StateLicensed

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License Requirements in West Virginia

Verified · July 2026
Training hours
—
Upfront cost
$275
Exam
NCLEX-PN
Renewal cycle
Every 1 year
Issuing board
West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses

How to get licensed

  1. 1

    Meet the prerequisites

    Completion of a Board-approved/accredited practical nursing program, pass a criminal background check. The Board's own licensure page does not publish a minimum age requirement, so minAge is recorded as null rather than guessed. A fingerprint-based background check through IdentoGo (Board code 228NQ7) is required; results and applications are valid for one year. [1]

  2. 2

    Complete approved training

    Complete training at a state-approved program. The Board's own licensure page requires completion of a Board-approved/accredited practical nursing program but does not publish a fixed clock-hour or credit-hour requirement; program length is governed by the accrediting agency rather than a single codified hour figure on the Board's site, so hours is recorded as null. [1]

  3. 3

    NCLEX-PN

    Pass the NCLEX-PN (fee: $200). This $200 registration fee is paid directly to Pearson VUE/NCSBN and is separate from the Board's own $75 Licensure Examination application fee. [2]

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    Submit your application to West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses with the $75 application fee. [3]

  5. 5

    Receive your license

    Once your application is approved, West Virginia State Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses issues your Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) for West Virginia.

Fees

Fee Amount
Application fee [3] $75
License fee [3] None specified
Renewal fee [3] $40
NCLEX-PN [2] $200
New Graduate Permit (optional, added to initial exam application) [3] $10
Re-examination [3] $75
Endorsement into West Virginia [3] $50
Endorsement out of West Virginia [3] $30
Supplemental renewal fee for the Center for Nursing [3] $10
Reinstatement from lapsed status [3] $80
Reinstatement from nonpracticing status [3] $40

Per the Board's Legislative Rule 10 CSR 4 fee schedule, the $75 Licensure Examination fee functions as the initial application/license fee combined (there is no separate license-issuance charge), so 'license' is recorded as null. The $40 renewal fee is paid alongside a mandatory $10 supplemental Center for Nursing fee, for $50 total out-of-pocket at renewal.

Renewal & continuing education

Renew every 1 year. 24 continuing education hours required per cycle.

West Virginia LPN licenses expire annually on June 30, with renewal opening September 1 and lapsing if not completed by October 31 (per the Board's own licensure page). 24 contact hours of continuing education are required every two years (during even years), including mandatory components on veterans/mental health services and substance abuse/drug diversion; new licensees must also complete a one-time 2-hour end-of-life-care-with-pain-management course.

Reciprocity

Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available. Participates in: Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).

The West Virginia LPN Board's own homepage lists the eNLC/Nurse Licensure Compact (linking to nursecompact.com) as a partner resource and has promoted '25 years of nursing mobility' under the NLC; West Virginia is a longstanding member state. Out-of-state LPNs not eligible for a multistate license may still apply for a single-state West Virginia license by endorsement ($50 fee) via Nursys verification of all prior licensing states.

20 state-approved training providers in West Virginia — browse programs and compare schools on tradecolleges.org.

Cost calculator

  • $75
  • $200
Total$275

Frequently asked questions

What exam do I need to pass to become an LPN in West Virginia?

You must pass the NCLEX-PN, administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of NCSBN. The exam registration fee is $200, separate from the Board's own $75 Licensure Examination application fee (or $85 with the optional New Graduate Permit).

How often do I renew my West Virginia LPN license, and what does it cost?

West Virginia LPN licenses renew every year, expiring June 30, with the renewal window opening September 1. The renewal fee is $40 plus a mandatory $10 Center for Nursing supplemental fee ($50 total).

How much continuing education do I need?

24 contact hours of continuing education every two years (during even years), including required content on veterans/mental health services and substance abuse/drug diversion.

Is West Virginia part of the Nurse Licensure Compact?

Yes. The West Virginia LPN Board lists the eNLC as a partner resource on its own site and has promoted its long-standing participation in nursing mobility under the compact.

What background check do I need for a West Virginia LPN license?

You must complete a fingerprint-based background check through IdentoGo (using the Board's code 228NQ7) before your Initial Examination Application is processed; the background check and application are valid for one year.

Sources

  1. [1] lpnboard.wv.gov/licensure/Pages/default.aspx — accessed 2026-07-10
  2. [2] nclex.com/fees-payment.page — accessed 2026-07-10
  3. [3] lpnboard.wv.gov/practice/PublishingImages/Pages/default/Rules%20Series%204%20Fees.pdf — accessed 2026-07-10
  4. [4] lpnboard.wv.gov — accessed 2026-07-10