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State Cert Guide

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What CE does a registered nurse need to renew in West Virginia?

A West Virginia RN does 12 contact hours of CE each renewal period, unless exempt. A nurse first licensed in the state that period is exempt. You attest to the hours when you renew, and you keep your certificates.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
12 contact hours of CE every renewal periodThe nurse attests to completing them when filing to renew.
Verified. apps.sos.wv.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Who needs it
A first West Virginia license during a reporting period is exempt for that periodThe exemption covers the whole reporting period, not only part of it.
Same source and date as above
Agency
West Virginia Board of Registered NursesIts Series 11 rule covers continuing education and competence for registered nurses.
Same source and date as above
Rule
West Virginia Code of State Rules, Title 19, Series 11The rule is a legislative rule of the Board of Registered Nurses.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check whether the rule covers you. It sets CE for registered professional nurses, and a nurse who gets a first West Virginia license during a reporting period is exempt for that period.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course from an approved provider. Among them are the West Virginia nurses association and any provider the American Nurses Credentialing Center accredits.

  3. Step 3. Finish 12 contact hours inside the renewal period. A contact hour is at least 50 minutes of approved, organized learning, and hours from a previous period cannot be used.

  4. Step 4. Attest to your hours when you file to renew. Keep your certificates for two years after you submit your CE activities.

Before you pay

We haven't confirmed a course price. Check that the provider is approved under the rule before you pay.

Questions

What if I do not want to complete CE this period?

Tell the Board in writing before the last business day of the reporting period, and send the notice with your renewal. The Board may then place the license on inactive status without penalty and may waive CE. It charges no fee for inactive status.

What happens if the Board audits my CE?

After an audit notice, you have 30 days to submit the records the Board asks for. The Board may grant more time in cases of hardship if you ask in writing and give your reasons.

Can the Board waive CE for illness or hardship?

Yes. The Board may grant a waiver to a nurse with a disability, an illness or a hardship, as more time or as relief from some or all of the CE. It does not grant relief for more than one reporting period.

Are military nurses exempt?

A government employee working as a registered professional nurse outside the United States is exempt for the entire period, as is a nurse on active military duty for more than three months of it. Keep proof of the service and show it if the Board asks.

Does independent study count?

Approved independent study counts by the contact hours its approved provider awards for it.

What to do next

Start with the Board of Registered Nurses CE rule. Check that your provider is approved before you pay for a course.

apps.sos.wv.gov

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