Virginia Board of Nursing

The agency that licenses and disciplines nurses in Virginia — how to reach it, what it charges, and what it requires to keep a licence active.

NLC Compact State

Contact the board

Website www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing

Phone (804) 367-4515

Email nursebd@dhp.virginia.gov

Verify a Virginia licence Application portal

What this board regulates

Every nursing credential issued in Virginia, with what it costs to get and what it takes to keep. Initial cost totals application, examination, and fingerprinting fees.

Credential	Initial cost	Renewal	CE hours
CNA Certified Nursing Assistant	$165	$30 every 1 yr	—
LPN/LVN Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse	$420	$120 every 2 yrs	15
RN Registered Nurse	$440	$140 every 2 yrs	15
NP Nurse Practitioner	$125	$80 every 2 yrs	None
CNM Certified Nurse-Midwife	$125	$80 every 2 yrs	40
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist	$125	$80 every 2 yrs	None
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	$125	$80 every 2 yrs	None

Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Virginia nurse aide registry, run by Virginia Board of Nursing - Nurse Aide Registry — a separate agency from the nursing board.

Multistate practice

Virginia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. A multistate licence issued by this board lets you practise in other NLC member states without a separate application in each one.

Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state since January 2018. With a multistate license issued by Virginia, you can practice in all other NLC member states without obtaining additional licenses.

How the Nurse Licensure Compact works

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact the Virginia Board of Nursing?

Phone: (804) 367-4515. Email: nursebd@dhp.virginia.gov. Website: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/. The board is the authoritative source for licence status, disciplinary records, and application questions. Contact it directly rather than relying on third-party summaries, including this one.

What licences does the Virginia Board of Nursing issue?

It handles Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Certified nursing assistants are listed on the Virginia nurse aide registry, run by Virginia Board of Nursing - Nurse Aide Registry, which is a separate agency from the nursing board.

Is Virginia a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. Virginia is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a multistate licence issued here lets you practise in other NLC member states without applying separately in each one.

How do I verify a Virginia nursing licence?

Use the board's public verification tool, which is free and does not require an account. It shows current status, expiration date, and any disciplinary action. Nursys also carries Virginia data, though it can lag the board by up to two business days.

How often do Virginia nursing licences renew?

Renewal cycles vary by credential: CNA every 1 year, LPN/LVN every 2 years, RN every 2 years, NP every 2 years, CNM every 2 years, CNS every 2 years, CRNA every 2 years. Continuing education requirements are set per credential and are listed in the table above.

Clinically reviewed by Clinical Review Team

Based on 7 official sources • Last verified: July 2026

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