Getting a West Virginia nursing license by endorsement

Reviewed by Keegan, RN · ER & NICU travel nurse

Endorsement timeline, fees & requirements · Verified 2026-06-18

Not published. The board posts only a 2 to 3 business-day window to receive background-check results.

West Virginia endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: West Virginia issues an RN license by endorsement to a nurse licensed in another state, through the WV RN Nurse Portal; it offers a combined Endorsement With Temp Permit option.
Processing time: Not published. The board posts only a 2 to 3 business-day window to receive background-check results.
Work while waiting: Yes. The board offers an Endorsement With Temp Permit application option for $125; the temporary permit's validity period and conditions are not specified on the published pages.
Requirements: Nursys verification (free to other boards). State and federal background check via IdentoGo fingerprinting (service code 228NJX); out-of-state applicants may mail fingerprint cards. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $125 for Endorsement With Temp Permit. A multistate conversion is $7 and a transcript photocopy $5; the fingerprint fee is separate.
Compact rules: West Virginia is a compact state under the new compact rule effective January 2, 2024. A nurse keeps practicing on a former-state multistate license only until a West Virginia home-state license issues, after which the former license is inactivated. You apply by endorsement when West Virginia becomes your primary residence.

Source: West Virginia RN Board, licensing and background-check pages, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into West Virginia

1Check whether you even need West Virginia endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.
2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).
3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.
4Submit the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.
5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

Start at the source: West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) or the online licensing portal. Not sure if you even need to endorse? The compact eligibility quiz sorts compact privilege from a required license in two minutes.

West Virginia endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a West Virginia nursing license by endorsement?: Not published. The board posts only a 2 to 3 business-day window to receive background-check results.
Can I work in West Virginia while my endorsement application is processing?: Yes. The board offers an Endorsement With Temp Permit application option for $125; the temporary permit's validity period and conditions are not specified on the published pages.
Do I need a West Virginia license if I already hold a compact multistate license?: West Virginia is a compact state under the new compact rule effective January 2, 2024. A nurse keeps practicing on a former-state multistate license only until a West Virginia home-state license issues, after which the former license is inactivated. You apply by endorsement when West Virginia becomes your primary residence.
How much does West Virginia endorsement cost?: $125 for Endorsement With Temp Permit. A multistate conversion is $7 and a transcript photocopy $5; the fingerprint fee is separate.

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West Virginia endorsement at a glance

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

How it works: West Virginia issues an RN license by endorsement to a nurse licensed in another state, through the WV RN Nurse Portal; it offers a combined Endorsement With Temp Permit option.
Processing time: Not published. The board posts only a 2 to 3 business-day window to receive background-check results.
Work while waiting: Yes. The board offers an Endorsement With Temp Permit application option for $125; the temporary permit's validity period and conditions are not specified on the published pages.
Requirements: Nursys verification (free to other boards). State and federal background check via IdentoGo fingerprinting (service code 228NJX); out-of-state applicants may mail fingerprint cards. No state jurisprudence exam.
Fees: $125 for Endorsement With Temp Permit. A multistate conversion is $7 and a transcript photocopy $5; the fingerprint fee is separate.
Compact rules: West Virginia is a compact state under the new compact rule effective January 2, 2024. A nurse keeps practicing on a former-state multistate license only until a West Virginia home-state license issues, after which the former license is inactivated. You apply by endorsement when West Virginia becomes your primary residence.

Source: West Virginia RN Board, licensing and background-check pages, last checked 2026-06-18. Fees and timelines change; confirm with the board before you rely on a date.

Steps to endorse into West Virginia

1Check whether you even need West Virginia endorsement: if your primary residence stays in another compact state, your multistate license may already cover you.

2Verify every nursing license you have held through Nursys (or the board's paper verification form for non-Nursys states).

3Complete the required criminal background check and fingerprinting.

4Submit the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) endorsement application and fee, plus any transcripts, state coursework, or jurisprudence exam the board requires.

5Apply for a temporary or interim permit if the state offers one and you need to work before the permanent license issues.

West Virginia endorsement FAQ

How long does it take to get a West Virginia nursing license by endorsement?

Not published. The board posts only a 2 to 3 business-day window to receive background-check results.

Can I work in West Virginia while my endorsement application is processing?

Yes. The board offers an Endorsement With Temp Permit application option for $125; the temporary permit's validity period and conditions are not specified on the published pages.

Do I need a West Virginia license if I already hold a compact multistate license?

West Virginia is a compact state under the new compact rule effective January 2, 2024. A nurse keeps practicing on a former-state multistate license only until a West Virginia home-state license issues, after which the former license is inactivated. You apply by endorsement when West Virginia becomes your primary residence.

How much does West Virginia endorsement cost?

$125 for Endorsement With Temp Permit. A multistate conversion is $7 and a transcript photocopy $5; the fingerprint fee is separate.

Getting a West Virginia nursing license by endorsement

West Virginia endorsement at a glance

Steps to endorse into West Virginia

West Virginia endorsement FAQ

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Getting a West Virginia nursing license by endorsement

West Virginia endorsement at a glance

Steps to endorse into West Virginia

West Virginia endorsement FAQ

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