Application Wizard - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

You may qualify for License by Examination.

Note: Virginia participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows nurses living in compact states to practice in all other compact states with a single multi-state license. You can view an Implementation Map to determine if your state participates in the Compact. If your primary state of residence is a compact state, you must apply for licensure in that state.

What you need in order to apply:

• Evidence of a current Virginia RN license OR RN license with multi-state privilege (from an NLC compact state)
• Please review the Laws & Regulations regarding Nursing and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in the state of Virginia
• You will need verification of professional certification for the specialty area of your educational preparation (see the Application Instructions for more information).
• You will need to submit an official transcript from your graduate degree program in nursing designed to prepare advanced practice registered nurses (see Application Instructions for more information).
• Please carefully review the Application Instructions.

Click the "Apply Now" button below to begin the online registration process for an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse License by Examination.

You may qualify for Licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by Endorsement.

Note: Virginia participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows nurses living in compact states to practice in all other compact states with a single multi-state license. You can view an Implementation Map to determine if your state participates in the Compact. If your primary state of residence is a compact state, you must apply for licensure in that state.

What you need in order to apply:

• Evidence of a current Virginia RN license OR RN license with multi-state privilege (from an NLC compact state)
• Verification of professional certification in the specialty area of your educational preparation issued by one of the agencies listed in 18 VAC 90-30-90 (more details in Application Instructions below).
• Read the Application Instructions carefully

Click the button below on the right to begin the online application process for Licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse by Endorsement.

If you already have an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license and you wish to add Authorization to Prescribe, you will need to contact the Board of Nursing at nursebd@dhp.virginia.gov to request a paper application for Licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse be emailed or mailed to you.  You cannot use the online application process to apply for Authorization to Prescribe. When emailing to request a paper application please include in the subject line of the email: Request paper application APRN License #(add license number).

Note: After July 1, 2020 Advanced Practice Registered Nurses licensed in the category of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are authorized to prescribe by operation of law and do not need to apply for prescriptive (Rx) authority nor will they receive a separate Rx Authority designation.

If you already have an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license and you wish to add additional specialties, you will need to contact the Board of Nursing at nursebd@dhp.virginia.gov to request a paper application for Licensure as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse be emailed or mailed to you.  You cannot use the online nurse practitioner application process to apply for additional specialties. When emailing to request a paper application please include in the subject line of the email: Request paper application APRN License #(add license number).

Reinstatement Applications for Nurse Practitioners

This application is a PDF form that will need to be completed and sent to:

Virginia Board of Nursing
Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, Virginia 23233-1463

Note: Virginia participates in the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), which allows nurses living in compact states to practice in all other compact states with a single multi-state license. You can view an Implementation Map to determine if your state participates in the compact. If your primary state of residence is a compact state, you must apply for licensure in that state.)

What you need in order to apply

• Instructions and Application for Reinstatement of License as an APRN
• Instructions and Application for Reinstatement of License as an APRN following Suspension or Revocation
• Proof of your primary state of residence

Effective July 1, 2022, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (except Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Certified Nurse Midwives, Clinical Nurse Specialists) with an equivalent of 5 years of full-time clinical experience may apply for full practice authority (autonomous practice).  

What you need in order to apply:

• Please review the new law at Virginia Code § 54.1-2957 and regulations at 18 VAC 90-30-86.
• Evidence of a license in good standing as an advanced practice registered nurse and current Virginia RN license OR RN license with multi-state privilege.
• Current professional certification in accordance with 18 VAC 90-30-90. (See the Application Instructions for more information).
• Complete and submit the Autonomous Practice Application for Advanced Practice Registered Nurse to:

Virginia Board of Nursing
Perimeter Center
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, Virginia 23233-1463