Returning to Nursing in West Virginia

Built by Keegan, a travel RN · verified against official board sources

Reinstatement and refresher requirements · Verified against the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) · 2026-06-25

The West Virginia RN reinstatement fee is $115, plus any back renewal fees. What else your return takes depends on how long the license has been lapsed: short lapses are paperwork and CE, long ones can add a refresher course.

Grace period: No formal grace period. Licenses lapse if not renewed by June 30. Practicing on a lapsed license is prohibited and reinstatement is required.

What your lapse length means in West Virginia

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (West Virginia: $115) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (West Virginia: $115) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (West Virginia: $115) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in West Virginia.

Refresher course rules in West Virginia

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: No refresher course requirement at any lapse length. The board's published path back from a lapsed or non practicing (inactive, retired) license is a reinstatement application, the current fee, and meeting CE requirements; the rules add no escalation based on how long the license has been lapsed.
What it takes: Reinstatement application through the Nurse Portal, the reinstatement fee (115 dollars from lapsed status, 25 dollars from inactive status), attestation of 12 contact hours of continuing education, and copies of CE certificates or transcripts submitted with the application.
Re-examination: The board publishes no re examination requirement for reinstating a lapsed RN license at any lapse length.
CE catch-up: Applicants for reinstatement complete the same 12 contact hours of continuing education required for a normal renewal period; the rule publishes no larger catch up amount.

NLC wrinkle: reinstating a lapsed or inactive West Virginia single state license requires obtaining a multistate license in your home state unless you do not qualify under the Uniform Licensure Requirements. Inactive status itself carries no CE requirement while parked.

Source: West Virginia RN Board FAQ and legislative rule 19CSR11, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in West Virginia

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.
2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.
3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.
4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.
5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).
6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

Start at the source: West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) or the online renewal portal.

West Virginia reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in West Virginia?: The West Virginia RN reinstatement fee is $115, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) before applying.
Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my West Virginia nursing license?: No refresher course requirement at any lapse length. The board's published path back from a lapsed or non practicing (inactive, retired) license is a reinstatement application, the current fee, and meeting CE requirements; the rules add no escalation based on how long the license has been lapsed. Reinstatement application through the Nurse Portal, the reinstatement fee (115 dollars from lapsed status, 25 dollars from inactive status), attestation of 12 contact hours of continuing education, and copies of CE certificates or transcripts submitted with the application.
Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my West Virginia license back?: The board publishes no re examination requirement for reinstating a lapsed RN license at any lapse length.
Is there a grace period after my West Virginia license expires?: West Virginia's published rule: No formal grace period. Licenses lapse if not renewed by June 30. Practicing on a lapsed license is prohibited and reinstatement is required.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.
How long does West Virginia license reinstatement take?: Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) publishes processing updates on its portal.

Inactive vs lapsed: which path costs less

CE requirements for returning nurses

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Returning to Nursing in West Virginia

Grace period: No formal grace period. Licenses lapse if not renewed by June 30. Practicing on a lapsed license is prohibited and reinstatement is required.

What your lapse length means in West Virginia

Lapsed	Status	Estimated cost
2 months lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (West Virginia: $115) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
1 year lapsed	Reinstatement required	Reinstatement fee (West Virginia: $115) plus back fees for missed renewal cycles. Total typically $300–$800.
3 years lapsed	Reinstatement + likely refresher course	Reinstatement fee (West Virginia: $115) + refresher course tuition ($500–$2,500) + back fees. Total usually $1,500–$4,000.
6 years lapsed	Deep lapse: refresher course + possible re-application	If reinstatement is allowed: $1,500–$4,500 (fees + refresher). If re-application is required: $300–$800 in application fees plus NCLEX retake costs.

Size your exact situation with the reinstatement calculator, which uses the same board data.

Reinstating usually means catching up on continuing education. Earn it cheaply: free CE in West Virginia.

Refresher course rules in West Virginia

What the board publishes

Board-sourced

When a refresher applies: No refresher course requirement at any lapse length. The board's published path back from a lapsed or non practicing (inactive, retired) license is a reinstatement application, the current fee, and meeting CE requirements; the rules add no escalation based on how long the license has been lapsed.
What it takes: Reinstatement application through the Nurse Portal, the reinstatement fee (115 dollars from lapsed status, 25 dollars from inactive status), attestation of 12 contact hours of continuing education, and copies of CE certificates or transcripts submitted with the application.
Re-examination: The board publishes no re examination requirement for reinstating a lapsed RN license at any lapse length.
CE catch-up: Applicants for reinstatement complete the same 12 contact hours of continuing education required for a normal renewal period; the rule publishes no larger catch up amount.

Source: West Virginia RN Board FAQ and legislative rule 19CSR11, last checked 2026-06-11. Rules change; confirm with the board before enrolling in anything.

Steps to reinstate in West Virginia

1Stop practicing immediately if you haven't already.

2Pull your CE records together: every certificate, every approved provider.

3Submit the reinstatement application through the board portal.

4Pay reinstatement fee + any back renewal fees.

5Expect a fingerprint background check (most states require one at reinstatement).

6Plan for 2–8 weeks of processing before you can return to work.

West Virginia reinstatement FAQ

How much does it cost to reinstate a lapsed RN license in West Virginia?

The West Virginia RN reinstatement fee is $115, plus any back renewal fees the board assesses. A refresher course, where required, adds tuition on top (typically $500 to $2,500 nationally). Confirm the current total with the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) before applying.

Do I need a refresher course to reinstate my West Virginia nursing license?

No refresher course requirement at any lapse length. The board's published path back from a lapsed or non practicing (inactive, retired) license is a reinstatement application, the current fee, and meeting CE requirements; the rules add no escalation based on how long the license has been lapsed. Reinstatement application through the Nurse Portal, the reinstatement fee (115 dollars from lapsed status, 25 dollars from inactive status), attestation of 12 contact hours of continuing education, and copies of CE certificates or transcripts submitted with the application.

Will I have to retake the NCLEX to get my West Virginia license back?

The board publishes no re examination requirement for reinstating a lapsed RN license at any lapse length.

Is there a grace period after my West Virginia license expires?

West Virginia's published rule: No formal grace period. Licenses lapse if not renewed by June 30. Practicing on a lapsed license is prohibited and reinstatement is required.. A grace or late window is not permission to practice; check your status with the board before working.

How long does West Virginia license reinstatement take?

Short lapses usually process in 2 to 8 weeks once the application is complete. If a refresher course is involved, plan around the course length, often 3 to 9 months end to end. The West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WV RN Board) publishes processing updates on its portal.

Returning to Nursing in West Virginia

What your lapse length means in West Virginia

Refresher course rules in West Virginia

Steps to reinstate in West Virginia

West Virginia reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for West Virginia nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free

Returning to Nursing in West Virginia

What your lapse length means in West Virginia

Refresher course rules in West Virginia

Steps to reinstate in West Virginia

West Virginia reinstatement FAQ

Related guides

More for West Virginia nurses

Never let it lapse again

Track your path back to active practice, free