West Virginia requires 12 contact hours of continuing education for RN license renewal every two years — one of the lower CE requirements in the country. The state partners with CE Broker for tracking compliance, making it easy to stay on top of your requirements. Here's your complete guide to renewing your West Virginia nursing license.
West Virginia RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) requires RNs to complete 12 contact hours of approved CE per two-year renewal cycle. West Virginia has separate boards for RNs/APRNs and LPNs.
West Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so nurses with a multistate license can practice across all compact states without obtaining additional licenses.
What Is Required for Renewal?
For RNs:
- 12 CE contact hours from a Board-approved provider during each two-year renewal cycle
- New licensees: 3 hours of CE on safe prescribing and drug diversion within 1 year of initial licensure (included in the 12-hour total)
- Renewal fee: $90
For LPNs:
- 24 CE contact hours every two years, including required topic-specific hours
- Note: LPNs are regulated by a separate board (WV State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses) and renew annually
- Renewal fee: $40
For APRNs:
- 36 CE contact hours total: 12 hours in pharmacotherapeutics (advanced pharmacology), 12 hours in clinical management practice (advanced assessment, diagnoses, outcome identification, and planning), and 12 hours of general CE
- RN renewal fee waived for active APRN license holders with a WV RN license
- Renewal fee: $90 for APRN
Important Renewal Dates
- Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (RN/APRN); annually (LPN)
- RN/APRN deadline: June 30 of even-numbered years (next deadline: June 30, 2026)
- Renewal window opens: Approximately May 1
- Grace period: No formal grace period. Licenses lapse if not renewed by June 30. Practicing on a lapsed license is prohibited.
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your West Virginia Nursing License
- Complete your CE hours. Finish all 12 contact hours (RN) or 36 hours (APRN) from Board-approved providers before the renewal deadline.
- Verify your CE in CE Broker. West Virginia partners with CE Broker for official CE tracking. Confirm your completed courses are recorded at cebroker.com.
- Log in to the WV RN Board portal. Visit wvrnboard.wv.gov when the renewal window opens (approximately May 1).
- Verify your information. Update your personal details, address, and employment information.
- Answer disclosure questions. Respond to questions about professional conduct and disciplinary actions.
- Pay the renewal fee. Submit the $90 fee for RN/APRN or $40 for LPN.
- Submit your renewal. Complete the application before June 30 to avoid a lapsed license.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing CE requirements by license type. RNs need 12 hours, LPNs need 24 hours, and APRNs need 36 hours. Make sure you complete the correct number for your license type.
- Using non-approved CE providers. Only CE from WV RN Board-approved providers counts toward renewal. Check the approved provider list on CE Broker.
- Not checking CE Broker. West Virginia uses CE Broker as its official tracking system. Verify your hours are properly recorded before submitting your renewal.
- APRNs missing specialty CE requirements. APRNs must complete specific hours in pharmacotherapeutics and clinical management practice — general CE alone is not sufficient.
- Waiting until June to renew. The renewal window opens May 1 and closes June 30. Don't wait until the last minute.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Use CE Broker proactively. Sign up for a free CE Broker account to track your CE completion throughout the renewal cycle, not just at deadline time.
- Spread your CE over the cycle. Complete a few hours each quarter instead of cramming all 12 hours into the last month before renewal.
- Take advantage of free courses. Over 3,000 courses from WV RN Board-approved providers are available through CE Broker, many at low cost or free.
- Track your CE hours, deadlines, and renewal status with RenewRN. Get automated reminders so you never miss a renewal deadline.
Track Your West Virginia License with RenewRN
With CE Broker integration and topic-specific requirements for APRNs, staying on top of West Virginia's renewal requirements takes planning. RenewRN helps you track your CE progress, manage deadlines, and sends reminders at 90, 60, 30, 7, and 1 day before your license expires.