How to Get Your LPN License in West Virginia (2026)

## How to Become a Licensed Practical Nurse in West Virginia West Virginia's healthcare environment is shaped by Appalachian geography, a high burden of chronic disease, critical access hospital networks, and persistent workforce shortages that make LPNs essential in nearly every care setting. One critical distinction sets West Virginia apart from most states: **West Virginia maintains a separate licensing board for LPNs** — the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nursing (BELPN) — rather than consolidating LPN and RN licensing under a single board. If you're pursuing an LPN license in West Virginia, you'll deal with BELPN, not the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses. ### Step 1: Complete an Accredited Practical Nursing Program West Virginia requires graduation from a practical nursing program approved by BELPN or a nationally accredited program (ACEN or CNEA). Approved PN programs in the state include those offered through Mountwest Community and Technical College, New River Community and Technical College, Pierpont Community and Technical College, and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, among others. Programs run approximately 12–18 months and include clinical experiences in acute care, long-term care, pediatrics, maternal-newborn nursing, and community health. Verify that your chosen program holds current BELPN approval before enrolling — programs must maintain active board approval for graduates to be eligible for licensure in West Virginia. ### Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-PN Exam Passing the NCLEX-PN is required for West Virginia licensure. The process: 1. **Submit an application to BELPN** for NCLEX eligibility and receive your Authorization to Test (ATT). 2. **Register with Pearson VUE** and schedule your exam at a West Virginia testing center (Charleston, Morgantown, Huntington) or via remote proctoring. 3. **Pay the Pearson VUE exam fee** ($200). 4. **Complete the exam** within your 90-day ATT window. The NCLEX-PN is computerized adaptive, ranging from 85–150 questions. Results are typically available within 2 business days via Pearson VUE Quick Results. BELPN receives your results directly from Pearson VUE upon successful completion. ### Step 3: Apply for Your West Virginia LPN License Applications are submitted to the **West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nursing** — not the RN board. This is a common point of confusion for candidates relocating from states that consolidate LPN and RN licensing. Required items: - Completed BELPN application (available at wvbelpn.com) - Official transcripts from your PN program sent directly to BELPN - NCLEX-PN results (transmitted by Pearson VUE) - Criminal background check (West Virginia State Police and FBI) - Application fee of approximately **$50–$75** (West Virginia's fee is among the lower in the compact — confirm the current rate on the BELPN website before submitting) West Virginia LPN licenses renew on a two-year cycle. Processing times typically run 4–6 weeks for complete applications. The BELPN office is based in Charleston and can be reached for status inquiries. ### eNLC Compact Membership West Virginia is a member of the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). A West Virginia multistate LPN license is valid in all other compact member states without additional applications — an important benefit given the state's borders with Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, and the large number of West Virginia LPNs who commute to work in bordering states. To qualify for compact privileges, West Virginia must be your primary state of residence. Note again that BELPN (the LPN board) handles compact enrollment for LPNs — not the separate RN board. ### Continuing Education Requirements West Virginia LPNs must complete **24 continuing education hours** per two-year renewal cycle — slightly lower than the 30-hour requirement in many other compact states. BELPN does not currently mandate specific topic areas within the 24-hour CE requirement. Approved CE can be completed through ANCC-accredited providers, NAPNES, Relias, Nurse.com, and other state-approved platforms. Maintain documentation of all completed CE for a minimum of four years in case of a BELPN audit. ### West Virginia LPN Salary Ranges West Virginia LPN compensation is modest by national standards but is offset by a low cost of living: - **Charleston metro:** $36,000–$46,000/year - **Morgantown (WVU region):** $37,000–$48,000/year - **Huntington/Tri-State area:** $35,000–$44,000/year - **Rural and Appalachian communities:** $32,000–$42,000/year The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program is available to LPNs working in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) in West Virginia — and much of the state qualifies. NHSC awards up to $25,000 in loan repayment for a two-year service commitment at an approved site, which can meaningfully augment compensation in lower-wage rural roles. ### Top Employers for LPNs in West Virginia - **WVU Medicine (Morgantown and statewide)** — West Virginia's academic health system; largest healthcare employer in the state with LPN hiring across inpatient, outpatient, and rural access sites - **Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC)** — The largest hospital in West Virginia; General, Memorial, and Women & Children campuses all employ LPNs - **Thomas Health System (South Charleston)** — Regional health system serving the Kanawha Valley - **Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) hospitals** — Multi-state system with several West Virginia facilities; critical access LPN roles - **WV Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR)** — Public health, behavioral health, and residential care LPN positions - **Prestera Center for Mental Health** — Behavioral health LPN roles in Huntington and surrounding counties - **Long-term care and SNF operators** — A large segment of West Virginia's LPN workforce is employed in skilled nursing, personal care, and assisted living facilities across the state's 55 counties Appalachian rural critical access hospitals represent a defining niche for West Virginia LPNs. These facilities — which serve isolated communities with limited access to primary care — often depend on LPNs as a core clinical backbone, offering roles with broad scope and high community impact.