Transfer Your Nursing License to West Virginia: Reciprocity & Endorsement (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses ↗
West Virginia honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses need no West Virginia application at all. 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 |
|---|---|
| Additional requirements |
|
| Fees | $125 (board fee item is 'Endorsement With Temp Permit'; + 0.25% online transaction fee; background-check fees paid separately) |
| Processing time | board does not publish a processing timeframe; the $125 endorsement fee includes a temporary permit |
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.
- Submit the application through the WV Nurse Portal.
- Pay the fees ($125 (board fee item is 'Endorsement With Temp Permit'; + 0.25% online transaction fee; background-check fees paid separately)) and allow board does not publish a processing timeframe; the $125 endorsement fee includes a temporary permit.
Official links
Coming from a specific state?
Direction matters — these guides cover the exact move into West Virginia:
All 43 origin states
Frequently asked questions
Does my nursing license transfer to West Virginia?
West Virginia honors multistate licenses under the Nurse Licensure Compact — compact nurses need no West Virginia application at all. 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.
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.
How much does it cost to transfer an RN license to West Virginia?
$125 (board fee item is 'Endorsement With Temp Permit'; + 0.25% online transaction fee; background-check fees paid separately) (board fee item is 'Endorsement With Temp Permit'; + 0.25% online transaction fee; background-check fees paid separately).
How long does West Virginia take to process an endorsement application?
board does not publish a processing timeframe; the $125 endorsement fee includes a temporary permit — board does not publish a processing timeframe; the $125 endorsement fee includes a temporary permit.
Is West Virginia in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes — West Virginia is an NLC member as of 2026-07-21. 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 2026-07-21.
- WV RN Board — Licensing (fee schedule, endorsement, Nurse Portal) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WV RN Board — RN and APRN Licensure Requirements (PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]