West Virginia Board of Registered Professional Nurses

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

NLC Compact State

Name note: West Virginia does not call its regulator a "board of nursing". Nursing licensure here is handled by the West Virginia Board of Registered Professional Nurses. Searches for "West Virginia board of nursing" are looking for this agency.

Contact the board

Website wvrnboard.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Phone (304) 744-0900

Email rnboard@wv.gov

Verify a West Virginia licence Application portal

What this board regulates

Every nursing credential issued in West 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	$195	$25 every 2 yrs	—
LPN/LVN Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse	$325	$50 every 1 yr	24
RN Registered Nurse	$320	$90 every 2 yrs	12
NP Nurse Practitioner	$125	$90 every 2 yrs	24
CNM Certified Nurse-Midwife	$125	$90 every 2 yrs	24
CNS Clinical Nurse Specialist	$125	$90 every 2 yrs	24
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist	$125	$90 every 2 yrs	24

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

Multistate practice

West 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.

West Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state. With a multistate license issued by West Virginia, you can practice in all other NLC member states without obtaining additional licenses. West Virginia has separate boards for RN and LPN.

How the Nurse Licensure Compact works

Frequently asked questions

How do I contact the West Virginia Board of Registered Professional Nurses?

Phone: (304) 744-0900. Email: rnboard@wv.gov. Website: https://wvrnboard.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx. 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 West Virginia Board of Registered Professional Nurses 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 West Virginia nurse aide registry, run by West Virginia Board of Registered Professional Nurses - Nurse Aide Registry, which is a separate agency from the nursing board.

Is West Virginia a Nurse Licensure Compact state?

Yes. West 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 West 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 West Virginia data, though it can lag the board by up to two business days.

How often do West Virginia nursing licences renew?

Renewal cycles vary by credential: CNA every 2 years, LPN/LVN every 1 year, 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 4 official sources • Last verified: June 2026

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