Transfer Your Nursing License to West Virginia: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Does my nursing license transfer to West Virginia?
West Virginia honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses who live in another member state need no West Virginia application, while those relocating here apply by endorsement. From a non-compact state such as California or New York, the path is licensure by endorsement through the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses, without retaking the NCLEX.
Moving to West Virginia from a specific state?
Pick your current state — the checker returns your exact pathway.
Verdict
NLC member — multistate license honored
Whether you need to do anything at all depends on the license in your pocket. If you hold a multistate license and your primary residence stays in another compact state — a travel contract, a border commute, telehealth — West Virginia requires nothing from you. If you are actually moving to West Virginia, you are changing your primary state of residence, and that means an endorsement application to the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses to re-home your multistate license.
NLC member — a multistate license from another compact state is honored without a WV application unless WV becomes the primary state of residence; converting a WV single-state license to multistate costs $7. W. Va. Code 30-1-27 universal-recognition provisions also apply to out-of-state licensees.
West Virginia requirements at a glance
| Exam | NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys |
|---|---|
| Fees | $125 (board fee item is 'RN & APRN Endorsement (Includes Temporary Permit)'; background-check fees paid separately) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a processing timeframe; the $125 endorsement fee includes a temporary permit |
Comparing West Virginia with other states? Check RN endorsement requirements by state in the Endorsement Requirement Finder.
Step by step
- Confirm West Virginia's current requirements on the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses website — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses (application linked on this page).
- 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
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into West Virginia:
Nearby states
Nursing license transfer into the states bordering West Virginia:
West Virginia for other professions
- Cosmetology / Barber in West Virginia
- Real Estate in West Virginia
- Contractor in West Virginia
- Teaching in West Virginia
- CPA / Accounting in West Virginia
- Electrician in West Virginia
- Plumber in West Virginia
- Engineering in West Virginia
- Pharmacy in West Virginia
- Physical Therapy in West Virginia
- Psychology in West Virginia
- Counseling in West Virginia
- Social Work in West Virginia
- Occupational Therapy in West Virginia
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to retake the NCLEX to get licensed in West Virginia?
No. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys. No state requires a second NCLEX.
Is West Virginia in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — West Virginia is an NLC member as of 2026-10-29. A multistate license from another member state is valid in West Virginia without any application, as long as your primary residence stays in a member state.
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)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-10-29
How we verify · All sources · Corrections log · spot an error? hello@licensereciprocity.com