West Virginia Nursing License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees
West Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact state. RNs renew every 2 years, complete 12 hours of continuing education per cycle, and pass the NCLEX-RN.
Look up a West 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.
West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses (WV RN Board) · read 2026-09-02 · a dash means the board publishes no figure
Renewal and continuing education in West Virginia
West Virginia RN licenses renew every two years, in even-numbered years, within a renewal window that runs from May 1 through June 30, when the license expires; this schedule replaced the previous October 31 expiration date after the 2024 renewal cycle. Renewal requires 12 hours of continuing education, including 3 hours on safe prescribing and drug diversion within one year of initial licensure, waivable for nurses who do not handle controlled substances. A license not renewed by June 30 lapses immediately.
The renewal fee is $90, compared with a $70 fee for the initial license. These figures cover renewal only; the NCLEX-RN exam fee is paid directly to Pearson VUE, and the required fingerprint-based criminal history check is a separate cost that the board does not itemize in this profile.
Required CE topics
- 1safe prescribing and drug diversion (incl. best-practice prescribing of controlled substances and opioid antagonist training) 3 hrs within 1 year of initial license (W. Va. Code 30-1-7A; waivable if not handling controlled substances)
West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses (WV RN Board) continuing education rules · read 2026-09-02
How much does a West Virginia RN license cost?
Board fees exclude exam registration and fingerprinting · West Virginia board fee schedule ↗ · read 2026-09-02
Moving to West Virginia: endorsement and temporary permits
West Virginia belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a registered nurse whose primary state of residence is another compact state can practice in West Virginia on that home-state multistate license, without applying for a separate West Virginia license. A nurse moving from a non-compact state, or making West Virginia a new home state, applies for licensure by endorsement instead.
Endorsement requires a complete online application, a fingerprint-based criminal background check, and Nursys verification of the nurse's original license, for a $125 fee that includes a temporary permit. The board does not list a separate state jurisprudence exam or English proficiency test for nurses transferring from another U.S. state; the profile notes an English proficiency exam only for foreign-educated applicants.
Education and exam for an RN license in West Virginia
An RN applicant in West Virginia must complete a board-approved pre-licensure nursing program; the board does not distinguish among associate degree, bachelor's degree, or diploma programs on its requirements page. Candidates then take the NCLEX-RN exam, registering and paying Pearson VUE directly; the board does not name a separate state jurisprudence exam. Applicants more than five years past graduation, or with two or more failed attempts, must complete one current-knowledge course and one remediation course before being authorized to test.
What do RNs earn in West Virginia?
BLS OES May 2025 · 23,430 RNs employed in West Virginia · RN salary in West Virginia by city →
Nearby states
| State | Compact | Renewal | CE per cycle | Initial fee | Lookup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | Yes | Every 2 years | 12 hours | $70 | Verify |
| Kentucky | Yes | Every year | 14 hours | $125 | Verify |
| Maryland | Yes | Every 2 years | — | $187 | Verify |
| Ohio | Yes | Every 2 years | 24 hours | $75 | Verify |
| Pennsylvania | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $95 | Verify |
| Virginia | Yes | Every 2 years | 30 hours | $190 | Verify |
Official boards of nursing · read 2026-09-02
Sources
- West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses (WV RN Board) ↗licensure, renewal, CE, and fee ruleshigh confidence
- wvrnboard.wv.gov/licensing
- wvrnboard.wv.gov/licensing/requirements
- wvrnboard.wv.gov/licensing/fees-waivers
- wvrnboard.wv.gov/licensing/renewals
- wvrnboard.wv.gov/licensing/verifications
- wvrnboard.wv.gov/licensing/multistate-licensure
- Nursys ↗ national license verification
- BLS OES May 2025 West Virginia RN wages and employment
Read 2026-09-02. Rules and fees change; confirm with the board before acting.