Verify a West Virginia Nurse—or Use the Correct Post-Deadline Route
West Virginia is unusual because one agency does not manage every nurse. The West Virginia RN Board regulates RNs and APRNs, while a separate LPN Board regulates licensed practical nurses. Each board has its own portal, lookup, renewal rules, fees, continuing education and contact office.
That split matters after a missed deadline. As of July 20, 2026, the regular RN and LPN renewal windows have both closed. A nurse whose public record now shows lapsed must stop practicing under that license and use the correct board’s reinstatement process—not submit another ordinary renewal.
The RN renewal window ran May 1–June 30, 2026. The LPN renewal window ran March 1–June 30, 2026. RN/APRN telehealth registration renewal is separate and is scheduled for September 1–October 31, 2026.
West Virginia RN Board
Use this board for registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, prescriptive authority, RN/APRN telehealth registration and dialysis technicians.
WV LPN Board of Examiners
Use this separate board for licensed practical nurse verification, annual LPN renewal, reinstatement, practical-nursing programs, employment-hour reporting and LPN continuing education.
West Virginia nursing-license facts that affect your next step
Both regular 2026 deadlines have passed. The RN Board’s 2026 renewal season ended June 30, 2026, and the LPN Board’s annual renewal also ended at midnight June 30. Verify the live record before scheduling or performing nursing work.
Two boards means two portals
An RN password or application will not open an LPN record. Use the portal belonging to the credential being managed.
The RN deadline changed in 2026
West Virginia changed the RN expiration from October 31 to June 30 of even-numbered years.
RN licenses now renew every two years
The RN Board moved registered-nurse licenses to a two-year renewal cycle beginning in 2022.
LPN renewal remains annual
West Virginia LPNs submit a renewal application every year between March 1 and June 30.
An APRN depends on RN authority
A West Virginia APRN who allowed the prerequisite WV RN license to lapse may also lose APRN practice authority.
No practice on a lapsed license
A submitted application or payment does not authorize work. Wait until the public record shows active status.
How to verify a West Virginia RN, APRN or LPN
First identify the credential type. RN and APRN records use the WV RN Board lookup; LPN records use the separate LPN lookup. Nursys is useful for RN/LPN compact and disciplinary verification.
Identify whether the person is an RN, APRN or LPN
Do not search the RN portal for an LPN or assume an RN result includes every APRN and prescriptive-authority detail.
Open the correct live lookup
Use the WV RN Registry for RN/APRN credentials or the WV LPN Registry for practical nurses.
Search by license number when possible
Otherwise use the current legal name and check a former surname if the first search does not produce a match.
Read status and expiration together
A matching name does not establish current authority. Confirm active, lapsed, inactive, restricted or other status and the exact expiration date.
Check Nursys for compact and discipline details
Use QuickConfirm to review participating RN/LPN records and open any available disciplinary information.
Open Nursys QuickConfirmSave the verification date
Employers should retain the source, date, license type, status, expiration and compact determination under their credentialing policy.
| Status or result | What it means | Correct next action |
|---|---|---|
| Active | The credential currently authorizes practice under the conditions displayed. | Check expiration, restrictions, compact status and APRN authority. |
| Lapsed | The renewal deadline passed without an effective renewal. | Stop practicing and submit reinstatement through the correct board. |
| Inactive | The nurse maintains a record but does not have active practice authority. | Complete the board’s inactive-status reinstatement route. |
| Single-state | The license does not provide a multistate compact privilege. | Check authority in the state where the patient is physically located. |
| Multistate | The license may provide practice privilege in other compact states. | Confirm current primary residence and unencumbered status in Nursys. |
| Temporary or limited | Authority exists only for the published period and conditions. | Read the expiration and restrictions before assigning nursing duties. |
The RN Board’s public lookup covers RN and APRN records. The LPN Board maintains its own separate lookup. Searching only one board can produce a false “not found” result.
What is still renewable in West Virginia during 2026?
The regular RN and LPN renewal windows ended June 30. Telehealth registration renewal remains a separate upcoming transaction for eligible RN and APRN licensees.
| Credential | 2026 window | Status on July 20, 2026 | Action now |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia RN | May 1–June 30, 2026. | Regular renewal closed. | Verify the record. If lapsed, submit RN reinstatement. |
| West Virginia LPN | March 1–June 30, 2026. | Annual renewal closed. | Verify the LPN record and use reinstatement if lapsed. |
| APRN license | The next ordinary APRN cycle ends June 30, 2027. | May remain active, but RN authority was due for action in 2026. | Verify both RN and APRN records. Reinstate both when required. |
| RN/APRN telehealth registration | September 1–October 31, 2026. | Renewal has not opened yet. | Confirm portal access and current underlying license authority. |
| Prescriptive authority | Connected to APRN and prerequisite RN authority. | Must be verified separately. | Check RN, APRN and prescriptive-authority records individually. |
Do not keep working while an application is pending. A portal receipt, payment confirmation, CE upload or fingerprint appointment does not restore a lapsed license.
RN and APRN telehealth registration renewals are scheduled to begin September 1, 2026 and end October 31, 2026. The underlying RN or APRN authority must also remain valid.
West Virginia RN renewal and post-deadline action
The RN expiration date changed from October 31 to June 30 of even-numbered years. The 2026 renewal season is over, so the live license status determines whether the nurse needs no action, inactive status or reinstatement.
Verify the RN record immediately
Check whether the status is active, inactive or lapsed and whether an APRN credential was affected.
Verify RN StatusStop West Virginia practice if the license lapsed
The RN Board states that an RN who failed to renew by June 30 can no longer practice nursing in West Virginia.
Open the RN Nurse Portal
Applications for reinstatement, inactive status, name changes and address changes are completed electronically.
Open RN Nurse PortalSelect the correct reinstatement transaction
Reinstatement from lapsed status and reinstatement from inactive status have different published fees.
Confirm CE compliance in CE Broker
Most renewing RNs need 12 Board-approved contact hours for the renewal cycle. Newly licensed RNs have a separate three-hour rule.
Open CE BrokerWait for active status
Check the public registry after submission. Return to practice only after the license displays active authority.
An APRN who held both a West Virginia RN and APRN license was still required to submit the 2026 RN renewal application. The RN fee was waived for an active APRN holder, but the RN application itself was not optional.
If the prerequisite RN license lapsed, the associated APRN license may also lapse. Verify RN, APRN and prescriptive authority separately before providing advanced-practice care or prescribing.
West Virginia LPN renewal and reinstatement after June 30
Every West Virginia LPN renewal application is due between March 1 and midnight June 30. An unrenewed LPN license lapses and must be reinstated before the nurse returns to practice.
Check the separate LPN license registry
Do not use the RN lookup for an LPN record.
Verify LPN StatusStop practice when the status is lapsed
The LPN Board warns that working after July 1 on a lapsed license can lead to monetary penalties and public discipline.
Open the LPN Nurse Portal
Select the previously issued West Virginia LPN record and start the reinstatement application.
Open LPN Nurse PortalPrepare employment-hour verification
West Virginia requires verification of 400 practical-nursing employment hours during the applicable two-year reporting period.
Upload the required 24 CE hours
The 2026 even-year requirements include three hours of substance abuse or drug diversion and two hours concerning veterans or veterans’ mental health.
Complete the IdentoGO background check
Use LPN Board service code 228NQ7. Reinstatement applications require the board-specific background-check route.
Open IdentoGOThe LPN Board states that a nurse who worked after July 1 on a lapsed license may be assessed $100 for each month worked plus a $250 consent-agreement preparation fee. The resulting discipline can appear publicly in Nursys.
When an employer sends verification of employment directly to the LPN Board on employer letterhead, it does not need notarization. A form given to the nurse for personal upload must be notarized.
West Virginia RN, APRN and LPN CE requirements
Do not apply one board’s CE rule to another credential. The RN/APRN Board and LPN Board use different hour totals, reporting systems and mandatory topics.
| Credential | Published requirement | Important details |
|---|---|---|
| Experienced RN | 12 Board-approved contact hours per two-year renewal cycle. | CE compliance is electronically checked through CE Broker at renewal. |
| Newly licensed RN | Three hours of best prescribing and drug-diversion education within one year of initial licensure. | A signed waiver may be available when the nurse did not prescribe, administer or dispense controlled substances. |
| APRN | 24 hours every two years: 12 pharmacotherapeutics and 12 clinical management. | A separate three-hour initial controlled-substance training rule may also apply. |
| LPN | 24 contact hours reported in even-numbered years. | The 24 hours include three substance-abuse or drug-diversion hours and two veterans or veterans’ mental-health hours. |
| New LPN or LPN new to West Virginia | One-time two-hour end-of-life care with pain-management education. | Retain the certificate for audit or upload it to the LPN portal Message Center. |
| LPN employment competence | 400 clock hours of practical-nursing employment in the applicable two-year period. | The employment requirement is separate from the 24 CE hours. |
RN and APRN use CE Broker
The WV RN Board identifies CE Broker as its official CE tracking system and provides a free Basic Account.
Activate CE BrokerLPNs should retain four years of records
The LPN Board instructs practical nurses to maintain four years of CE documentation and respond to an audit within 30 days.
Read LPN Audit RulesAn LPN audit failure can lead to a published disciplinary consent agreement, a monetary penalty for missing education and a separate agreement-preparation charge.
West Virginia RN, APRN and LPN application fees
The RN Board publishes a detailed online fee schedule. The LPN Board’s current public licensure page publishes selected application fees, while the live portal calculates renewal and reinstatement totals.
| Board and transaction | Published amount | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| RN renewal | $90 | Online applications also include a 0.25% transaction fee. |
| RN endorsement with temporary permit | $125 | Verification and background-check requirements also apply. |
| RN licensure by examination | $70 | NCLEX and fingerprint vendor costs are separate. |
| RN reinstatement from lapsed status | $115 | Do not practice until the record returns to active status. |
| RN reinstatement from inactive status | $25 | Any applicable renewal and CE requirements must also be satisfied. |
| APRN application | $125 | RN authority and national certification are separate requirements. |
| APRN renewal | $90 | The ordinary APRN cycle ends June 30 of odd-numbered years. |
| Limited prescriptive authority | $125 | This is separate from the APRN license. |
| RN/APRN telehealth registration or renewal | $100 | The 2026 telehealth renewal window is September 1–October 31. |
| RN single-state to multistate conversion | $7 | West Virginia primary residence and compact eligibility are required. |
| RN/APRN name change | $10 | Address changes are listed as no charge through the portal. |
| APRN verification to another board | $30 | The RN Board requests a written request and cashier’s check or money order. |
| LPN initial examination | $75 | A new-graduate permit adds $10, for a total of $85. |
| LPN repeat examination | $75 | The public page states the board application fee is waived for the third attempt. |
| LPN name change | $10 | Upload a legal name-change document and current driver’s license. |
| LPN renewal or reinstatement | Shown in LPN Nurse Portal | Use the current portal total rather than an unofficial third-party fee list. |
All application, renewal, vendor, Nursys and background-check costs should be reviewed before payment. Do not use the RN Board fee schedule for an LPN transaction.
Check what is missing from a West Virginia nursing application
Both boards use portal-based applications and Message Centers. Do not create a second application simply because a transcript, verification or background result is not yet marked complete.
Open the portal belonging to the credential
RN/APRN applications and LPN applications are stored in different portal systems.
Locate Submitted License Applications
For an RN or APRN application, select View Status beside the submitted application.
Read every incomplete item separately
Education, national certification, license verification, residency and criminal-background information may arrive on different dates.
Check the Message Center without waiting for email
The RN Board warns that email notifications are not guaranteed. Applicants should check the Message Center periodically.
Confirm who must send the document
A school, certifying organization, Nursys, another licensing board or IdentoGO may need to transmit the record directly.
| Missing item | What to verify | Correct action |
|---|---|---|
| Official transcript | Whether the school sent a final official record showing the credential and graduation date. | Ask the school for the exact sending date and method. |
| License verification | Whether the original state participates in Nursys. | Order Nursys verification or use the original board’s direct process. |
| RN background check | Whether service code 228NJX and matching identity data were used. | Do not upload the results. Allow direct electronic transmission. |
| LPN background check | Whether service code 228NQ7 was used for the LPN Board. | Complete or correct the board-specific IdentoGO transaction. |
| Employment verification | Whether 400 LPN practice hours and the correct reporting dates are documented. | Have the employer send the information directly or upload a notarized form. |
| National APRN certification | Whether official certification verification matches the role and population focus. | Ask the certifying body to transmit the official record. |
“I am contacting the West Virginia _____ Board about my _____ application. I submitted it on _____. The item named _____ was sent by _____ on _____ using _____. My portal currently shows _____. Please confirm whether the document has been matched and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
The RN Board processes complete applications in the order received. A processing delay may be caused by background checks, education verification or national-certification verification.
West Virginia endorsement, verification and fingerprint routes
RN and LPN endorsement applications are submitted to different boards. Both require applicants to consider compact residence rules and complete the board-specific background-check process.
RN endorsement route
- Apply through the WV RN Nurse Portal.
- Published endorsement-with-temporary-permit fee: $125.
- Order RN verification through Nursys when the original state participates.
- Complete state and federal fingerprints using service code 228NJX.
- Monitor Submitted License Applications and View Status.
LPN endorsement route
- Apply through the separate WV LPN Nurse Portal.
- Use endorsement only when you have never held a WV LPN license.
- Order verification from every state where an LPN license was held.
- Complete IdentoGO using LPN service code 228NQ7.
- Upload WV residency proof when requesting multistate status.
Do not mix the fingerprint codes. The RN Board uses 228NJX. The LPN Board uses 228NQ7. Completing a transaction for the wrong board can delay licensure and require another appointment.
The RN Board says electronic state and federal background results normally reach the board in approximately two to three business days. Applicants should not upload, email or fax the results.
Reinstating a West Virginia nursing license after June 30
First verify which board holds the credential and whether the record says lapsed or inactive. The requirements differ significantly for RN and LPN reinstatement.
| Credential and status | Main requirements | Important warning |
|---|---|---|
| RN lapsed | RN Nurse Portal reinstatement, published $115 fee and CE compliance. | The RN cannot practice until the registry returns to active status. |
| RN inactive | Inactive-status reinstatement, published $25 fee and any applicable renewal requirements. | Inactive status does not authorize nursing work. |
| APRN affected by RN lapse | Reinstate the prerequisite RN and any lapsed APRN or prescriptive-authority credential. | Verify each credential separately before advanced practice or prescribing. |
| LPN lapsed | LPN Portal reinstatement, 400 employment hours, 24 CE hours, IdentoGO code 228NQ7 and work attestation where required. | Work after July 1 can lead to monthly penalties and public discipline. |
| LPN without 400 hours | Review the Board’s limited-license, waiver or additional competence instructions. | Do not invent or estimate employment hours. |
Verify the live record and stop practice
Confirm whether the status is lapsed or inactive and notify the employer before performing additional nursing duties.
Use the correct board portal
RN/APRN reinstatement belongs in the RN portal. LPN reinstatement belongs in the separate LPN portal.
Complete every supporting requirement
Fees alone do not complete reinstatement. CE, employment hours, background checks or disciplinary documents may also be required.
Disclose any work performed after expiration
Answer board questions accurately. Concealing post-expiration practice can create a separate disciplinary issue.
Monitor the portal and public registry
Check the Message Center and verify the public record instead of relying only on an email notification.
“My West Virginia _____ license currently shows _____ after the June 30, 2026 deadline. I have stopped practicing under that credential and submitted the required reinstatement steps. Please verify active status through the correct board registry before assigning additional nursing duties.”
West Virginia single-state and multistate nursing licenses
West Virginia participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact for eligible RNs and LPNs. A West Virginia license is not automatically multistate.
West Virginia must be the home state
A West Virginia multistate license requires West Virginia to be the nurse’s primary state of residence.
Uniform requirements apply
Applicants need an approved education, NCLEX passage, fingerprint checks, a valid Social Security number and an unencumbered license.
Moving can change the correct license
A nurse moving to another compact state generally obtains the new home-state multistate license and inactivates the former home-state license.
If another compact state is your legal home and you hold its multistate license, do not automatically renew a separate West Virginia RN or LPN license. Follow the board’s residence-change instructions.
Nursing practice occurs where the patient is physically located. Telehealth, remote case management and telephone triage can require authority in the patient’s state.
West Virginia APRN, prescriptive authority and telehealth checks
An APRN should verify four separate items when applicable: RN authority, APRN license, prescriptive authority and telehealth registration.
APRN continuing education
APRNs need 12 hours of pharmacotherapeutics and 12 hours of clinical management every two years.
RN renewal was still required
An APRN living in West Virginia with a WV RN license had to submit the 2026 RN renewal application even though the RN fee was waived.
Telehealth renewal is separate
The 2026 RN/APRN telehealth renewal window is scheduled for September 1 through October 31.
Do not prescribe or provide APRN care based only on an active RN result. Verify the APRN license and prescriptive-authority record separately.
Verify an approved West Virginia RN or practical-nursing program
The RN Board publishes approved prelicensure RN programs. The LPN Board publishes a separate accredited practical-nursing program list.
RN and BSN programs
Use the WV RN Board’s current approved-program document to match the exact baccalaureate, associate-degree or diploma program and campus.
Open RN Education ResourcesPractical-nursing programs
Use the LPN Board’s accredited practical-nursing program list and verify the exact program location before enrolling.
Open LPN Program ListBoard approval and national nursing accreditation are separate checks. National accreditation may affect transfer credit, graduate study, financial aid or employer requirements.
Fix login, payment and Message Center problems
Forgot the RN portal password
Select Forgot Your Password, enter the sign-in email and use the link sent from noreply@boardsofnursing.org.
RN portal locked after five attempts
Call the RN Board at 304-744-0900 to request account unlocking.
Do not rely only on email
Both boards expect applicants to check the portal Message Center regularly for document and audit requests.
Payment button does not work
Try a different browser or internet connection, disable interfering extensions or complete the payment on a mobile phone.
Possible duplicate RN payment
Contact the RN Board with the transaction ID rather than submitting another payment.
Avoid a second portal profile
Recover the existing account whenever possible because the license may already be connected to that profile.
West Virginia RN Board and LPN Board contact details
Contact the office that regulates the credential. Prepare the legal name, license or application type, portal status, document name and date submitted before calling.
RN, APRN, prescriptive authority, RN telehealth and dialysis credentials.
Official toll-free RN Board contact number.
General RN Board questions and background-check issues.
Use only when a specific official instruction permits fax submission.
General West Virginia LPN Board contact route.
Current direct contact listed for practical-nurse licensure questions.
Licensure, employment verification and general LPN questions.
Employers may use this route for qualifying employment-hour verification.
Vendor support for scheduling and fingerprint-processing questions.
West Virginia RN Board
5001 MacCorkle Avenue SW
South Charleston, WV 25309
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Open RN Board MapWest Virginia LPN Board
101 Dee Drive, Suite 100
Charleston, WV 25311
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Open LPN Board Map“I am contacting the West Virginia _____ Board about my _____ license or application. My legal name is _____. The portal or verification record currently shows _____. The document or transaction was submitted on _____. Please identify the exact remaining action and whether I am currently authorized to practice.”
Call before traveling. An in-person visit does not guarantee same-day renewal, reinstatement, document matching, fingerprint review or license issuance.
West Virginia Board of Nursing FAQ
Does West Virginia have one nursing board or two?
West Virginia has separate boards. The WV RN Board regulates RNs and APRNs, while the West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses regulates LPNs.
How do I verify a West Virginia RN or APRN?
Use the WV RN Board license lookup at wvrn.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup. Confirm the credential type, status, expiration and any applicable APRN or prescriptive-authority information.
How do I verify a West Virginia LPN?
Use the separate LPN Board lookup at wvpn.boardsofnursing.org/licenselookup. Do not search for an LPN only in the RN registry.
When was West Virginia RN renewal due in 2026?
The 2026 RN renewal window opened May 1 and closed June 30, 2026. An unrenewed RN license may now require reinstatement.
When was West Virginia LPN renewal due in 2026?
The annual LPN renewal window ran from March 1 through midnight June 30, 2026. An unrenewed LPN license lapses and requires reinstatement.
Did the West Virginia RN expiration date change?
Yes. The RN Board changed the expiration date from October 31 to June 30 of even-numbered years.
How much is West Virginia RN renewal?
The RN Board’s current fee schedule lists RN renewal at $90, plus a 0.25% online transaction fee.
How many CE hours does a West Virginia RN need?
Most renewing RNs need 12 Board-approved contact hours per two-year renewal cycle. Newly licensed RNs have a separate three-hour best-prescribing and drug-diversion requirement.
How many CE hours does a West Virginia LPN need?
West Virginia LPNs need 24 contact hours reported in even-numbered years, including three hours of substance abuse or drug diversion and two hours related to veterans or veterans’ mental health.
Does a West Virginia LPN need employment hours?
Yes. The LPN Board requires verification of 400 clock hours of practical-nursing employment during the applicable two-year reporting period.
What happens if a West Virginia nursing license lapses?
The nurse must stop practicing under that license, submit reinstatement through the correct board and wait until the public record returns to active status.
What are the West Virginia fingerprint service codes?
The RN Board uses IdentoGO service code 228NJX. The LPN Board uses service code 228NQ7.
When does West Virginia telehealth renewal open in 2026?
RN and APRN telehealth registration renewal is scheduled from September 1 through October 31, 2026.
How do I check a pending West Virginia RN application?
Log in to the WV RN Nurse Portal, find Submitted License Applications and select View Status. Also check the Message Center regularly.
What is the West Virginia RN Board phone number?
The main WV RN Board number is 304-744-0900. Its toll-free number is 1-877-743-6877.
What is the West Virginia LPN Board phone number?
The main West Virginia LPN Board number is 304-558-3572.
West Virginia nursing pages used for this guide
Dates, fees, service codes and application requirements can change. Recheck the relevant official board page before submitting payment, fingerprints or documents.
For employers and public users
Determine whether the person is an RN, APRN or LPN, use the correct live registry and document status, expiration, compact authority, restrictions and the verification date.
For applicants and licensees
Use the portal belonging to your credential. After the June 30 deadline, verify the public record first and select reinstatement rather than assuming ordinary renewal remains available.