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West Virginia Nurse Practitioner Licensure Steps - 2025

AKA: West Virginia NP License, APRN Licensure

West Virginia APRN Licensure - 2025 Guide
NursePractitionerLicense.com

by NursePractitionerLicense.com Staff

Updated: July 3rd, 2025

Licensor: West Virginia Licensing Body

How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in West Virginia

Buckle up. You’re about to turn your RN license into full-on prescribing power in the Mountain State. Every step below tells you why the rule exists, what it costs in 2025, and how to sprint past the bottlenecks.

Lock Down Your West Virginia RN License

Why the Board cares: The RN license is the state’s first trust fall. Before anyone hands you a DEA pad, they want airtight proof you can keep patients alive on the basics.

Route What You Do 2025 Cost*
Licensure by Exam Graduate from an approved ADN/BSN (BSN keeps the NP runway clear).
Create a profile in the WV Nurse Portal and pay $70.
Book IdentoGO fingerprints (service code 228NJX) and the FBI check.
Register for the NCLEX-RN ($200) and pass.		 $70 app + $200 NCLEX
Licensure by Endorsement Verify your out-of-state RN license via Nursys or have the other board email proof.
Fingerprints + background (same IdentoGO code).
File the portal application: $100 or $125 with temporary permit.		 $100–$125

Tip: Mail those fingerprint cards the same day you apply—background reports are the #1 delay trigger.

Bonus move: Convert to the Nurse Licensure Compact (multi-state) for $7.

Earn an NP-Ready Graduate Degree

Why this exists: A master’s or DNP gives you the pharmacology, diagnostics, and 500+ supervised clinical hours that keep malpractice lawyers bored and patients breathing.

  • Choose a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited NP program—on-campus or online—with at least 45 contact hours of advanced pharmacology baked in.
  • Pick a focus area (FNP, AG-ACNP, PMHNP, etc.)
  • If working full-time, pick a part-time track and line up preceptors early.

Pass a National Certification Exam

Why this exists: The state outsources specialty vetting to boards like AANP, ANCC, PNCB, NCC, or AACN.

  • Choose the certifying body that fits your population focus.
  • Pass the exam and submit your verification to DSPSCredNursing@wv.gov.

Apply for Your APRN License

Why this exists: The APRN license is West Virginia’s permission slip to practice beyond RN scope.

  • Log in to the WV Nurse Portal, apply for Advanced Practice, and pay $125.
  • Upload: grad school transcripts, national certification proof, and valid RN license.
  • Approval time: 2–4 weeks if your docs are clean.

Tip: Track everything via your portal checklist.

Secure Limited Prescriptive Authority (RXA)

Why this exists: The state wants you to prove pharm knowledge and collaborate with a doc for at least 3 years.

FYI: After 3 years/3,000 hours, you can apply to practice without a collaborator.

Get a DEA Number & CSMP Access

Why this exists: Because prescription drug tracking = harm reduction.

Keep It All Current

License Renewal CE Requirements Fee
RN June 30 (even years) 12 CE hours (3 in substance use) $90
APRN Oct 31 (even years) 24 CE hours (8 in pharm) $90
RXA With APRN renewal 8 additional pharm hours $125

Tip: Upload CE hours as you earn them. Don’t wait for audit week.

Reminder: Update any job/collaboration changes in your portal within 30 days.

Quick-Link Cheat Sheet

Bottom Line

Every fingerprint card, pharma hour, and notarized collaboration signature proves you’re worthy of prescribing power in a state hungry for primary-care heroes. Nail the steps above, track your paperwork like it’s a newborn, and West Virginia will hand you the keys to autonomous practice—plus 1.8 million potential patients who need exactly what you bring.

*Fees verified July 2025. Always double-check the Board’s fee page before you pay.