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Whether you're a fast talker who loves amping up an audience, you're excited by high-stakes bidding, or you get a thrill from connecting buyers to those one-of-a-kind items or perfect properties they can't live without, auctioneering may be the perfect career for you. In West Virginia, you must be licensed to conduct an auction.

Once you have completed 80 hours of approved training and a 2-year apprenticeship, you can take an exam to obtain your license from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.

However, it's not a one-and-done proposition. You must also maintain your auctioneer license by renewing it periodically.

When and How to Renew Your License

An auctioneer license in West Virginia is valid for one year, from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.

Before applying for renewal, license holders must complete at least six hours of continuing education (CE) within the previous year. You can complete suitable CE online, but the program must be approved by the department commissioner or a designee for credit to count toward renewal requirements.

Further, at least three hours of CE must cover core subjects, including:

• West Virginia statutes and rules governing auctioneering
• Federal statutes and rules governing auctioneering
• Auctioneering ethics
• Escrow, trust, and custodial accounts
• Advertising
• Contracts
• Other subjects approved by the commissioner

When CE is complete, you may apply for license renewal and pay associated fees. If you are a new license holder who was issued a license following examination in the second half of the current license year, you will not be charged additional fees for the upcoming calendar year.

Penalties for Missing Your Renewal Deadline

An auctioneer license must be renewed annually by June 30^, or it will become delinquent on July 1. When a license becomes delinquent, you will no longer be legally permitted to conduct auctions.

If you have submitted the required paperwork and fees to renew your license but it has not yet been approved by July 1, you may continue to conduct auctions for up to 30 days following the June 30 deadline, despite having a delinquent license.

If you have missed your deadline for license renewal, you may renew it for up to 60 days with no late fees by submitting the required documents and paying the standard renewal fee. Renewal applications received more than 60 days after June 30 will be subject to an additional late fee.

If your license has been expired for more than two years, you are no longer eligible to renew. You must retake exams and pay examination fees to obtain a new license.

Finding the Ideal CE Program

As a working professional, you need a CE program designed to accommodate your busy schedule. A convenient program offering 24/7 online access is ideal for self-paced learning that works with your busy schedule. Look for a program that provides an instant certificate of completion for your records.

Is the deadline to renew your auctioneer license in West Virginia approaching quickly? Contact RocketCert now to learn more about approved CE.