Nursing License from Virginia to West Virginia: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does West Virginia accept a Virginia nursing license?
Yes — both Virginia and West Virginia are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Virginia is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in West Virginia now; if you are moving your residence to West Virginia, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare West 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 Virginia and West Virginia are NLC members, so the real question is not "does my license transfer" but "is this a relocation or just work". Working in West Virginia while living in Virginia — travel contract, remote monitoring, per-diem across the border — needs nothing: your multistate license already covers it. Relocating to West Virginia means your primary state of residence changes, and the compact requires you to endorse into West Virginia and declare it your new home state. You keep practicing on the old privilege the entire time.
What's different between Virginia 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
Virginia to West Virginia (this page): Compact multistate — already covered.
West Virginia to Virginia (the reverse move): Compact multistate — already covered.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Virginia matter?
Virginia gets West 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
Virginia and West Virginia are both NLC member states.
A multistate license issued by Virginia covers practice in West Virginia, and one issued by West Virginia covers practice in Virginia.
- Application fee
West Virginia lists $125 for an out-of-state applicant and Virginia lists $190 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Exam rules on record
Virginia and West Virginia carry the same exam note for a licensee arriving from another state; any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
What changes, Virginia → West Virginia
| Virginia (current) | West Virginia (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | NLC member — multistate license honored | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $190 (application fee, same for exam or endorsement; fingerprint background-check fee paid separately to vendor) | $125 (board fee item is 'RN & APRN Endorsement (Includes Temporary Permit)'; background-check fees paid separately) |
| Processing time | board does not publish an endorsement processing timeframe | board does not publish a processing timeframe; the $125 endorsement fee includes a temporary permit |
| Licensing authority | Virginia Board of Nursing | 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 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 West Virginia: apply for licensure by endorsement with the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses when you move.
- Declare West Virginia as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete West 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 Virginia to West Virginia?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
What does the move cost?
If you are only working across the border, nothing. If you are relocating your residence to West Virginia: $125 (board fee item is 'RN & APRN Endorsement (Includes Temporary Permit)'; background-check fees paid separately).
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 a processing timeframe; the $125 endorsement fee includes a temporary permit).
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)
- 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)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
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