Need to renew your Virginia nursing license?
Don’t know what the CE requirements are?
What about the other prerequisites?
We’re going to answer these questions and more in this complete 2023 guide on nursing CE requirements in Virginia.
We won’t leave anything out. This way, you know EXACTLY what you need.
So shall we?
Virginia Nursing CE Requirements
For a quick overview of the CE requirements, check the table below.
| Nursing Type: | CE Requirements: |
| CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) | No CE required! CNAs in Virginia are eligible for license renewal if they have worked for pay during the last 2 years. |
| LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) | 30 hours of CE every 2 years OR Option to choose from a number of different activities (list below) Initially licensed practitioners are exempted from completing CE requirements for the first biennial renewal. |
| RN (Registered Nurse) | 30 hours of CE every 2 years OR Option to choose from a number of different activities (list below) Initially licensed practitioners are exempted from completing CE requirements for the first biennial renewal. |
| APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) | Must maintain national certification If licensed prior to May 8, 2008 – 40 hours of CE every 2 years If with prescriptive authority – 8 CE hours on pharmacology or pharmacotherapeutics Initially licensed practitioners are exempted from completing CE requirements for the first biennial renewal. |
Now let’s go over each one in detail.
Virginia CNA Continuing Education Requirements
Certified Nurse Assistants (CNA) do not need to meet any CE requirements in order to renew their license.
However, they do have to show proof of paid work as a nurse aide over the course of 2 years.
To renew a CNA license in Virginia, visit the Virginia Board of Nursing, go to Practitioner Resources, and then select Renew Online.
Virginia LPN Continuing Education Requirements
If you are an LPN in Virginia, then you have several options to renew your license.
As we are focusing on CE requirements, then your first option is to complete 30 hours of continuing education every renewal period.
The 30 hours can be of seminars, conferences, workshops, or, the most common, courses relevant to the practice of nursing.
But if you don’t want to go down that path, then you can choose another requirement from this list:
- 15 hours of continuing education AND 640 hours of active practice
- A nursing refresher course that is board-approved
- 3 credit hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice offered by universities or college
- Specialty certification by a national certifying organization
- Complete a nurse-related, evidence-based practice project for a research study
- Author or co-author a nursing publication during the renewal cycle
- Teach or develop a nursing course no less than 3 semester hours of specialty certification
- Teach or develop nurse-related continuing education courses for up to 30 hours
If you fulfill any one of these, you will be eligible for license renewal.
Note: initially licensed practitioners are exempted from completing CE requirements for the first biennial renewal.
Virginia RN Continuing Education Requirements
Registered Nurses in Virginia can also choose which way they want to renew their licenses.
And, as is common, these are the same as the LPN requirements.
So let’s list the options down here:
- Complete 30 hours of continuing education
- Complete 15 hours of continuing education PLUS earn 640 hours of active practice
- Complete a nursing refresher course from a board-approved provider
- Complete 3 credits hours of post-licensure academic education related to nursing practice offered by universities or college
- Complete a nurse-related, evidence-based practice project for a research study
- Gain specialty certification from a national certifying organization
- Be an author or co-author of a nursing publication within the renewal cycle
- Be a teacher or developer of a nursing course that is no less than 3 semester hours of specialty certification
- Be a teacher or developer of a nurse-related continuing education course that is no less than 30 hours long
Note: initially licensed practitioners are exempted from completing CE requirements for the first biennial renewal.
Virginia APRN Continuing Education Requirements
Your APRN renewal requirements will depend on when you got your license.
If you got it BEFORE May 8, 2002, then you need to do one of the following to be eligible for renewal:
- Hold a current professional certification
OR
- Complete 40 hours of continuing education
However, if you got your license AFTER May 8, 2002, then you simply need to hold a current professional certification in the area of specialty to renew your license.
One more thing.
APRNs with prescriptive authority (whether licensed before or after May 8, 2002) have to complete 8 hours of continuing education on pharmacology or pharmacotherapeutics every renewal cycle.
Keep in mind that 2 of those 8 hours should be directly related to prescribing controlled substances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before we go, let’s take a few minutes to answer the most frequently asked questions.
How will I know when my nursing license expires in Virginia?
You will receive a License Renewal Notice approximately 60 days before your license expires. Each notice will have a corresponding PIN with it, which you can use for online renewal.
What if I’m a dual license holder? How should I comply?
If you’re an RN holding an LPN license, you only complete at least one of the needed requirements for RN and LPN license renewal.
Can I request an extension period for nursing license renewal in Virginia?
Yes, it’s possible to be granted an extension for renewal. You may submit a written request to the board 60 days prior to the renewal date of your license.
What are Board-approved courses?
Board-approved or Board-recognized simply means the course you’re taking is acknowledged by the following organizational bodies:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center American Nurses Association
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing
- Area Health Education Centers (AHEC)
- Any state nurses association
- National League for Nursing
- National Association for Practical Nurse Education and Service
- National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses
- A licensed health care facility, agency, or hospital
- A health care provider association
- Regionally or nationally accredited colleges or universities
- A state or federal government agency
- The American Heart Association, the American Health and Safety Institute, or the American Red Cross for courses in advanced resuscitation
- The Virginia Board of Nursing or any state board of nursing
Conclusion
So there you have it.
Those were the nursing CE requirements in Virginia.
LPNs and RNs have it good as they can choose from several prerequisites. So if you hold this type of license, then you should choose one option and start working on it during your renewal period.
For those who hold an APRN license, your requirements will depend on the date it was issued to you.
If you held your license BEFORE May 8, 2002, then you either have to hold current professional certification OR complete 40 CE hours. For those who got their license AFTER May 8, you just need to hold current professional certification.
As for those who have prescription authority, you need to complete 8 CE hours on pharmacology or pharmacotherapeutics.
And finally, CNAs just need to have paid work as a Certified Nurse Aide in a registered facility to renew their certificate.
So if your license is about to expire, make sure you complete these renewal requirements on time.
Good luck!
Last updated: April 1, 2023 (Requirements taken from Virginia BON website)