West Virginia LPN Licensing Guide

The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) is a legally constituted agency of State government established by the West Virginia Legislature. The Board acts as the licensing agency for all practical nurses in West Virginia and establishes the procedures for submitting, approving, and rejecting applications for LPN licensure and license renewal in the state.

All communications to and from the Board must take place through the online WV LPN Nurse Portal Message Center. Applicants must create a Nurse Portal account to access electronic forms, apply online for their West Virginia nursing license, and send and receive messages. Individuals with a West Virginia LPN license application in progress need to check their Message Center periodically to see if they need to follow up with the Board.

All LPN licenses expire on October 31 every year. West Virginia LPN license renewal applications are available on the Nurse Portal. The renewal period begins September 1 and any license not renewed by October 31 will lapse and require an additional fee to reactivate.

The WV LPN Board reviews each applicant’s West Virginia LPN license renewal application after receiving:

• Completed application for renewal of LPN license

• Submission of any additional documents requested by the Board

• Verification of meeting the continuing education requirements

• Fee for renewal

Continuing Education Requirements

LPNs are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) during each annual renewal period. These hours must include:

• Initial Renewal Only: 3 CE contact hours for drug diversion training, best-practice prescribing of controlled substances training, and training on prescribing and administration of an opioid antagonist if LPN prescribes, administers, or dispenses controlled substances

• Annually: 1 CE contact hour for drug diversion training, best-practice prescribing of controlled substances training, and training on prescribing and administration of an opioid antagonist if they prescribe, administer, or dispense controlled substances

• Annually: 2 CE contact hours for mental health conditions common to veterans and their families

The WV LPN Board accepts LPN CE hours provided by Board-approved CE providers. Examples include:

• National advanced practice registered nurse certification bodies (American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, American Midwifery Certification Board, American Nurses Credentialing Center, National Certification Corporation, and Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, etc.)

• National and state nurse associations (American Nurses Association, West Virginia Nurses Association, American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, etc.) 

• Any State Board of Nursing in the U.S.

The Board performs audits to verify CE education compliance. Keep all CE certificates of completion from CE activities. CE Broker is the official CE tracking system of the WV LPN Board. The Board provides LPNs with a free Basic Account. Licensees must activate their West Virginia LPN Board CE Broker Basic Account to enter and track their CE license renewal requirements. Licensees can also find continuing education resources through CE Broker and other online sources.

Fingerprinting Requirements

Applicants for a West Virginia nursing license must submit fingerprints for fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background checks (CBC). All state and federal background checks are now electronic. IdentoGO is the exclusive Live Scan provider for fingerprint-based CBCs in the State of West Virginia. Applicants may submit CBC information to the Board up to 12 months before graduating from their nursing education program.

Instructions for Live Scan Fingerprinting

In-state and out-of-state residents can submit fingerprints electronically at their nearest IdentoGO location.

• Schedule an appointment with IdentoGO online or by calling 855-766-7746

• Enter Service Code: 228NJX

• Write down the confirmation number and bring it and an approved form of identification to the fingerprinting appointment

It takes 2 to 3 business days for the WV LPN Board to receive CBC results. Applicants should direct all questions regarding the fingerprinting process to IdentoGO at 855-766-7746. However, they should contact the WV LPN Board directly at [email protected] or 304-558-3572 if their fingerprint submissions from IdentoGO are rejected twice.

Instructions for Fingerprint Card by Mail

Any in-state or out-of-state residents who are physically unable to go to an IdentoGO location must submit a fingerprint hard card by mail. Hard cards are used to submit and process fingerprints. Applicants only need a hard if they’re unable to schedule an appointment.

• Have fingerprints captured on a standard FBI Form FD-258 fingerprint card

• Complete the personal information fields on the fingerprint card

• Pre-enroll for card scan submission at IdentoGO online

• Enter Service Code: 228NQ7

• Click on “Submit a Fingerprint Card by Mail”

• Pay for services with a credit card or authorization code

• Print and sign the completed pre-enrollment confirmation page

• Mail confirmation page and completed fingerprint card as directed

Out-of-State Residents

Applicants living in any state besides West Virginia also must submit a state background check from their state of residency.

• Go to the appropriate agency within the state to submit fingerprints

• Have results sent directly to the Board

  • Applicant may send results to the Board in a sealed envelope immediately upon receipt if the agency can’t send them directly to the Board

  • State-level background check results can’t be sent as an attachment through email, via fax, or from a third-party organization

West Virginia LPN Board
101 Dee Drive
Charleston, WV 25311
[email protected]
(304) 558-3572 / (877) 558-5767

The Governor of West Virginia signed the bill to enact the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC) on April 26, 2017. West Virginia wasn’t part of the original NLC so it’s the first time nurses in the state have the opportunity to apply for a multistate license that allows them to practice in any Compact State without further licensure if they qualify. 

To qualify for a multistate license must meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements. Applicants for a West Virginia multistate license must meet the following criteria:

• Declare West Virginia as their Primary State of Residency

• Have a valid U.S. Social Security Number

• Graduate from a Board-approved education program

• Pass an English proficiency exam, if they graduated from an international education program

• Pass the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-PN)

• Be eligible for or hold an unencumbered license

• Submit to fingerprint-based State and Federal criminal background checks

• Not have any State or Federal felony convictions

• Not have any misdemeanor convictions related to nursing

• Not be currently in an alternative program

• Disclose current participation in an alternative program

LPNs who already hold an active, unencumbered West Virginia nursing license whose primary state of residence is West Virginia who haven’t converted their single-state license to a multistate license should complete the conversion application process if they meet eligibility requirements. Conversion applicants must:

• Apply online through the Nurse Portal

• Pay the conversion fee

• Schedule an appointment to submit fingerprints for fingerprint-based state and federal criminal background checks

  • Fingerprinting and CBCs are required even if the applicant previously completed this process for their single-state license

The WV LPN Board reviews applications and CBC results. It issues multistate licenses to eligible applicants. It notifies applicants who are denied multistate licenses with the reason(s) why they were denied.

Applicants who already hold an active LPN license in another State may apply for West Virginia licensure by endorsement. However, if their license is from a Compact State and they have multistate privileges, they don't need to apply for licensure. They practice under their Compact license. Otherwise, an applicant must:

• Complete an online application through the Nurse Portal

• Complete an online application for a temporary permit, if desired

• Pay the associated application fee(s)

• Verify original licensure and current licensure from another state

• Use Nursys for States that participate

• Complete the Nursing Endorsement Verification Form for States that don't participate

• Complete fingerprinting for fingerprint-based State and federal CBCs

• Complete fingerprinting for state-level CBCs in the current state of residence

• Submit supporting documentation if any discipline-related questions were answered "yes" on the application

Graduate nurses may be eligible for a West Virginia LPN license by exam. This license may be a single-state or a multistate license based on whether they meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements. All applicants must:

• Be at least age 18

• Have completed an approved four-year high school course of study or the equivalent

• Complete a nursing education program

• Pass the NCLEX-PN

• Complete an online application through the Nurse Portal 45 days before they want to take the NCLEX-PN

• Pay the associated application fee

• Complete fingerprinting for fingerprint-based State and federal CBCs

• Submit supporting documentation if any discipline-related questions were answered "yes" on the application

• Submit official transcripts for initial LPN licensure

  • The Board accepts official electronic transcripts if emailed directly from the educational institution or a transcript service, such as Parchment.com, SCRIP-SAFE International or the National Student Clearinghouse

  • Official transcripts must include program name and type, breakdown of courses with credit hours and grades, beginning and ending dates of the program, graduation date, and degree conferred

  • Hardcopy transcripts must be sent directly from the educational institution in a sealed envelope

• Register with Pearson VUE 45 days before they want to take the NCLEX-PN and pay the testing fee

Once they are made eligible to take the NCLEX, they receive their Authorization to Text and can schedule their exam. The ATT is only good for 90 days and won’t be extended. Applicants who fail the NCLEX-PN more than twice must complete specific Board requirements before attempting the exam a third time. Documentation of having met the additional requirements must be sent directly to the Board office by the instructor leading any remedial coursework.

Applicants educated outside the United States and its territories must:

• Have completed an approved four-year high school course of study or the equivalent

• Submit a copy of the certificate issued by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)

• Submit a copy of the transcript from a professional nursing education program,

• translated into English

• Submit documentation of English language proficiency through:

  • Proof the nursing education, textbooks, and most of the clinical experiences were in English

  • An original report showing a minimum score of 530 for the written exam or 200 for the computer exam on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) plus a score a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English

  • Original report showing a minimum score of 700 on the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) plus a minimum score of 50 on the Test of Spoken English

  • A VisaScreen ICHP Certificate

• Submit to a state and a national electronic criminal history records check

• Submit a completed nurse licensure application 45 days before they want to take the NCLEX-PN

• Pay required fees for licensure by exam

• Register with Pearson VUE 45 days before they want to take the NCLEX-PN and pay the testing fee

Once their made eligible to take the NCLEX, they receive their Authorization to Text and can schedule their exam. The ATT is only good for 90 days and won’t be extended. Applicants who fail the NCLEX-PN more than twice must complete specific Board requirements before attempting the exam a third time. Documentation of having met the additional requirements must be sent directly to the Board office by the instructor leading any remedial coursework.

The WN LPN Board doesn’t provide an overall timeframe for receiving licensure after submitting an application. However, the Board may issue a temporary permit that’s valid for up to 90 days from the date of the applicant’s graduation intended to cover the time between graduation and notification of the results of the first NCLEX-PN. Applicants may check license status on the WV LPN site or contact the Board at (304) 558-3572.

The Board may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure by endorsement after they’ve completed an application for a temporary permit for an endorsement applicant and submitted the required fees. Temporary permits for endorsement candidates expire 90 days from the date of issuance, which is printed on the card. Temporary permits aren’t renewable and won’t be extended. Temporary permits expire immediately if the Board determines the applicant for endorsement won’t be granted permanent licensure.

The Board may issue a temporary permit to an applicant for licensure by exam who’s a graduate of an accredited nursing education program that’s valid for up to 90 days from the date of graduation to cover the period between graduation and receiving the results of the applicant’s first NCLEX-PN. Graduate nurses holding a temporary permit must work under the direct supervision of a licensed LPN, physician, or dentist while rendering nursing care. Temporary permits aren’t renewable and won’t be issued to applicants for licensure by exam who have already failed the NCLEX-PN once.

The West Virginia LPN Board establishes the fees for LPN licensure and other relevant costs. Besides these set fees, there may be a small additional transaction fee for online applications. All fees are nonrefundable. Current LPN licensure fees and other related costs include:

• Licensure by Exam: $75

• Re-Examination (Third attempt free): $75.00

• Licensure by Endorsement: $50

• Temporary Permit for New Graduate: $10

• West Virginia LPN License Renewal: $40

• Supplemental renewal fee for the Center for Nursing: $10

• Reinstatement from Non-Practicing Status: $40

• Reinstatement from Lapsed Status: $80

• Duplicate License: $10

• Name Change: $10

• Transcript Photocopy: $5

• Framable Certificate (Free to New Graduates): $10

• Insufficient Funds Penalty: $15

• NCLEX-PN (Paid to Pearson VUE): $200