Virginia Nursing License Renewal Steps

If you’re a nursing professional in Virginia, you’re part of a healthcare workforce that provides care to more than 8.7 million people — 17% of whom are age 65 and older. This puts you in a favorable position when seeking jobs in long-term care and other skilled nursing facilities that service elderly patients and residents.

In order to maintain the ability to practice as an RN, LPN, CNA, and registered medication aide, with any provider, you must complete the Virginia nursing license renewal process:

• RNs and LPNs are required to renew every two years.
• CNAs must renew every year. Those who haven’t performed nursing-related activities for compensation during the 2 years leading up to the expiration date of their certification must pass the nurse aide competency evaluation before applying for recertification.
• Registered medication aides are required to renew every year.

Keep reading for a helpful explanation of the steps you need to follow to satisfy the Virginia nursing license renewal requirements, plus we’ll also provide some useful resources for industry professionals.

Virginia Nursing Facts

Want to establish a nursing career in Virginia or earn an advanced healthcare degree? This information can help guide you. To learn more about general nursing rules and laws in this state, check out our article on the Virginia Nurse Practice Act.

Is Virginia part of the nursing licensure compact (NLC)?

Yes.

How much do nurses in Virginia earn?

• The average CNA salary in Virginia is $37,440 per year.
• The average LPN salary in Virginia is $57,810 per year.
• The average RN salary in Virginia is $88,350 per year.

How can I contact the Virginia Board of Nursing?

Virginia Board of Nursing Contact Number: 804-367-4515
Virginia Department of Health Professions: 804-367-4400

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

Virginia Board of Nursing Mailing Address

Department of Health Professions
Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463

Virginia Board of Nursing License Renewal Process

If you are an in-state nursing professional, follow the steps below. If you’re not in-state, there are separate processes to obtain a Virginia nursing license by endorsement or by examination. Check out the resources below for more information:

• Application for Virginia license by endorsement
• Application for Virginia license by examination

Step 1: Determine Your Renewal Deadline

To begin the Virginia nursing license renewal process, you need to know the expiration date of your current license. You have until midnight on that date to submit an application, otherwise you’ll be charged a late fee on top of your renewal fee.

Step 2: Satisfy Continuing Education Requirements

As you know, you must complete state-specific continuing education requirements to retain your nursing license. For RNs and LPNs seeking nursing license renewal in Virginia, you must complete one of the following:

• Current specialty certification by a national certifying organization
• Completion of a minimum of 3 credit hours of post-licensure academic education relevant to nursing practice, offered by a regionally accredited college or university
• A board-approved refresher course in nursing
• Completion of nursing-related, evidence-based practice project or research study
• Completion of publication as the author or co-author during a renewal cycle
• Teaching or developing a nursing-related course resulting in no less than 3 semester hours of college credit, a 15-week course, or specialty certification
• Teaching or developing nursing-related continuing education courses for up to 30 contact hours
• 15 contact hours of workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses relevant to the practice of nursing and 640 hours of active practice as a nurse
• 30 contact hours of workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses relevant to the practice of nursing

Looking for a resource for continuing education? You can find a selection of courses at IntelyEdu, which is accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Step 3: File Your Virginia Nursing License Renewal Application

Visit the Virginia Department of Health Professions license renewal page and have your credit card or debit card handy. If this is your first time renewing your nurse license in Virginia, you will need to create an account using the PIN and license number that were provided to you in your renewal notice. Otherwise, continue to the login page and complete the steps as prompted. If you have an active license, RN renewal fee is $140 and the LPN renewal fee is $120; the CNA and registered medication aide renewal fees are $30.

Once you have finished, you will see a receipt page, indicating that your renewal has been submitted. Print this out for safekeeping. In general, licenses get renewed within a half hour once payment has been received. To check your status, visit the Virginia license lookup page.

When your license is renewed, get right to it and start looking for RN jobs, LPN jobs, and CNA jobs in Virginia.

Great Cities in Virginia for Nursing Jobs

Go where the patients are! Narrow your search to some of the more populous cities in Virginia, including:

• Alexandria
• Newport News
• Norfolk
• Richmond
• Roanoke

Find Top Virginia Nursing Jobs

Now that you’ve learned about Virginia nursing license renewal, it’s time to find opportunities. Need some help? Check out all nursing jobs in Virginia that are available on IntelyCare right now, and find the job that is the best fit for your career and your life.