt from CE requirements for that renewal period. Those holding licenses for only limited lines credit are exempt from CE. Those holding limited lines licenses for which an exam isn’t required are exempt from CE Those holding any limited or restricted licenses that the commissioner may declare exemption with the state. Adjusters are exempt from CE.

What if a producer missed the renewal date?

Licensee has one year to late renew the license and pay penalties. License is suspended until requirements are met.

CE instructors get credit for teaching courses?

Yes, a single course per renewal period.

Can rollover excess hours?

Yes

Amount of rollover credits allowed

Up to 6 CE hours (all hours will roll as general credit)

Ethics requirements

3

Flood-specific CE requirements

3 hours of NFIP course

LTC-specific CE requirements

8-hour initial certification, with 4 hours of LTC-specific training every two years

Annuity-specific CE requirements

One-time, 4-hour course

Adjusters

West Virginia adjusters must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years (biennium). The 24 hours of general education must consist of at least 3 hours of ethics CE.

Additional line of business requirements

Producers who sell exclusively through telemarketing may have their CE requirements reduced to a total of six hours per renewal period, of which three must be in approved ethics courses. To qualify for this exemption, producers must submit an affidavit.

Regulatory Updates

West Virginia 2025 Appointment Renewals

Effective June 6, 2025, West Virginia appointment renewal invoices will be available for payment from June 6, 2025, through August 31, 2025. The termination deadline is May 31, 2025. The West Virginia state appointment renewal fee is $25.00 per individual per company. Please see the attachment for more information.

West Virginia Soliciting Comments Regarding Surplus Lines Export List

Posted November 26, 2024, West Virginia is soliciting comments regarding the surplus lines export list. Comments must be submitted on or before December 13, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. to the following email address: [Greg.A.Elam@wv.gov](mailto:greg.A.Elam@wv.gov). Please see the attachment for more information. 

West Virginia to Implement New Transaction Types to Process DRLP Changes and Primary Name Updates

Effective August 9, 2024, West Virginia will implement new transaction types to process Designated Responsible Licensed Producer (DRLP) and Primary Name Change (Demographics) updates. 

West Virginia Announces 2024 Company Appointment Renewal Dates

On May 3, 2024, West Virginia announced their 2024 Company Appointment Renewal Dates. Active appointments on record as of May 31st, 2024, will be invoiced for renewals. The renewal period ends on August 31, 2024.

West Virginia Surplus Lines License and Premium Tax Updates

On September 9, 2023, West Virginia made some updates to the existing language related to Surplus Lines License and Premium Tax Changes for Resident and Nonresidents.  See attachment for full details.

West Virginia Adjuster Overhaul First Biannual Renewal

Effective May 1, 2023, West Virginia Individual Adjusters will now receive a $50 Biannual Renewal Fee for any adjusters with an expiration date on or after July 31, 2023.

West Virginia 2023 Company Appointment Renewals

West Virginia has released their 2023 Company Appointment Renewal dates for Insurance Producers. The renewal period is June 6 through August 31, 2023 and the termination deadline is May 31

West Virginia passes Travel Insurance Entity Producer Limited License Act

West Virginia passes Travel Insurance Entity Producer Limited License Act. Passed March 11, 2023; in effect 90 days from passage. See attachment for full details.

West Virginia summarizes its 2023 legislation

West Virginia summarizes its 2023 legislation. See attachment for details.

West Virginia Updates Surplus List to Include “Hershare” and Gun Ranges

Effective immediately, WV has made changes to their surplus lines export list to include 'hershare' and gun ranges. 

West Virginia Makes Adjustments to Continuing Education Requirements

Effective immediately, the Commissioner will recognize CE credits obtained by a producer in another state if this producer was licensed and in good standing in West Virginia at the time the license was surrendered. Additionally, one may be exempt from CE if they hold any limited or restricted license that is exempted by the Commissioner. Note that these are additional rules to the currently standing law.

West Virginia 2022 Company Appointment Renewals

West Virginia announces its company appointment renewal period to be June 6th-August 31st.

West Virginia Changes Expiration Date

There was an issue that led to incorrect expiration dates on West Virginia licenses. This issue has been resolved and can be viewed on the producer database. The expiration date will now read January 13, 2022.

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