West Virginia Department of Agriculture, Kent Leonhardt, Commissioner

Auctioneering is any public sale of real or personal property in any manner, whether in-person, via written offers or bids, or online, when offers or bids are made by prospective purchaser and the property is sold to the highest bidder, without reserve and without the requirements of a minimum bid or other conditions which limit the sale other than to the highest bidder. No person in the state of West Virginia can conduct an auction as an auctioneer in the State of West Virginia unless he or she has first obtained a license from the Commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture as stated in West Virginia Code §19-2C-2.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture is the statutory agent for administering the auctioneer program in West Virginia. This website provides auctioneers, aspiring auctioneers, and the general public with valuable and updated information such as a directory of current auctioneers, continuing education seminars, exam schedules, and laws/rules governing auctioneers. If you have additional questions, please contact the office at 304-558-3200.