Virginia nurse continued competency options
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Reviewed by Dr. Pam Vollmer, DNP, RN, AMB-BC, NPD-BC, Accredited Provider Program Director for CE Ready
What Nurses Need to Know
Virginia RNs and LPNs renewing an active license must complete one full continued competency option per renewal cycle. The most common choices are 30 contact hours or 640 active practice hours plus 15 contact hours. Virginia also accepts specialty certification, academic coursework, a board-approved refresher course, teaching, publication, and evidence-based practice activities.
To make life easier, you do not need to submit documentation with your renewal application. You will attest to completion and keep your records for two years. If the Board selects you for review, you will have 30 days to provide proof (Virginia Administrative Code, 2026).
Here is the key thing to understand: you must complete one option fully. Virginia does not allow you to combine partial pieces of two different options. TheVirginia Board of Nursing continued competency page has the full rule directly from the source. In this blog, we will dive into the various options for Virginia nursing license renewal.
For nurses using a contact-hour option, CE Ready is an ANCC-accredited provider (provider number P0986) approved by state boards of nursing. CE Ready makes it easy to complete hours online and keep your certificates organized in one place.
How Virginia Continued Competency Works
Virginia uses the term “continued competency” for license renewal rather than just “continuing education.” The rule is simple: choose one approved option and complete it fully during your renewal cycle.
Here is what your menu of options looks like:
- 30 contact hours relevant to nursing practice
- 640 active practice hours plus 15 contact hours
- Current specialty certification
- Three post-licensure academic credit hours
- A board-approved refresher course
- A nursing-related evidence-based practice project or research study
- Publication as a nursing author or co-author
- Teaching or developing nursing-related CE (up to 30 contact hours)
- Teaching or developing a nursing course for college credit
A few important exceptions apply. Your first renewal after initial licensure by exam or endorsement is exempt from the requirement. The Board may grant an extension of up to one year for good cause. You must request it in writing at least 60 days before your renewal date (Virginia Administrative Code, 2026).
If you hold both an RN and LPN license in Virginia, you only need to satisfy one continued competency requirement. RNs who also hold an active nurse practitioner license follow APRN rules instead. That distinction is worth confirming if it applies to you.
CE Hours vs. Practice Hours in Virginia
For most Virginia nurses, the real decision comes down to two options: 30 contact hours or 640 active practice hours plus 15 contact hours. Both satisfy the renewal requirement for active RN and LPN licenses.
The 640 plus 15 option works well if you are actively working and can document employment easily. Virginia requires proof showing the number of hours worked, your employer’s name and address, and a supervisor signature. Faculty hours and some non-traditional nursing roles may also count if they meet Virginia’s regulatory definition of active practice.
The 30 contact hour option tends to be the cleaner choice for documentation. Your records focus entirely on CE certificates. They are simpler to collect and organize than employer verification, especially if your work situation changes during a renewal cycle.
Here is a quick comparison:
| Option | Best Fit | What You Need to Keep |
| 30 contact hours | Any nurse; simplest paper trail | CE certificates |
| 640 practice hours + 15 CE hours | Actively employed nurses | CE certificates plus employer verification |
| Specialty certification | Nurses with a current national credential | Copy of certification |
| Academic coursework | Nurses already in post-licensure programs | Official transcript |
For the contact-hour route, CE Ready’s course catalog makes it easy to find ANCC-accredited options that fit your schedule and specialty.
Other Virginia Continued Competency Options
Virginia’s continued competency menu is broader than many nurses realize. Beyond the two most common pathways, several options may already match the professional work you are doing.
Current specialty certification counts as your full continued competency option. No additional contact hours are required if you maintain an active national nursing credential.
Three post-licensure academic credit hours work well if you are already taking classes for degree advancement or professional development. Academic coursework can serve a dual purpose here.
Teaching or developing nursing-related CE is accepted for up to 30 contact hours of equivalent credit. Developing a nursing course for college credit is a separate but similar pathway for nurses in education roles.
Publication as a nursing author or co-author during your renewal cycle counts as a standalone option. Participating in a nursing-related evidence-based practice project or research study is also accepted.
The board-approved refresher course is designed for nurses returning to practice after a period away from the field.
The smartest move is to pick the option that matches your actual work and is easiest to document. Check the Virginia Board of Nursing FAQ before defaulting to contact hours. You may already be doing work that qualifies under a different pathway.
Which Virginia Renewal Option Fits Best
Picking the right option comes down to two questions. What does your actual work life look like right now? And which option will be easiest to prove if the Board ever asks?
If you are actively employed and can easily get employer documentation, the 640 plus 15 route can feel efficient. You only need 15 contact hours instead of 30.
If your hours are harder to document, or if you want the most straightforward paper trail, 30 contact hours is usually the easier call. CE certificates are simpler to manage than employer verification, and there is no third party involved.
For nurses already maintaining certification, teaching, publishing, or taking academic courses, one of the alternative options may already cover you without extra effort.
A useful rule of thumb: the best option is the one that is easiest to document, not just the one that sounds easiest. Documentation only stays easy if you can produce it within a 30-day window. That is one reason so many Virginia nurses still prefer the contact-hour route. CE Ready makes that process simple with ANCC-accredited online courses and always-accessible certificates. You can also browse CE planning strategies for busy nurses for help building a renewal routine that works with your schedule.
How to Document for Renewal in Virginia
Virginia does not require you to submit documentation with your renewal application. You attest to completion during renewal and keep your original records for two years following renewal. If the Board requests them, you must provide records within 30 days (Virginia Administrative Code, 2026).
Here is what to keep for each common option:
- 30 contact hours: Keep CE certificates showing your name, course title, provider name, contact hours awarded, and completion date.
- 640 practice hours plus 15 contact hours: Keep CE certificates plus documentation showing your name, hours worked, employer name and address, and supervisor signature. If you are self-employed, tax records or business documents may be used.
- Specialty certification: Keep a copy of your certificate showing your name, certifying body, certification date, and expiration date.
- Academic coursework: Keep an official transcript showing the institution, course name, credit hours, grade, and attendance dates.
- Teaching, publication, research, or refresher course: Virginia’s regulation specifies the documentation for each of these pathways separately.
Saving records the same day you complete an activity is the simplest habit you can build. The CE Ready Knowledge Base has additional guidance on tracking and storing CE documentation over time.
Common Mistakes Virginia Nurses Should Avoid
A few easy-to-avoid mistakes come up every Virginia renewal cycle.
The most common one is not saving documentation because renewal does not require submission. Virginia still requires original records for two years after renewal. You must produce them within 30 days if the Board asks.
Trying to combine partial pieces of different options is another frequent problem. Virginia is clear: one option, completed in full. Partial practice hours plus partial contact hours from a different pathway does not meet the requirement.
Assuming any CE certificate will work is risky. Virginia’s contact-hour pathway requires CE from an approved provider. Confirm your provider meets Virginia’s requirements before relying on a course for renewal.
Waiting until the deadline to gather records creates unnecessary stress. Thirty days sounds like plenty of time until you are searching through old email folders during a busy week.
Confusing RN and APRN rules is another one to watch. If you hold an active nurse practitioner license in Virginia, you follow APRN continued competency rules. APRNs with prescriptive authority have an additional eight-hour pharmacology CE requirement each biennium, with records kept for four years.
For a broader look at continuing education requirements for nurses across the United States, the CE Ready blog covers all 50 states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Virginia nurses need for renewal?
Active Virginia RNs and LPNs can meet continued competency through several options. The most common is 30 contact hours per renewal cycle. Another is 640 hours of active nursing practice plus 15 contact hours. Virginia also accepts specialty certification, three post-licensure academic credit hours, a board-approved refresher course, teaching, publication, and evidence-based practice participation. You must complete one option fully (Virginia Administrative Code, 2026).
Can Virginia nurses renew with practice hours instead of CE?
Yes. Virginia allows active RN and LPN renewal through 640 hours of active nursing practice plus 15 contact hours as an alternative to 30 contact hours. You will need employer documentation verifying the hours worked.
Do Virginia nurses submit CE certificates with renewal?
No. Virginia nurses attest to completion during renewal and do not submit documentation at that time. Keep records for two years and provide them within 30 days if the Board requests them.
How long should Virginia nurses keep renewal records?
Keep original documentation for two years following renewal. APRNs with prescriptive authority must keep pharmacology CE records for four years following the renewal period.
What counts as active practice in Virginia?
Active nursing practice includes more than bedside care. Faculty hours and certain non-hands-on clinical roles may count if they meet Virginia’s regulatory definition. The Virginia Board of Nursing FAQ has details on specific roles.
Can Virginia nurses combine partial options?
No. Virginia requires one approved option completed in full. Partial practice hours combined with partial contact hours from a different option does not satisfy the continued competency requirement.
Which Virginia renewal option is easiest to document?
For most nurses, 30 contact hours is the simplest option. The records focus entirely on CE certificates. The 640 plus 15 option works well for actively employed nurses but requires additional employer verification.
What if a Virginia nurse cannot finish continued competency before renewal?
The Board may grant an extension of up to one year for good cause. You must request it in writing at least 60 days before your renewal deadline. Qualifying circumstances include temporary disability, mandatory military service, and officially declared disasters (Virginia Administrative Code, 2026).
How can CE Ready help Virginia nurses?
CE Ready is an ANCC-accredited nursing CE provider (provider number P0986) approved by state boards of nursing. Complete contact hours online at your own pace and access your certificates any time. Visit the CE Ready Virginia state page to browse courses and get started.
References
Virginia Administrative Code. (2026). 18VAC90-19-160. Continued competency requirements for renewal of an active license. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency90/chapter19/section160/
Virginia Administrative Code. (2026). 18VAC90-19-170. Documenting compliance with continued competency requirements. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title18/agency90/chapter19/section170/
Virginia Board of Nursing. (n.d.). Continued competency for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. Virginia Department of Health Professions. https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/PractitionerResources/ContinuedCompetency/RNLPN/
Virginia Board of Nursing. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions. Virginia Department of Health Professions.https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/AbouttheBoard/FAQ/
Virginia Board of Nursing. (n.d.). Continued competency for prescriptive authority. Virginia Department of Health Professions.https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/Boards/Nursing/PractitionerResources/ContinuedCompetency/PrescriptiveAuthority/