Virginia Clinical Nurse Specialist License Requirements
Complete guide to becoming a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Virginia
CNS may practice its certified nursing specialty without a written/electronic physician practice agreement (autonomous practice); a collaborative practice agreement with a physician is required only to prescribe controlled substances or devices (Va. Code 54.1-2957(J)).
Prescriptive Authority: NPs: Practice agreement until 3 yrs/5,400 hrs; CRNAs: Schedule II-VI for periprocedural only; CNMs: Practice agreement until 1,000 hrs
1 Education Requirements
Degree Required
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Program Requirements
- Complete accredited Clinical Nurse Specialist program
- Hold active RN license in the state
- Clinical hours as specified by program
2 National Certification
Certification Body
ANCC or AACN
Required
Yes
American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
3 Fees
Initial Licensure
| Application Fee | $125 |
| Total | $190 |
Renewal
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $80 |
Prerequisites
To become a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Virginia, you must first hold an active RN license. Virginia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so you may hold a multistate RN license.
State Board of Nursing
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Other APRN Types in Virginia
Clinically reviewed by Clinical Review Team
Based on 5 official sources • Last verified: June 2026