Board of Nursing
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I renew my license or certificate?
You can renew your license online right now if you've received a renewal notice!
Pick
an occupation to find out more about renewal:
Registered Nurse | Licensed Practical
Nurse |
Certified
Nurse Aide
Certified Massage Therapist |
Nurse Practitioner | Clinical
Nurse Specialist
Registered Nurse
The fee for on-time renewal of a Registered Nurse License is $95.00. Make your check or money order payable to "Treasurer of Virginia" and attach a note to your payment that includes your name, correct address, Social Security number, Virginia License number (if you know it), primary state of residence, and practice states. Mail this information to us at Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond Virginia 23233-1463 . Please note that it will take 10-14 days for the renewed license to reach you once it has been issued. If your license has already expired, you need to speak with someone in the Board of Nursing to request information on reinstatement.Licensed Practical Nurse
The fee for on-time renewal of a Licensed Practical Nurse License is $95.00. Make your check or money order payable to "Treasurer of Virginia" and attach a note to your payment that includes your name, correct address, Social Security number, Virginia License number (if you know it), primary state of residence, and practice states. Mail this information to us at Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond Virginia 23233-1463 . Please note that it will take 10-14 days for the renewed license to reach you once it has been issued. If your license has already expired, you need to speak with someone in the Board of Nursing to request information on reinstatement.Certified Nurse Aide
The fee for on-time renewal of a Certified Nurse Aide certificate is $50.00. Make your check or money order payable to "Treasurer of Virginia." You must also certify that you have performed nursing related duties for compensation during the two years prior to your expiration date. You may do so when you renew online or on a paper renewal form if you are unable to renew online. Completed renewal forms and fees should be mailed to us at Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond Virginia 23233-1463 . Please note that it will take 10-14 days for the renewed certificate to reach you once it has been issued. If your certificate has already expired or if you need to request a renewal form, you need to speak with someone in the Nurse Aide Registry. If you have not performed nursing related duties for pay within the past two years, you must also retake the state competency exam in order to renew. Please contact the Nurse Aide Competency and Evaluation Service (NACES) at 1-800-758-6028 for more information about retaking the exam.Certified Massage Therapist
The fee for on-time renewal of a Certified Massage Therapist certificate is $70.00. Make your check or money order payable to "Treasurer of Virginia" and attach a note to your payment that includes your name, correct address, Social Security number and Virginia Certificate number (if you know it). Mail this information to us at Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond Virginia 23233-1463 . Please note that it will take 10-14 days for the renewed certificate to reach you once it has been issued. If your certificate has already expired, you need to speak with someone in the Board of Nursing to request information on reinstatement.Nurse Practitioner
The fee for on-time renewal of a Nurse Practitioner License is $145.00.
This includes the $95.00 fee to renew your Registered Nurse License. If
you have Prescriptive Authority, please add $25.00 to your total fee to
renew this license. Make your check or money order payable to "Treasurer
of Virginia" and attach a note to your payment that includes your name,
correct address, Social Security number and Virginia License number (if
you know it). Mail this information to us at Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond Virginia 23233-1463 . On a separate sheet of paper, please
attest to the following:
• If you were licensed as a Nurse Practitioner PRIOR to May 8, 2002,
you must hold current professional certification OR have completed at least
40 hours of continuing education in the area of specialty practice from
one of the certifying agencies designated in 18 VAC 90-30-90.
• If you were licensed as a Nurse Practitioner AFTER May 8, 2002,
you must hold current professional certification in the area of specialty
practice from one of the certifying agencies designated in 18 VAC 90-30-90.
In addition, if you have prescriptive authority, please attest to the following:
• You also have eight hours of continuing education in pharmacology
or pharmacotherapeutics for each biennium.
Please note that it will take 10-14 days for the renewed license to reach
you once it has been issued. If your license has already expired, you need
to speak with someone in the Board of Nursing to request information on
reinstatement.
Clinical Nurse Specialist
The fee for on-time renewal of Clinical Nurse Specialist Registration is $60.00. Remember that you must also renew your Registered Nurse license. You may enclose the $95.00 renewal fee for your R.N. license with your Clinical Nurse Specialist renewal. Make your check or money order payable to "Treasurer of Virginia" and attach a note to your payment that includes your name, correct address, Social Security number and Virginia License number (if you know it). You must also provide evidence of your current national specialty certification as a clinical nurse specialist. Enclose a photocopy of your latest card or letter from the national certifying organization. Mail this information to us at Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond Virginia 23233-1463 . Please note that it will take 10-14 days for the renewed license to reach you once it has been issued. If your license has already expired, you need to speak with someone in the Board of Nursing to request information on reinstatement.I need my Virginia license verified to another state. Is there a fee?
Virginia became part of the Nurse Licensure Compact in January 2005. Therefore, as of February 4, 2005, the Virginia Board of Nursing will no longer be verifying Virginia licenses to other states. Verification of Virginia licenses will be processed through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing through the NURSYS system. You can contact the NURSYS License Verification Department at (866) 819-1700 or https://www.nursys.com. There is a $30 fee for NURSYS to verify your licensure to another state.
My name and/or address have changed. How do I notify the Board?
All name and address changes must come in writing (fax, mail, or e-mail) to our office. Please include your name, address, social security # and license or certificate # (if you know it). If you have a name change, you must also enclose a copy of your marriage license or other court order which authorizes the change. We will acknowledge all name and address changes with a letter. There is no fee to make the change if you do not want a new copy of your license.
How do I request a Duplicate license or certificate?
You can request a duplicate license or certificate online. If you need a duplicate license or certificate, you can send your request in writing along with the $5.00 duplicate license fee. Your check or money order must be made payable to "Treasurer of Virginia." Include your name, address, social security # and license or certificate # (if you know it). Please note that there is no fee for a duplicate Certified Nurse Aide certificate, but a written request must be received before a duplicate is issued. All requests for duplicate licenses may be mailed to the Virginia Board of Nursing at Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond Virginia 23233-1463 .
Questions about Medication Aides
1. Is the Board of Nursing going to regulate “Med Techs” in Assisted Living Facilities ?
The Virginia General Assembly passed a law in 2005 that required the Board of Nursing to regulate medication aides in Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) beginning July 2007. There will be a 12 month transition period to accomplish this task. By July 1, 2008, all medication aides working in Assisted Living Facilities are required to be registered with the Board of Nursing. Eligibility requirements are:
• Complete a Board approved Medication Training Course;
• Complete and submit an application, inclusive of fees; and
• Take a standardized exam (administered by PSI) with a 70%
pass rate.
These individuals will be referred to as Registered Medication Aides.
This does not apply to those individuals administering
medications in Child Day Care Centers, Adult Day Care Centers, Mental Health
Facilities, and Juvenile Justice/Corrections Facilities.
2. What documentation is required with the application for registration by examination to prove one year of employment as a medication aide?
A letter from the employer stating dates of employment as a medication
aide in an ALF.
More than one employer may submit a letter that confirms:
• 12 months consecutive employment ;
• 12 months immediately prior to applying
for registration by examination;
• Employment during these 12 months must be working as a medication
aide in an Assisted Living Facility.
3. What documentation must accompany an application for registration?
The following items need to be submitted to the Board of Nursing for application
by examination:
• A complete application for registration by examination (application
available on our website);
• Application Fee ($50);
• Documentation of successful completion of direct care courses or
CNA course:
• Documentation of successful completion of Board approved 68 hour
curriculum or 8 hour refresher course. (Certificate of
completion must include the program provider approval number assigned by
the Board of Nursing.)
• If completing the 8 hour refresher course, must have documentation
of 12 months employment as a medication aide in an ALF.
• A passport photo that has been signed on the front of the picture
(driver’s license pictures are not acceptable).
4. Does a Medication Aide in an Assisted Living Facility have to be a CNA?
It is not a requirement of the Board of Nursing.
However, the regulations do require that applicants for the Medication Registry successfully completed the direct care training program approved by the Department of Social Services or have completed an approved nurse aide education program.
5. How can a person find an approved medication aide refresher course or 68 hour course? How can we verify that the course is approved by the Board of Nursing?
If you go to our website, www.dhp.virginia.gov:
• then go under Nursing Board,
• scroll down to and click on “Educational Programs”,
• then click on “Approved Medication Aide Training
Programs”.
You will find the list of approved program providers with contact information. This list is updated on a daily basis as program providers are approved.
In addition, all approved program providers will have provider numbers that are only given to them once they are approved. These numbers must be on the certificate of completion that they provide to their students.
6. How are can I find a train-the-trainer course to teach the Registered Medication Aide Curriculum?
The Board of Nursing does not have the authority to regulate trainers. Therefore we do not track training courses and/or endorse any one train-the-trainer course.
7. If I am a CNA and want to keep my certification will I have to pay fees associated with nurse aide certification and medication aide registration?
Yes. They are two separately regulated occupations. They have different preparations for the roles and different job requirements involved.
8. How are Registered Medication Aides to sign their name on documentation?
The regulations do not provide authority to abbreviate the title of “Registered Medication Aide” with their signature.
9. Who can teach the refresher course and what curriculum is approved to be followed for the refresher course?
The refresher course is an 8 hour module created from the Board approved curriculum for experience medication aides that have worked for at least 1 year (consecutively) prior to applying to register as a medication aide. This will only be an option to applicants from July 1, 2007 to July 1, 2008.
To teach the refresher course, you must be a Board approved provider.
The refresher course module will be issued with the curriculum after the provider has obtained program approval from the Board of Nursing.
10. Does the Board of Nursing accept registration or certification of medication aides from other states?
The regulations do not allow for licensure by endorsement of registered medication aides.
11. If a Registered Medication Aide works somewhere other than an ALF, are they subject to disciplinary action by the BON?
If a complaint is received about the practice of a person who holds a
Registration as a Medication Aide, the Board has the jurisdiction to investigate
that complaint and will determine if there has been a violation of Board
of Nursing Laws and Regulations.
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