Become a Nurse in West Virginia – Licensure & Requirements

^{Master's-degree requirements above reflect current West Virginia licensure requirements: graduate-level education is required for APRN roles (CRNA, CNM, NP, CNS), while RN licensure does not require a graduate degree, per the West Virginia RN Board.}

West Virginia Nursing Salaries

^{Careers as a nurse salaries above were retrieved from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for West Virginia, Charleston, WV, Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, and Morgantown, WV — in May 2025.}

There are many paths to becoming a nurse in West Virginia. The one you take will mostly depend on the type of nurse you’d like to become and your current or prospective level of education. The more education, the more opportunities you’ll have to choose where and how you pursue your career in nursing.

In addition to nursing salaries in West Virginia, you’ll find information on acquiring and maintaining several types of West Virginia nursing licenses on this page. We’re constantly making updates, but with the speed of change in healthcare, it’s sometimes difficult to stay current. If you have any comments or suggestions for our information on nursing in West Virginia, please email us at info@nursinglicensemap.com!

Compact State Status

West Virginia is a Nursing Licensure Compact state. The West Virginia RN Board confirms the state is an active Nurse Licensure Compact member, and the official Nurse Licensure Compact implementation map lists West Virginia's effective date as January 19, 2018.

West Virginia Prescriptive Authority

APRNs applying for prescriptive authority in West Virginia must complete 45 contact hours of advanced pharmacology education (at least 15 of those hours within two years of applying) and maintain a Collaborative Agreement for Prescriptive Authority with a physician, unless the Board has approved removing that requirement. Under West Virginia Code §30-7-15b, an APRN who has practiced under a collaborative agreement for at least three years may apply to prescribe without a further collaborative-agreement requirement.

According to the West Virginia RN Board, APRNs with prescriptive authority may not prescribe Schedule I controlled substances, may prescribe Schedule II controlled substances only up to a three-day supply, and may prescribe Schedule III–V medications with separate federal DEA registration and enrollment in West Virginia's Controlled Substances Monitoring Program.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in West Virginia

APRNs are defined in West Virginia as certified nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, or clinical nurse specialists.

Education: Board-approved graduate-level education program

Examination: Varies according to specialty area

Certification Required: Active national certification in the applicable APRN role and population focus (for example, FNP, PMHNP, CRNA or CNM certification), in addition to — and separate from — an active West Virginia RN license or qualifying NLC multistate RN license.

Education, examination and certification requirements above are established by the West Virginia RN Board.

Fees:

• $35 Initial APRN License Application Fee
• $125 Initial Prescriptive Authority Application Fee
• $90 APRN License Renewal Fee (biennial)
• $125 Prescriptive Authority Renewal Fee (biennial)
• Certification Examination Fee (varies by certification)

Fee amounts above are per the West Virginia RN Board Fees and Waivers schedule.

Experience: Varies according to specialty area

Renewal: APRN licenses renew biennially and expire June 30 of odd-numbered years. APRNs must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education every two years — 12 hours in pharmacotherapeutics and 12 hours in clinical management of patients — per the West Virginia RN Board.

Learn more on how to become an advanced practice registered nurse.

Registered Nurse (RN) in West Virginia

Education: Accredited program of registered professional nursing education.

Examination: NCLEX-RN

Education and examination requirements above are established by the West Virginia RN Board.

Fees:

• $70 Application Fee for Licensure by Examination or Re-Examination
• $125 Fee for Licensure by Endorsement (includes temporary permit)
• $200 NCLEX-RN Examination Fee (paid to Pearson VUE)
• $90 Biennial Renewal Fee
• $7 Multistate Compact License Conversion Fee

Fee amounts above are per the West Virginia RN Board Fees and Waivers schedule.

Endorsement: RNs applying by endorsement must submit an application and fee, verify their original license, provide proof of primary state of residence, and complete a state and federal fingerprint-based criminal background check, per the West Virginia RN Board.

Renewal: Registered nurse licenses in West Virginia renew biennially, in even-numbered years, during the May 1–June 30 renewal window. Twelve contact hours of continuing education are required per renewal cycle; nurses newly licensed in West Virginia must also complete 3 contact hours on safe prescribing practices and drug diversion within their first year of licensure.

Learn more on how to become a registered nurse.

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in West Virginia

Education: Accredited program of practical nursing

Examination: NCLEX-PN

Education and examination requirements above are established by the West Virginia LPN Board.

Fees:

• $75 Application Fee for Licensure by Examination
• $10 additional fee for a New Graduate Permit
• $200 NCLEX-PN Examination Fee (paid to Pearson VUE)
• $50 Application Fee for Licensure by Endorsement

Fee amounts above are per the West Virginia LPN Board fee rule.

Endorsement: LPNs applying by endorsement must submit the endorsement application, verify their original license, complete an IdentoGO fingerprint-based background check, and provide applicable West Virginia residency documentation, per the West Virginia LPN Board.

Renewal: Licensed practical nurse licenses in West Virginia renew annually, in a window from March 1 to June 30. Every two years, in even-numbered years, LPNs must also complete 400 hours of practice and 24 contact hours of continuing education, including 2 hours on care for veterans or veterans' mental health and 3 hours on substance abuse or drug diversion, per the West Virginia LPN Board.

Learn more on how to become a licensed practical nurse.

Information Disclosure:

Information on the APRN and RN licenses in West Virginia was retrieved from the West Virginia RN Board. Information for the LPN license in West Virginia was retrieved from the West Virginia LPN Board.