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I failed the exam. Can I retake it? What are the steps and rules?

There are a lot of rules associated with retesting. I will place list them here and there is a calculator we made that can tell you exactly your status to if you need to reapply or not. This calculator is here.

RETAKE EXAM CALCULATOR

WV Real Estate Exam Retesting Rules

  • Your testing window: Once WVREC authorizes you, you have 90 days or 2 attempts total, whichever comes first, to pass both exam parts (national and state law). pearsonvue
  • Pass one, fail one: If you pass one part and fail the other, you only retake the failed part — not both — and it must happen within that same 90-day/2-attempt window. No new WVREC application needed for this.
  • No mandatory waiting period: Pearson VUE doesn’t impose a cooling-off period before you can retest. You just can’t book the retest at the test center itself — it has to be scheduled through your Pearson VUE profile or by phone.
  • You can’t re-attempt a passed section: Once you pass a part, that part is locked in for the rest of your 90-day window — you can’t retest it again even voluntarily.
  • 48-hour cancellation rule: Changing or canceling a scheduled exam appointment requires at least 48 hours’ notice, or you forfeit the $59 exam fee for that part.
  • Important OnVUE (at-home) caveat: If you tested remotely via OnVUE, you get only one lifetime attempt per license level (Sales or Broker) through OnVUE. Fail it once online, and any retest for that level has to happen in person at a physical Pearson VUE test center — you can’t retry online.
  • If your window runs out: Whether it’s the 90 days or the 2-attempt cap that expires first, you must resubmit a new application to WVREC, pay the $25 exam application fee again, and get reauthorized — only for the part(s) you haven’t passed. rec.wv
  • You do not have to retake your pre-license course to reapply — reauthorization is a paperwork-and-fee process, not an education requirement.
  • After passing both parts: You still have just 90 days from your passing date to submit your license application to WVREC, or you have to repeat the whole authorization process again.