West Virginia Nursing License Requirements 2026
West Virginia licenses RNs through the Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses and LPNs through a separate Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses. New graduates must pass either the NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN, depending on their program level, and meet background and character requirements before receiving a license to practice.
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West Virginia runs two separate nursing boards: the Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses handles RN licensure, and the Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses handles LPN licensure. Both boards require candidates to complete a board-approved program and pass the appropriate NCLEX exam. The requirements differ by license type. Use the links below to jump directly to the information you need.
Use the links below to jump to LPN requirements, RN requirements, endorsement processes, or state nursing organizations.
- LPN License Requirements in West Virginia
- RN License Requirements in West Virginia
- International Applicants
- Nursing Organizations in West Virginia
LPN License Requirements in West Virginia
LPN Education
Prospective LPNs must complete a program approved by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses. The Board maintains a list of approved programs on its website. In addition to nursing coursework, applicants must have completed secondary school education at the 10th grade level or higher. The nursing program is expected to have that documentation on file before graduation.
Military veterans with experience as medical corpsmen may also qualify for LPN licensure. The requirement is recent active duty: at least one year within the prior three years. Veteran candidates should contact the LPN Board directly for specific instructions.
See the LPN programs in West Virginia article for guidance on selecting an approved program. For a broader look at the role, see becoming an LPN in West Virginia.
Applying for the LPN License
Before licensure, you’ll undergo a criminal background check and submit an application to the West Virginia LPN Board. The application fee covers the initial review. A temporary permit, available for an additional fee, allows you to work while you wait for your NCLEX-PN results.
Once the Board approves your application, you register separately with Pearson VUE for the NCLEX-PN and pay the exam fee directly to the testing company. After registering, you wait for an Authorization to Test (ATT), typically issued within two weeks of the Board’s eligibility determination. The ATT grants a testing window, so schedule your exam before it expires. The original registration remains open for 365 days. Candidates who haven’t completed all eligibility steps by that point will need to reapply.
If you fail an attempt, return your temporary permit to the Board. You can continue retesting, but a reapplication and a fee are required for each attempt. There is no reapplication fee due to the Board on the third attempt, though the NCLEX registration fee still applies to the testing company.
International LPN candidates must graduate from a program that was approved in its home jurisdiction and meets West Virginia’s minimum standards. A credential evaluation through one of the Board’s approved organizations (CGFNS, ERES, IREF, or Joseph Silny and Associates) is required. Programs not conducted primarily in English require proof of language proficiency through the TOEFL, the TOEIC combined with the TSE, or a VisaScreen certificate.
LPN License by Endorsement
LPNs currently licensed in another state apply by endorsement. The application can be completed online or on paper. An endorsing LPN can work under a temporary permit while documentation is processed, provided the out-of-state license remains active. Personal checks are not accepted for fee payments.
If your licensing state doesn’t participate in Nursys online verification, you’ll need to submit a paper license verification form directly to that state’s licensing agency.
RN License Requirements in West Virginia
RN Education
RN candidates must complete a program approved by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. The Board approves programs at both the associate (ADN) and baccalaureate (BSN) levels. LPNs looking to advance will also find approved bridge programs listed on the Board site.
If you’re completing clinical rotations in West Virginia through an out-of-state program, the program must have prior Board authorization before those rotations begin. Without it, the student is considered an unlicensed practitioner under West Virginia rules. The Board grants authorization only to programs that hold CCNE or ACEN accreditation and are approved by their own state board.
Read the RN programs in West Virginia article to understand the factors to consider when choosing a registered nursing program. For career context, see RN career paths in West Virginia.
Applying for RN Licensure
A criminal background check is required before the Board will issue a license. In-state candidates schedule fingerprinting through the Board’s approved vendor. Out-of-state candidates may use a local law enforcement agency following the instructions in the application packet. The Board accepts fingerprints completed up to 12 months before graduation.
Application forms are available on the West Virginia RN Board website. The license-by-examination fee is paid to the Board. The NCLEX-RN exam fee is paid separately to Pearson VUE. Your application packet includes two required certifications from third parties: one from someone who has known you for five or more years, attesting to good moral character, and one from the director or dean of your nursing program confirming graduation status and any known incidents of academic dishonesty or misconduct.
Candidates who apply promptly can receive a temporary permit valid for up to 90 days after graduation. A first failed NCLEX-RN attempt cancels the temporary permit. You can continue testing, but reapplication and additional fees are required. After two failed attempts, the Board requires a remediation plan that selects one activity each from Categories A and B listed in the application packet before authorizing further testing.
West Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state and has been participating in the enhanced compact since 2018. Nurses with qualifying multistate licenses can practice in other compact states without obtaining a separate license. The full list of NLC member states is maintained by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.
RN endorsement from another state requires a fee payable to the Board. Endorsement applicants who need to begin work while awaiting full licensure can receive a temporary permit valid for up to 180 days, distinct from the 90-day permit available to new graduates awaiting NCLEX results.
International Applicants for RN Licensure in West Virginia
International RN candidates must obtain certification through the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) before the West Virginia RN Board will authorize them to sit for the NCLEX-RN. This applies to all internationally educated nurses regardless of where they completed their program. Contact the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses for current application instructions and fee information.
Nursing Organizations in West Virginia
The following boards and organizations serve nurses in West Virginia:
- West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses, which regulates RN and APRN licensure
- West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses
- West Virginia Nurses Association, a professional membership organization open to both RNs and LPNs. Membership is not tied to licensure.
The West Virginia Center for Nursing maintains scholarship information for nursing students. The state also has a nursing workforce center focused on recruitment and retention, including the development of a nurse residency model.
Nurses seeking advanced practice licensure in West Virginia can find APRN requirements at the West Virginia nurse practitioner licensure page. CNA requirements are covered separately at the West Virginia nursing assistant requirements page.
Find nursing licensure requirements by state for RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and advanced practice nurses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is West Virginia a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. West Virginia joined the Nurse Licensure Compact and has been participating in the enhanced NLC since 2018. Nurses who hold a qualifying multistate license issued by their home state can practice in West Virginia and other NLC member states without obtaining a separate license. Nurses whose primary state of residence is West Virginia receive a multistate license automatically upon meeting standard licensure requirements.
What exam do nurses take in West Virginia?
RN candidates take the NCLEX-RN, administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. LPN candidates take the NCLEX-PN. Both exams are national standardized tests. West Virginia accepts results from both, and the state board determines eligibility to sit for the exam.
How do I apply for an RN license in West Virginia if I’m a new graduate?
New RN graduates apply to the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses, complete a criminal background check, submit the required application forms and fee, and register separately with Pearson VUE to take the NCLEX-RN. Candidates who apply promptly receive a temporary permit that allows them to work for up to 90 days while awaiting exam results.
Can I transfer my nursing license to West Virginia from another state?
Yes. Both the RN and LPN boards accept applications by endorsement from nurses currently licensed in other states. The process requires proof of current licensure (typically via Nursys online verification) and payment of an endorsement fee. RN endorsement applicants can receive a temporary permit valid for up to 180 days, allowing them to begin work while the Board processes the endorsement.
Does West Virginia have separate boards for RNs and LPNs?
Yes. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses handles RN and APRN licensure. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses handles LPN licensure. Each board has its own application process, fee schedule, and approval authority over nursing programs at its respective practice level.
Key Takeaways
- Two separate licensing boards — RNs apply to the Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. LPNs apply to the Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses. The requirements and fees differ by board.
- Board-approved program required — Both boards require completion of an approved program before a candidate can apply for licensure. Check each board’s current approved program list before enrolling.
- NCLEX is the licensing exam — RN candidates take the NCLEX-RN. LPN candidates take the NCLEX-PN. Both are administered by Pearson VUE, and registration is separate from the board application.
- Temporary permits available — New graduates who apply promptly can receive a temporary permit to work while awaiting NCLEX results, subject to specific conditions for each board.
- Endorsement path for out-of-state nurses — Both boards accept license applications by endorsement from nurses currently licensed in another state. Nursys verification is used where available.
Find approved nursing programs in West Virginia and compare your options for RN and LPN education.