Virginia Nursing License Renewal

24 months

Virginia nursing licences renew every two years on a schedule set by the licensee's own birth date. A nurse born in an even-numbered year renews by the last day of their birth month in even-numbered years; a nurse born in an odd-numbered year renews by the last day of their birth month in odd-numbered years. There is no single statewide deadline. The Board sends a renewal notice to the last known address on file, so keeping that address current is what makes the reminder arrive.

$140 for a registered nurse's biennial licence renewal and $120 for a licensed practical nurse. Inactive renewal is cheaper at $70 for an RN and $60 for an LPN. Renewing late adds $50 for an RN and $40 for an LPN. If the licence has already lapsed, reinstatement costs $225 for an RN and $200 for an LPN, and reinstating a suspended or revoked licence costs $300.

A Virginia nursing licence that is not renewed lapses, and the regulations are blunt about the consequence: anyone practising nursing while their licence has lapsed is considered an illegal practitioner and is subject to prosecution. A lapsed licence can be reinstated within one renewal period by paying the fees due; after that the Board requires a reinstatement application. Practising on a lapsed licence also removes any multistate licensure privilege, because that privilege depends on holding a current licence.

Complete the renewal form the Board sends and submit it with the required fee by the deadline set by your birth month and birth year. To renew an active licence you must also meet the continued competency requirements in 18VAC90-19-160. The Board mails the notice to the last known address, so update that address if it has changed. A nurse who does not want to keep practising may request inactive status on the same renewal application instead, by paying the inactive fee.