Steps to Become a Nurse in Virginia

Becoming a nurse in Virginia follows the same broad path as the rest of the country, with a few state-specific wrinkles. The Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON) licenses nurses in the state, so check their requirements directly before you start. Knowing the process where you live keeps your launch into nursing from stalling on paperwork.

Become a nurse in Virginia in 6 steps

Graduate from an approved nursing program. To become a registered nurse (RN), you first need to graduate from a VBON-approved program: an associate degree in nursing (ADN), a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN), or in some cases an accelerated BSN (ABSN). You need a high school diploma or GED to be admitted. Virginia requires RN applicants to complete a minimum of 500 direct client care hours across the lifespan. You will most likely log these as part of your program, but plan for them before you apply for licensure. If you earn your degree outside Virginia, include evidence of clinical hours broken down by course along with your official transcript in your application.

Submit an RN licensure application. As you near graduation, submit your online application to the Board. The RN fee is $190 ($170 for licensed practical nurses).

Complete a background check. After you submit your application, VBON sends a confirmation receipt with a Fieldprint code. Use it to register for fingerprinting through Fieldprint VA, which runs your criminal background check.

Register for the NCLEX. Register through Pearson Vue right after you file your application with VBON. Wait too long and your authorization to test (ATT) can be delayed.

Pass the NCLEX. Once Pearson Vue issues your ATT, take the NCLEX within the window, which is typically about 90 days. After VBON verifies your passing results and receives everything it needs, you get your RN license.

Keep up your continuing education. Virginia licenses renew every two years, and each cycle you must complete a continued competency activity. VBON publishes the list of activities that qualify.

Getting your RN license

The first step is the right education program. For RNs that means an ADN or a BSN. ADNs typically take two years, BSNs four (unless you go the accelerated route).

VBON requires RN applicants to complete a minimum of 500 direct client care hours across the lifespan before applying. If your program is in Virginia, this is almost always built into your degree. Wherever you train, finish these hours before you apply.

When you pick a program, do your homework and ask:

• Is the program accredited?
• What is its NCLEX pass rate?
• What are the clinical experiences like?
• What will it cost?

More employers now prefer or require a BSN, but ADN programs still graduate the majority of new nurses, so either path is viable. Match the program to your goal and your life: how much time you have, whether you want a two-year or four-year start, and what fits your budget.

Applying for licensure

Start the application as you approach graduation. Submit online to the Board and pay the fee, then immediately register for two things: a fingerprint-based background check through Fieldprint VA and the NCLEX through Pearson Vue. You will need the Fieldprint code from your application confirmation receipt to schedule fingerprinting.

Once Pearson Vue verifies your eligibility, you receive an ATT, which gives you roughly 90 days to take the NCLEX. Schedule and sit the exam in that window. Passing is the final step. Once the Board verifies your results, you are a registered nurse.

LPN and CNA licenses

Licensing as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or certified nursing aide (CNA) works almost the same way. The difference is the program: LPNs and CNAs graduate from role-specific programs instead of an ADN or BSN. They also test differently. LPNs take the NCLEX-PN. CNAs do not take the NCLEX at all; in Virginia they complete a competency evaluation through Credentia.

How long it takes

Two things drive the timeline: the type of nurse you want to be and the program you choose. Most RNs complete an ADN (about two years) or a BSN (about four). An accelerated BSN usually runs 12 to 18 months on top of a bachelor's you already hold.

For the RN path, plan for roughly:

• Nursing program: about 2 to 4 years.
• Application, fingerprint registration, and NCLEX registration: about an hour.
• ATT and the NCLEX: once Pearson Vue has your materials, your testing window is typically 90 days.
• Results: usually about five days, though it varies.
• License: VBON processing runs 30 to 45 business days.

Continuing education for Virginia nurses

Virginia handles continuing education a little differently from most states. Each two-year renewal cycle, RNs and LPNs must complete at least one of the following:

• 15 contact hours of relevant workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses plus 640 hours of active nursing practice
• 30 contact hours of relevant workshops, seminars, conferences, or courses
• Current specialty certification from a national certifying organization
• At least three credit hours of post-licensure academic education relevant to nursing practice
• A board-approved refresher course
• A completed nursing-related, evidence-based practice project or research study
• Publication as author or co-author during the cycle
• Teaching or developing a nursing-related course worth at least three semester hours of college credit, a 15-week course, or specialty certification
• Teaching or developing nursing-related continuing education for up to 30 contact hours

The range of options is generous, which helps nurses who already earn or renew specialty certifications, conduct research, or teach. You do not submit evidence at renewal, but the Board can ask for it anytime, so keep your documentation.

Is Virginia a compact state?

Yes. Virginia belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so Virginia nurses can practice in other NLC states without additional licenses.

Job outlook in Virginia

Nationwide, RN employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 189,100 openings each year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Virginia nursing homes, like facilities elsewhere, have faced workforce shortages that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and state efforts to set minimum staffing requirements could open more positions in those settings.

Nurse salaries in Virginia

The annual mean wage for RNs in Virginia is $88,350, according to the BLS (May 2024), just under the national median of $93,600. Virginia's lower cost of living offsets some of that gap. The highest-paying areas cluster on the east side of the state: the Washington D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria metro (which includes parts of Virginia), plus Charlottesville, Richmond, and the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News area.

Foreign-educated nurses

Nurses educated outside the United States follow the same RN application process with a few added steps. First, request that the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) send VBON either the CES Professional Report or the CGFNS Certificate. Both documents translate your foreign education and experience into U.S. equivalents for licensure.

To get either document, CGFNS requires proof of English proficiency through an exam such as the TOEFL iBT. You may be exempt if your education was taught in English or completed in a country such as the United Kingdom, Canada, or Australia.

Useful organizations

The Virginia Board of Nursing regulates nursing licenses in the state and is your contact for any licensing question.

Students can join the Virginia Nursing Students' Association for networking, educational resources, and career guidance.

The Virginia Nurses Association is the leading professional organization for RNs in the state, and membership includes automatic membership in the American Nurses Association.

Two pieces of advice for new nurses: find a mentor, and never turn down free education.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many steps does it take to become a nurse in Virginia? Six: graduate from a VBON-approved program, submit your RN licensure application, complete a fingerprint background check through Fieldprint VA, register for the NCLEX with Pearson VUE, pass the NCLEX, and keep up continuing education to renew.

How much does RN licensure cost in Virginia? The Virginia Board of Nursing charges a $190 application fee for RNs and $170 for LPNs. You pay Pearson VUE a separate $200 fee to register for the NCLEX.

How many clinical hours does Virginia require? VBON requires RN applicants to complete a minimum of 500 direct client care hours across the lifespan. If your program is in Virginia, these are almost always built into your degree; finish them before you apply.

Is Virginia part of the Nurse Licensure Compact? Yes. Virginia belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so a Virginia multistate license lets you practice in other NLC states without applying for additional licenses.

How much do nurses earn in Virginia? The annual mean wage for RNs in Virginia is $88,350 (BLS, May 2024), just under the national median of $93,600. Virginia's lower cost of living offsets part of that gap, and pay runs highest in the D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria, Charlottesville, Richmond, and Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News areas.

How long does the whole process take? Plan on about two to four years for the nursing program itself, roughly 90 days to sit the NCLEX once Pearson VUE has your materials, about five days for results, and 30 to 45 business days for VBON to process your license.