Overview
The mission of the Virginia Board of Nursing is to ensure safe and competent patient care by licensing health professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to health care practitioners and the public.
Registered Nursing (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Examination
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Graduated from a state approved nursing education program.
- Complete and submit application online. Note: Applications for licensure are only accepted online.
- Register with the testing agency to take the licensure test, NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). You may use any of the following ways to complete the registration:
- Register online. The registration fee of $200 can be paid via American Express, Visa, or MasterCard. OR
- By mail: You may request the Board of Nursing office to send an NCLEX registration form. Provide essential details in the form and include an appropriate fee of $200.00 in the form of a money order or cashiers check made payable to the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing). Mail it to the following address:
NCLEX Operations
Post Office Box 64950
St. Paul, Minnesota- 55164-0950
- When all your essential documents are approved, the Board will inform the testing agency, Pearson VUE, making you eligible to take the licensure exam.
- Pearson VUE will send you an ATT (Authorization to Test) via email or on the address provided by you during the registration process.
- Upon receiving the ATT, schedule the licensure exam.
Registered Nursing (RN) & Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Licensure by Endorsement
Applicants Must Meet the Following Requirements:
- Graduated from a state approved nursing education program and have been licensed by examination in another state within the U.S. or are scheduled to sit for the NCLEX in another state in the U.S.
- Complete and submit application online. Note: Applications for licensure are only accepted online.
Canadian Nurses are eligible for endorsement if:
- The nurse holds an unrestricted license in Canada;
- The nurse’s training was obtained in Canada where English was the primary language; and
- The nurse passed the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE) or other Canadian nurse licensing examination administered since 1970.
Foreign and Puerto Rico Nurses:
If your nursing education was received in another foreign country or Puerto Rico (did not take the NCLEX in Puerto Rico), please contact the board at (804) 367-4555 before filing the application.
For more information visit the official Virginia Board of Nursing website.