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Virginia detailed task guide

Virginia nursing continuing education

Virginia requires one accepted continued-competency option for biennial renewal. Options include 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active practice, along with certification, academic, refresher, research, publication and teaching pathways.

Direct task URL not published—use the reviewed instructions belowFull Virginia guide
Reviewed July 27, 20267 primary-source recordsOfficial resources
License lookupRenewalCE / competenceEndorsementBoard contactFees

Direct answer

Virginia requires one accepted continued-competency option for biennial renewal. Options include 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active practice, along with certification, academic, refresher, research, publication and teaching pathways.

Virginia Board of Nursing ↗Virginia Continued Competency ↗Virginia Nursing Fee Schedule ↗Virginia RN/LPN Application Instructions ↗

Virginia factual snapshot for this workflow

Reviewed itemJurisdiction-specific detail
AuthorityVirginia Board of Nursing
Public verificationVirginia Department of Health Professions License Lookup
Renewal cycleBiennial
Renewal deadlineRenew by the expiration shown for the license. Late renewal adds a credential-specific fee.
Continuing competenceVirginia requires one accepted continued-competency option for biennial renewal. Options include 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active practice, along with certification, academic, refresher, research, publication and teaching pathways.
FeesVirginia lists RN renewal at $140 and LPN renewal at $120; late fees are additional.
Compact statusCompact jurisdiction
CredentialsLPN, RN, APRN
Phone804-367-4515
Physical location9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233-1463

For Virginia, 7 primary official source records and 11 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide. Source verification dates are shown separately from editorial release dates.

Core requirementVirginia requires one accepted continued-competency option for biennial renewal. Options include 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active practice, along with certification, academic, refresher, research, publication and teaching pathways.
Audit practiceMaintain documentation showing completion of the chosen competency pathway.
CredentialsLPN, RN, APRN
Renewal cycleBiennial

Continuing education or continuing competence rule

Virginia requires one accepted continued-competency option for biennial renewal. Options include 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active practice, along with certification, academic, refresher, research, publication and teaching pathways.

Mandatory topics, pathways and conditions

  • Complete one full Board-approved pathway.
  • First renewal after initial licensure is generally exempt.
  • Retain evidence for the Board’s audit process.

Credential-specific checks

Credential note

Virginia routing note: The Virginia Board of Nursing regulates LPN, RN and advanced practice credentials. Public license lookup, online applications and renewal are separate Department of Health Professions services.

Credential note

For Virginia, lPN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.

Credential note

For Virginia, rN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.

Credential note

For Virginia, aPRN: verify the exact credential record, renewal rule and any credential-specific education or practice requirements.

Credential note

Virginia LPN: verify that the Virginia Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Virginia credentials.

Credential note

Virginia RN: verify that the Virginia Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Virginia credentials.

Credential note

Virginia APRN: verify that the Virginia Board of Nursing record or the specifically named registry shows the credential, current status and any separate approval required for the role. Renewal or competence requirements may differ from other Virginia credentials.

Keep evidence for an audit

Maintain documentation showing completion of the chosen competency pathway.

  • Keep certificates and provider details for the published retention period.
  • Confirm course completion falls inside the correct renewal period.
  • Do not assume RN and APRN requirements are identical.
  • Check whether the provider reports electronically or whether you must upload documentation.

Common CE problems

CE or competence is not accepted

Compare the course, provider, date, credential and documentation with the exact Virginia rule: Virginia requires one accepted continued-competency option for biennial renewal. Options include 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active practice, along with certification, academic, refresher, research, publication and teaching pathways. Retain evidence and use the authority’s upload or audit instructions.

Wrong credential rule

Return to the official source and match RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, certificate or assistant requirements before purchasing additional coursework.

Course not accepted

Confirm provider approval, topic, completion date and documentation against the authority instructions. A generic completion certificate does not prove acceptance.

Fraud and privacy safety

  • Begin every Virginia transaction from a reviewed authority domain (www.dhp.virginia.gov, www.license.dhp.virginia.gov, dhp.virginiainteractive.org) or a source-reviewed link on this guide.
  • Do not give a caller payment-card details, a password or a one-time code merely because the caller claims to represent Virginia Board of Nursing.
  • If threatened with immediate suspension or arrest, end the call and verify the issue through 804-367-4515 or the secure Virginia account.
  • Use Virginia License Lookup to confirm current status rather than a private lookup page or emailed screenshot.
  • Upload identity, background, education or legal documents only through a secure method explicitly named by Virginia Board of Nursing.
  • Before paying, verify the credential, transaction and amount against the current Virginia instructions; save the receipt and then verify the public record.
  • For Virginia, report a suspected licensing impersonation or phishing attempt to the authority and the relevant consumer-protection or law-enforcement channel.

Frequently asked questions

How much continuing education is required in Virginia?

Virginia requires one accepted continued-competency option for biennial renewal. Options include 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active practice, along with certification, academic, refresher, research, publication and teaching pathways.

Are there mandatory topics?

Complete one full Board-approved pathway. First renewal after initial licensure is generally exempt. Retain evidence for the Board’s audit process.

Should I keep completion records?

Maintain documentation showing completion of the chosen competency pathway.

Can CE rules differ by credential?

Yes. RN, LPN/LVN, APRN, first-renewal, assistant and certificate-specific rules can differ.

What if CE does not appear in my account?

Compare the course, provider, date, credential and documentation with the exact Virginia rule: Virginia requires one accepted continued-competency option for biennial renewal. Options include 30 CE hours or 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active practice, along with certification, academic, refresher, research, publication and teaching pathways. Retain evidence and use the authority’s upload or audit instructions.

Can I use any online course?

No. Confirm accepted providers, course categories, mandatory topics and completion dates before purchasing a course.

Is CE always required for every renewal?

Not necessarily. Some jurisdictions use practice hours, competency pathways, exemptions or credential-specific requirements. Use the exact official rule.

Where do I verify CE information?

Use the official continuing education or competence source listed in the official-resource directory.

Source-reviewed official resources

Virginia License Lookup

Virginia License Lookup ↗

Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.

Exact primary-source record · July 28, 2026
Virginia Board of Nursing

Virginia Board of Nursing ↗

Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.

Exact primary-source record · July 27, 2026
Nurse Licensure Compact

Nurse Licensure Compact ↗

National compact resource used with the Virginia status recorded as Compact jurisdiction; individual eligibility depends on the actual license designation and primary state of residence.

National official source · July 28, 2026
NCLEX

NCLEX Official Website ↗

Official NCLEX information for examination candidates applying through Virginia Board of Nursing; passing the exam does not itself create a Virginia license.

National official source · July 28, 2026
National regulatory reference

NCSBN License Verification Guidance ↗

National licensing guidance used to interpret verification categories; the local Virginia source remains Virginia Department of Health Professions License Lookup.

National official source · July 28, 2026
National verification

Nursys QuickConfirm and e-Notify ↗

National participating-board service used alongside Virginia Department of Health Professions License Lookup for Virginia; follow Virginia Board of Nursing instructions for endorsement or monitoring.

National official service · July 28, 2026

Official sources reviewed