Virginia offers nurses a flexible renewal path — either 30 CE hours or a reduced 15 hours combined with 640 practice hours. With no mandatory topic requirements for RN/LPN and NLC compact membership, Virginia is one of the more straightforward states for license renewal. Here's your complete guide.
Virginia RN License Renewal Requirements Overview
The Virginia Board of Nursing (under the Department of Health Professions) requires all Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses to complete 30 contact hours of continuing education every 2-year renewal cycle — or alternatively, 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active nursing practice.
Virginia is a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) member state, so nurses with a multistate license can practice across all compact states.
What CE Hours Are Required?
- Option 1: 30 contact hours per 2-year renewal cycle (all in nursing-relevant CE)
- Option 2: 15 contact hours + 640 practice hours — 15 CE hours plus 640 hours of active nursing practice during the renewal period
- No mandatory topics — all CE must be relevant to nursing practice, but Virginia does not require specific topic courses for RNs and LPNs
- APRN: 40 total hours including 8 hours of pharmacology for those with prescriptive authority
Step-by-Step: How to Renew Your Virginia Nursing License
- Know your deadline. Virginia nursing licenses expire at the end of your birth month on a 2-year cycle.
- Complete CE requirements. Finish your 30 hours (or 15 hours + 640 practice hours) before the deadline.
- Log in to the DHP portal. Visit dhp.virginia.gov to start your renewal.
- Complete the renewal application. Answer all required questions and affirm completion of CE requirements.
- Pay the renewal fee. The current fee is $140 for RNs, $120 for LPNs, and $80 for APRNs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not documenting practice hours for the reduced option. If you choose the 15 CE + 640 practice hours path, you need to be able to verify those practice hours if audited.
- Missing the birth month deadline. While Virginia allows late renewal for up to 6 months with additional fees, practicing on an expired license is prohibited.
- APRNs missing pharmacology hours. The 8-hour pharmacology requirement is included in the 40-hour APRN total but must be specifically in pharmacology content.
- Using non-approved CE providers. Virginia accepts CE from ANCC-accredited providers and most nationally accredited programs. Verify your provider is approved before completing courses.
Tips for a Smooth Renewal
- Choose the path that works for you. If you work full time (640 hours is roughly 8 months of part-time work), the reduced 15-hour CE option can save time and money.
- Keep records for 5 years. Virginia conducts random audits, and you need to produce CE certificates on request. RenewRN helps you track and store your CE records.
- No mandatory topics means more flexibility. Without required topics, you can focus your CE on areas that genuinely interest you or advance your career.
- Take advantage of NLC benefits. Your Virginia multistate license lets you practice in other compact states without additional licenses.
Track Your Virginia CE Requirements with RenewRN
Whether you choose 30 hours of CE or the practice hours alternative, RenewRN tracks your progress, monitors your birth month deadline, and sends reminders so you never miss a renewal.