West Virginia life line
The West Virginia life insurance exam.
The West Virginia life insurance exam is 78 scored questions, about 11 unscored pretest questions, in 120 minutes, passing at a scaled 70, $84 per attempt, administered by Pearson VUE. We sell study materials and practice exams for it, written from the official West Virginia outline. The first 20 study questions are free, and the full License Pass is $79, yours until you pass.
At a glance
| Exam | West Virginia Life |
| Scored questions | 78 |
| Pretest questions | about 11 (unscored) |
| Time limit | 120 minutes |
| Passing score | a scaled 70 |
| Exam fee | $84 |
| Testing vendor | Pearson VUE |
| Retake rules | You wait 24 hours before booking a new reservation, and you get at most 8 attempts per line of authority. You must pass both parts within 12 months, or retake every part. |
| Prelicensing education | required, from a provider your state insurance department lists |
Checked against Pearson VUE's official materials. Specs change, so confirm them when you register.
How to get your West Virginia life insurance license
- 1
Meet the basics
West Virginia sets its own age, background check and application rules. The West Virginia insurance department lists them, so read them before you book.
- 2
Complete the required prelicensing education
West Virginia requires prelicensing education from a provider your state insurance department lists before you can test. Complete it with that provider, keep your completion record, then drill practice questions until the material sticks.
- 3
Book the exam with Pearson VUE
Register at Pearson VUE, pick a test center or online proctoring where offered, and pay the $84 exam fee.
- 4
Pass the exam
Walk in knowing the format, 78 scored questions in 120 minutes, passing at a scaled 70. About 57 percent of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, 2025 results).
- 5
Apply for the license and get appointed
Submit the license application (fingerprints where required), then get appointed with carriers so you can write business.
What the West Virginia exam covers
From the official exam outline, each section's share of the exam and how many of the 78 scored questions it earns.
| Section | Weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| General Knowledge | 64 percent | 50 questions |
| West Virginia Specific, Part I | 27 percent | 21 questions |
| West Virginia Specific, Part II | 9 percent | 7 questions |
Free West Virginia practice questions
Original questions written to the West Virginia outline, the same bank our students drill. Tap a question to check the answer.
Question 1James stops paying premiums on his whole life policy, and the insurer automatically uses the cash value to keep the full face amount in force for a limited number of years. Which option is being applied?
- A. Extended term insurance
- B. Paid-up additions
- C. Reduced paid-up insurance
- D. Accelerated benefit
Show the answer
Answer: A
Extended term insurance keeps the full original face amount but only for a limited period determined by the cash value. Reduced paid-up keeps permanent coverage at a lower face amount. Paid-up additions are small extra coverage bought with dividends. Accelerated benefit pays part of the death benefit early for terminal illness.
Question 2When an applicant signs a life insurance application and pays the initial premium, what does the producer normally give in return?
- A. A conditional receipt
- B. A binding receipt guaranteeing coverage no matter what
- C. A refund of the premium
- D. A completed policy on the spot
Show the answer
Answer: A
A conditional receipt provides coverage only if the applicant meets the insurer's underwriting requirements, usually as of the application or medical exam date. A binding receipt is not the standard for life insurance and does not guarantee coverage regardless of underwriting. Producers cannot issue a completed policy at application because underwriting must occur first. A refund is not given when the applicant intends to buy coverage.
Question 3A life settlement is best described as:
- A. The exchange of one annuity for another with no tax
- B. The payment of a death claim to a beneficiary
- C. A loan taken against a policy's cash value
- D. The sale of an existing life insurance policy to a third party for more than its cash value but less than its face amount
Show the answer
Answer: D
A life settlement is the sale of an existing policy by the owner to a third party for a lump sum greater than the cash surrender value but less than the face amount. Payment of a death claim to a beneficiary is a normal death benefit, not a settlement. A tax-free exchange of annuities is a Section 1035 exchange. Borrowing against cash value is a policy loan, not a sale.
Question 4In West Virginia, who is the state official responsible for administering and enforcing the insurance laws?
- A. The State Treasurer
- B. The Secretary of State
- C. The Attorney General
- D. The Insurance Commissioner
Show the answer
Answer: D
The Insurance Commissioner is the official charged with administering and enforcing West Virginia insurance laws, including licensing, form approval, and market oversight. The Attorney General handles general legal matters for the state, not insurance regulation. The Secretary of State handles business filings and elections. The State Treasurer handles state funds, not insurance oversight.
W. Va. Code Chapter 33, Article 2 (Insurance Commissioner)
Question 5Which statement correctly distinguishes a stock insurer from a mutual insurer?
- A. A stock insurer is owned by its policyholders, and a mutual insurer is owned by stockholders
- B. A stock insurer is owned by stockholders, and a mutual insurer is owned by its policyholders
- C. Both stock and mutual insurers are owned by the state
- D. A mutual insurer may issue stock dividends to shareholders
Show the answer
Answer: B
A stock insurer is owned by shareholders who invest capital, while a mutual insurer is owned by its policyholders, who may receive policy dividends. The first choice reverses the two definitions, neither type is owned by the state, and mutual insurers pay policy dividends to policyholders, not stock dividends to shareholders.
W. Va. Code Chapter 33 (definitions of stock and mutual insurers)
Take the free West Virginia practice test, every question with the answer and the explanation
West Virginia exam FAQs
How many questions are on the West Virginia life insurance exam?
78 scored questions, plus about 11 unscored pretest questions mixed in, with 120 minutes on the clock.
What score passes the West Virginia exam?
You need a scaled 70 to pass.
How much does the West Virginia life insurance exam cost?
The exam fee is $84 per attempt, paid to Pearson VUE. Licensing application and fingerprint fees are separate.
What happens if I fail the West Virginia exam?
You wait 24 hours before booking a new reservation, and you get at most 8 attempts per line of authority. You must pass both parts within 12 months, or retake every part. About 57 percent of first-time life exam takers pass nationally (NAIC, 2025 results). Failing once is common, and the fix is drilling the sections your score report names.
Does West Virginia require prelicensing education before the exam?
Yes. West Virginia requires prelicensing education from a provider your state insurance department lists before you can sit for the exam. We sell study materials and practice exams, not prelicensing education, so plan for both, the required education first, then practice here until the exam feels familiar.
What RingReady is, and is not
RingReady sells study materials and practice exams for the life insurance licensing exam. We are not a prelicensing education provider on any state's list, and practicing here does not by itself satisfy any state's education requirement.
If your state requires prelicensing education, you must complete it with a provider your state insurance department lists. The department publishes that list. What we do is help the questions feel familiar when you sit down for the real exam.
Practice the West Virginia exam until it feels familiar.
Practice questions written to every section of the outline above, full timed practice exams matched to the real format (78 questions, 120 minutes), and a mastery map that shows what to study next.