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Virginia RN Certification and Schools - VA

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 19th, 2010

On January 1, 2005, Virginia began its participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which allows registered nurses who are currently licensed and live in a participating Compact state to practice in other Compact states without having to secure an additional license in that state.

The Nurse Licensure Compact makes the practice of nursing possible among participating Compact states by necessitating nurses to keep a license in their primary residential state. This gives the registered nurse multi-state privilege to practice nursing in other participating states. The Compact says that nurses must practice in accordance with the regulations and laws of each state in which they provide nursing care.

Virginia RN schools prepare graduates to work in any of the participating states.  Participating states include: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

• Registered nurses in Virginia whose license is unencumbered will be given the opportunity to take advantage of the multi-state privilege in all states that participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact. All registered nurses in Virginia who confirm that they carry a registered nurse license will be told of the multi-state privilege and will be awarded a new license at the time of the next scheduled license renewal.
• Registered nurses who are currently licensed in Virginia and are currently employed by the federal government or the U.S. military may declare a Compact state as their place of residence. These nurses are required to have just one license from any state or U.S. territory. Military or federal nurses who practice in a health system for civilians will be subject to the laws and rules of the Nurse Licensure Compact.
• Registered nurses who are currently licensed in a state that does not participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact are still required to have a license from each non-participating state in which they practice nursing.

Through campus or online programs, aspiring Registered Nurses in Arlington, Richmond, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Alexandria, Portsmouth and Hampton, Virginia may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the University of Virginia Medical Center, Saint Mary's Hospital, Lynchburg General Hospital and Inova Fairfax Hospital.