Virginia Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 2 years, complete 30 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a Virginia nursing license
The board's search shows license status, expiry date, and any public discipline. Nursys Quick Confirm is a free national check you can use as a second source.
Virginia Board of Nursing (Virginia Department of Health Professions) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in Virginia
Virginia RNs renew their license every two years, by the last day of their birth month. The board ties the renewal year to birth year: nurses born in even-numbered years renew in even-numbered years, and those born in odd-numbered years renew in odd-numbered years. Renewal requires completing 30 hours of continuing education; the board's profile does not name specific mandatory topics. The profile does not state what happens if a license lapses without renewal.
Renewing a Virginia RN license costs $140, compared with $190 for the initial license application. The NCLEX-RN exam fee and the fingerprint-based criminal background check are separate costs tied to initial licensure rather than renewal, and the profile does not list their amounts.
How much does a Virginia RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · Virginia board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to Virginia: endorsement and temporary permits
Virginia belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a registered nurse who holds a multistate license from another compact state can practice in Virginia without applying for a new license there. A nurse whose license is not multistate, or whose primary state of residence is not a compact state, must apply for licensure by endorsement instead.
Endorsement applicants pay a $190 fee and must submit verification of their original license along with a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Those whose primary state of residence is a compact state must instead hold a multistate license from that state rather than apply by endorsement. Virginia offers a temporary permit, and the board does not name a separate state jurisprudence exam; English-proficiency testing applies only to foreign-educated applicants whose programs were not taught in English.
Education and exam for an RN license in Virginia
Virginia requires graduation from a state-approved nursing education program; the board does not break this down separately by associate, bachelor's, or diploma degree. After submitting the licensure application, candidates register for the NCLEX-RN examination through Pearson VUE. The board's RN application page and its regulations do not name a separate state jurisprudence or law examination.
What do RNs earn in Virginia?
BLS OES May 2025 · 77,490 RNs employed in Virginia · RN salary in Virginia by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $190 | Verify |
| Kentucky | Yes | Every year | 14 hours | $125 | Verify |
| Maryland | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $187 | Verify |
| North Carolina | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $75 | Verify |
| Tennessee | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $150 | Verify |
| West Virginia | Yes | Every 2 years | 12 hours | $70 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- Virginia Board of Nursing (Virginia Department of Health Professions) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/ApplicantResources/ApplyforLicense/Reg…
- dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/PractitionerResources/Fees
- dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/PractitionerResources/NurseLicensureCo…
- dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/AbouttheBoard/ContacttheBoard
- law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency90/chapter19/section30
- law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency90/chapter19/section150
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 Virginia RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.