West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WVBON) · NP

24 hours. Every two years. On a fixed renewal cycle.

Below is exactly what West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WVBON) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from WVBERPN(~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

For NPs, 24 hours is the total CME requirement. West Virginia also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 24-hour total.

Pharmacology[1]
12 hrs
Biennial
APRNs must complete 12 of their 24 biennial CE hours in pharmacotherapeutics. Per WVBON Education Page: '24 hours of continuing education every two years—12 hours in pharmacotherapeutics and 12 hours in clinical management.'
View sourceVerbatim from source
“APRNs must complete '24 hours of continuing education every two years—12 hours in pharmacotherapeutics and 12 hours in clinical management.'”
WVBON Education PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
General CME[1]
12 hrs
Biennial
APRNs must complete 12 of their 24 biennial CE hours in clinical management. This is the 'clinical management' component of the 24-hour biennial requirement. Together with the 12 pharmacotherapeutics hours, these constitute the full 24-hour biennial APRN CE requirement.
View detailsEditorial summary
WVBON Education PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
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Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalOpioid / controlled substances[1]
3 hrs
Custom

APRNs who prescribe controlled substances must complete 3 CE hours in drug diversion, best-practice prescribing, and opioid antagonist training within one year of initial prescriptive authority (waivable if no controlled substances prescribed)

View sourceVerbatim from source
“Those prescribing controlled substances need '3 hours of CE in drug diversion, best-practice prescribing, and opioid antagonist training within one year.'”
WVBON Education PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, West Virginia Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
National APRN organizations (NPCB, AMCB, ANCC, NCC, PNCB) are listed as approved CE providers. ANCC-accredited CE accepted.SourceWVBON Education Page
Board-approved credit
National and state nursing associations (ANA, WVNA, AANA), and any State Board of Nursing in the U.S. are listed as approved CE provider sources. CE Broker is used for electronic CE tracking.SourceWVBON Education Page
Documentation & audit

Physicians are responsible for retaining CME documentation and producing it on request. Requirements include course title, dates, hours, sponsoring organization, and accrediting body.

Waivers & exemptions

Inactive/retired-status APRN licenses are exempt from CE requirements

CE hours cannot be carried forward to the next reporting period

FAQ
Does West Virginia require pharmacology CE for NPs?
Yes. The WVBON education page states that APRNs must complete 24 hours of CE every two years — 12 hours in pharmacotherapeutics and 12 hours in clinical management. The pharmacotherapeutics hours address drug therapy, medication safety, prescribing practices, and pharmacology topics relevant to the APRN's specialty. In addition, APRNs who prescribe controlled substances must complete a one-time 3-hour CE in drug diversion, best-practice prescribing, and opioid antagonist training within one year of obtaining that prescriptive authority (waivable if no controlled substances are prescribed).
Is West Virginia in the APRN Compact?
No. West Virginia is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), which governs the underlying RN license, but West Virginia is not a member of the APRN Compact as of 2026. The APRN Compact is a separate multi-state agreement for advanced practice nurses with limited membership. West Virginia NPs who wish to practice as APRNs in other states must obtain individual APRN licensure in each additional state.
Does West Virginia require NPs to maintain national certification?
The WVBON education page and sources indicate that the APRN CE requirement is the primary renewal mechanism for West Virginia APRNs, with approved APRN organizations including ANCC, NCC, PNCB, and others accepted as CE providers. While national certification is commonly maintained by West Virginia APRNs, the Layer 1 source does not explicitly state a standalone national certification requirement as a condition of APRN renewal separate from the 24-hour CE requirement. West Virginia NPs should verify directly with WVBON whether current national certification is also required for APRN renewal beyond the 24-hour CE obligation.
Where can I check my West Virginia NP/APRN license renewal date?
West Virginia APRNs can access renewal information through the WVBON website at https://wvrnboard.wv.gov. The education page at https://wvrnboard.wv.gov/education/Pages/default.aspx provides APRN CE requirements. The WVBON FAQ page at https://wvrnboard.wv.gov/faq/Pages/default.aspx answers common renewal questions. West Virginia APRN licenses follow the July 1 to June 30 odd-year renewal cycle. CE compliance is tracked through CE Broker.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. WVBON — Education / CE Requirements Page
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “APRNs must complete '24 hours of continuing education every two years—12 hours in pharmacotherapeutics and 12 hours in clinical management.'”WVBON Education Page
    “Those prescribing controlled substances need '3 hours of CE in drug diversion, best-practice prescribing, and opioid antagonist training within one year.'”WVBON Education Page

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses (WVBON), or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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