How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Virginia, Career Near Me
How to Become a Nurse Practitioner in Virginia, Career Near Me
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are one of the most common types of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Before you can become an NP, you must have a valid license to be a registered nurse (RN). Additional training and education allow them to perform tasks that registered nurses can't, including performing physical exams and prescribing medications. To become a nurse practitioner in Virginia, you must earn a graduate degree in nursing and pass the national certification exam. Once licensed, the state requires continuing education to keep your license and certification up to date.
Part 1 Completing the Proper Education and Training.
1. Hold a valid license as a registered nurse (RN) in Virginia. Before you can become a nurse practitioner, you must first be a registered nurse. Your license must be valid and unrestricted. If you hold a valid and restricted license from another state, you may be able to apply for Licensure by Endorsement to get a Virginia license.
If you're a Canadian nurse moving to Virginia, you may also be eligible for Licensure by endorsement provided your training was primarily in English.
If you recently graduated from a state-approved nursing program, you can apply for the RN license by examination.
If you received your nursing education in the US territory of Puerto Rico or in a foreign country, contact the Committee of the Joint Boards of Nursing and Medicine at 804-367-4555 to find out how to get your RN license in Virginia.
2. Work for at least one year as a registered nurse. While you can get your RN license immediately after you graduate, you can't continue on to graduate-level education until you've had at least one year of experience as an RN. This experience also gives you the opportunity to observe practicing NPs and get a better understanding of what they do.
While no specific experience is required, it's a good idea to get experience that corresponds with the particular nursing field you want to specialize in an NP.
3. Choose an accredited master's or doctoral nursing program. A certified NP can have either a master's degree or a doctoral degree in nursing. The program you choose may not make a tremendous difference in your pay as an NP. However, a doctoral program typically requires a greater investment on your part in terms of both time and money.
Tuition costs for in-state resident students tend to be between $500 and $700 an hour. For a master's degree, you'll typically need around 50 credits. A doctoral degree usually requires around 80 credits.
Master's programs typically take 2 to 3 years to complete, while a doctoral program takes 3 to 4 years. If you're only attending part-time, however, it will likely take you longer.
Tip: There are more than 20 graduate nursing programs available in Virginia. You can also get your education in another state, provided the program is accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
4. Apply to graduate-level nursing programs. Once you've chosen the type of program you want, find schools that offer that program. Compare the schools based on their location, tuition rates, and acceptance rates to find the program that will work best for you. Application requirements for graduate-level nursing programs in Virginia typically include:
A bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited institution.
A valid and unrestricted RN license.
At least one year of experience as a practicing RN.
A 3.0 GPA in all secondary education.
Letters of recommendation.
A completed written application.
Tip: Some schools will also look at scores on the GRE or other graduate admissions exams if you don't have an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
5. Earn a graduate degree in nursing. After 3 to 5 years of hard work, depending on the program you choose and your attendance, you'll likely meet the requirements for your graduate degree. Most graduate programs include a classroom component and a clinical practice component.
Graduate-level nursing programs typically have arrangements with nearby hospitals and medical centers where graduate nursing students can complete clinical rotations.
Part 2 Getting Licensed and Certified.
1. Pass a national certification exam. You'll take your exam through a certification agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education or the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. Each agency's website will have more information on how to register for and take their exam. The certification you get depends on your specialization. Authorized agencies include.
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (https://www.aanpcert.org/).
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Certification Corporation (https://www.aacn.org/certification?tab=First-Time%20Certification).
American Midwifery Certification Board (https://www.amcbmidwife.org/).
American Nurses Credentialing Center (https://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/).
National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (https://www.nbcrna.com/).
National Certification Corporation (https://www.nccwebsite.org/).
Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (https://www.pncb.org/).
2. Apply for your state license. The Virginia Department of Health Professions only accepts initial applications for a nurse practitioner license online. Go to https://www.license.dhp.virginia.gov/apply/Login.aspx to get started.
Before you start your application, it's a good idea to read the instructions. You can download those at https://www.license.dhp.virginia.gov/apply/Forms/Nursing/NP_Instr_Forms.pdf.
Tip: If you're already licensed as an NP in another state, use the license verification form to transfer your certification to Virginia. The form is available at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/nursing/forms/NPVerificaitonForm.pdf.
3. Have your graduate transcripts sent directly from your school. The Department of Health Professions needs to review your graduate transcripts before issuing your license. Contact your school's admissions office to let them know you need your transcripts sent.
Most schools will charge a small fee to send your transcripts to the Department of Health Professions. Expect it to be less than $30.
Part 3 Maintaining Your License to Practice.
1. Follow the state regulations governing nurse practitioner practice. If you violate any laws or state regulations related to medical or nursing practice, your license may be suspended or revoked. Your license may also be suspended or revoked if it is proven that you.
Told people you were a doctor.
Exceeded your authority as an NP.
Have become unable to practice due to mental illness or excessive use of drugs or alcohol.
Violated laws or regulations specifically relating to the possession, use, or distribution of drugs.
2. Demonstrate compliance with Virginia continuing education requirements. Virginia requires licensed nurses to update their education continuously while practicing. You have several different options to meet this requirement.
Current and active specialization certification by a national certifying organization (each will have its own continuing education requirements).
Completion of at least 3 credit hours of nursing-related education from an accredited college or university.
A board-approved refresher course in nursing.
Nursing-related, evidence-based project or research study.
Publication as the author or co-author of a nursing-related, evidence-based article or study.
Teaching a nursing-related course offered for at least 3 credit hours.
Up to 30 contact hours teaching or developing nursing-related continuing education courses.
15 contact hours of nursing-related workshops, seminars, and the like plus at least 640 hours of active practice as a nurse.
30 contact hours of nursing-related workshops, seminars, and the like.
Tip: Decide which option you're going to use to meet your continuing education requirements and start taking those classes as soon as possible. If you wait until the last minute, you may not be able to get in the hours you need before it's time to renew your license.
3. Renew your licenses every 2 years. Both your RN license and your NP license must be renewed every 2 years. If you have prescriptive authority, you can also renew that at the same time. All nurses in Virginia renew their licenses during the month of their birthday. The entire process can be completed online.
Since you had to apply for your initial license online, you already have a user name and password for the Department of Health Professions Online Licensing website. Just go to https://www.license.dhp.virginia.gov/license/ to renew your licenses.
If you were born in an even-numbered year, you'll renew your license on even-numbered years, regardless of the year it was initially issued. If you were born in an odd-numbered year, you'll renew your license on odd-numbered years.
4. Complete a separate application for prescriptive authority after 2 years. NPs in Virginia may be able to apply for prescriptive authority after working 2 years as an NP. During those 2 years, you must work at least 1,000 hours and complete at least 15 credits of continuing education in pharmacology.
To be eligible for prescriptive authority, you also must show that you studied pharmacology or pharmatherapeutics during your graduate nursing studies. You also need at least 30 contact hours in pharmacology education.
5. Apply for an autonomous practice license after 5 years if desired. Once you have 5 years of full-time clinical experience under the direct supervision of a physician, you can apply to practice autonomously. This license would allow you to practice as an NP without being supervised by a physician.
You can download the autonomous practice license application at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/nursing/forms/NP_AutonomousPractice,.pdf.
Community Q&A.
Question : What are the requirements for an international student to study nursing in the U.S.?Answer : Every university and college has different requirements. Take a look at a few schools that interest you and see what their requirements are, to get an idea.
