Nursing License from Colorado to Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Virginia accept a Colorado nursing license?
Yes — both Colorado and Virginia are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Colorado is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Virginia now; if you are moving your residence to Virginia, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Virginia your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
This is the move the compact was built for. Both Colorado and Virginia are NLC members, so the real question is not "does my license transfer" but "is this a relocation or just work". Working in Virginia while living in Colorado — travel contract, remote monitoring, per-diem across the border — needs nothing: your multistate license already covers it. Relocating to Virginia means your primary state of residence changes, and the compact requires you to endorse into Virginia and declare it your new home state. You keep practicing on the old privilege the entire time.
What's different between Colorado and Virginia
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Virginia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Colorado to Virginia (this page): Compact multistate — already covered.
Virginia to Colorado (the reverse move): Compact multistate — already covered.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Colorado matter?
Colorado gets Virginia's most common result: 39 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (11).
- NLC membership
Colorado and Virginia are both NLC member states.
A multistate license issued by Colorado covers practice in Virginia, and one issued by Virginia covers practice in Colorado.
- Application fee
Virginia lists $190 for an out-of-state applicant; Colorado has no verified fee figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Exam rules on record
Virginia and Colorado carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Virginia (this move): NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys
- Colorado (the reverse move): NCLEX is not retaken; all current and previously held licenses are verified through Nursys
What changes, Colorado → Virginia
| Colorado (current) | Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | NLC member — multistate license honored | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | endorsement fee not published on a public board page — shown inside the DPO Online Services portal at application; + fingerprint vendor fee (IdentoGO/Colorado Fingerprinting) | $190 (application fee, same for exam or endorsement; fingerprint background-check fee paid separately to vendor) |
| Processing time | board publishes no overall processing time; applications referred for Board program review typically take a minimum of three weeks (the Board meets monthly); fingerprint results stay available to the Division for only 90 days | board does not publish an endorsement processing timeframe |
| Licensing authority | Colorado Board of Nursing | Virginia Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing (check it in the verification system).
- If you are moving your primary residence to Virginia: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Virginia Board of Nursing when you move.
- Declare Virginia as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Virginia's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- Keep practicing — your multistate privilege remains valid during the transition (do not let the old license lapse before the new one issues).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from Colorado to Virginia?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere.
What does the move cost?
If you are only working across the border, nothing. If you are relocating your residence to Virginia: $190 (application fee, same for exam or endorsement; fingerprint background-check fee paid separately to vendor).
How long will it take?
Practice can continue immediately on the multistate privilege; the residence-change endorsement processes in the background (board does not publish an endorsement processing timeframe).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Virginia Board of Nursing — Fees (read via Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-07; dhp.virginia.gov did not resolve on 2026-10-29) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Virginia Board of Nursing — Registered Nurse application wizard, endorsement path (read via Internet Archive capture of 2026-10-09) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Nursys — Nurse License Verification participating boards ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Colorado DPO — Nursing Applications and Forms ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Colorado DPO — Registered Nurse Initial Application Preview (endorsement requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Colorado DPO — Fingerprinting and Background Check ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Colorado DPO — Nursing FAQs ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Colorado DPO — Nurse Licensure Compact ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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