Nursing License from New York to West Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does West Virginia accept a New York nursing license?
A nursing license transfers from New York to West Virginia by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses, verify your New York license, and meet West Virginia's endorsement requirements. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This direction has a silver lining. New York is outside the compact, so you have been carrying a single-state license — but West Virginia is a member. Endorse into West Virginia, establish it as your primary residence, meet the uniform licensure requirements, and the license you receive is multistate: one application turns into practice privileges across the whole compact.
What's different between New York and West Virginia
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into West Virginia. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
New York to West Virginia (this page): Licensure by endorsement.
West Virginia to New York (the reverse move): Licensure by endorsement.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from New York matter?
Coming from New York matters here: only 11 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get this result for a move into West Virginia.
The others get: compact multistate — already covered (39).
- NLC membership
New York is not in the NLC; West Virginia is an NLC member state.
Because they are not both active members, the NLC does not cover this move.
A multistate license issued by West Virginia does not cover practice in New York.
- Application fee
West Virginia lists $125 for an out-of-state applicant and New York lists $143 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Exam rules on record
West Virginia and New York carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- West Virginia (this move): NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys
- New York (the reverse move): NCLEX is not retaken; your out-of-state license is verified to NYSED through Nursys (or Form 3 if your state does not participate)
What changes, New York → West Virginia
| New York (current) | West Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | Licensure by endorsement | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $143 (licensure and first registration fee (Form 1); NYSED's $35 limited permit is only for applicants who have never taken the NCLEX-RN, so it is not available to nurses already licensed by exam; NYSED RN checklists list no fingerprint background check) | $125 (board fee item is 'RN & APRN Endorsement (Includes Temporary Permit)'; background-check fees paid separately) |
| Processing time | NYSED does not publish processing times for RN licensure applications | board does not publish a processing timeframe; the $125 endorsement fee includes a temporary permit |
| Licensing authority | New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions | West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — West Virginia sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm West Virginia's current requirements on the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active RN license in another state.
- Nursys license verification sent to West Virginia.
- Fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background check.
- Provide proof of primary state of residence (driver's license, voter registration card, or tax return).
- Submit the application through the WV Nurse Portal.
- Pay the fees listed above, and allow for the processing time shown there.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from New York to West Virginia?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- WV RN Board — Licensure Requirements (RN by Endorsement) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- WV RN Board — Fees and Waivers (official schedule of fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- WV RN Board — Multistate Licensure (NLC) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — RN Pathway #3 (licensed in another state) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — RN License Requirements ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NYSED Office of the Professions — How do I apply for Licensure by Endorsement? ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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