Verify a Virginia APRN or Nurse Practitioner Through the Official DHP Record
For a VA NP license verification, use the Virginia Department of Health Professions License Lookup and search the practitioner’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurse credential. Virginia now uses APRN as the umbrella licensing term for nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists.
A careful check does not stop with the APRN record. Current Virginia advanced-practice authority also depends on the required RN license or multistate RN privilege, current specialty certification where applicable, and any prescribing or autonomous-practice authority relevant to the person’s role.
Quick Answer: Virginia APRN / NP License Verification
Open Virginia DHP License Lookup. Search by the practitioner’s license number when available, or select the appropriate nursing occupation and search by name. Open the full record and confirm the credential number, status, expiration date and any additional public information.
For a nurse practitioner, verify the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse credential rather than stopping at an RN result. Then confirm the related Virginia RN license or qualifying multistate RN privilege because APRN licensure depends on underlying RN authority.
DHP License Lookup
Virginia describes the public lookup as primary-source verification. It is updated in real time and can be used by patients, employers and credentialing staff for individual searches.
Check APRN plus RN authority
An APRN applicant must hold a current Virginia RN license or a qualifying multistate RN privilege. Current practice review should therefore include both layers when applicable.
“NP found” is not the whole check
Specialty certification, prescribing authority, autonomous-practice designation and discipline may require additional verification depending on the decision you are making.
DHP License Lookup contains current unexpired records and also records whose licenses have expired since January 1, 2000. Use the Status filter for “Current Licensees” when you specifically want only current records.
Virginia APRN vs NP: Which Credential Are You Searching?
Users still commonly search “Virginia NP license verification,” but Virginia updated its statutory terminology so that Advanced Practice Registered Nurse is now the umbrella title. The exact role or specialty still matters.
| Virginia advanced-practice role | What it means for verification |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) | Verify the Virginia APRN license and the licensed specialty/population focus, plus RN authority and applicable certification. |
| Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) | CRNA is a Virginia APRN role. Do not search only for a generic RN credential when nurse-anesthesia authority is the question. |
| Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) | CNM practice is included under Virginia APRN licensure. Match the role and certification, not simply the nursing license. |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | CNS is also an APRN role in Virginia and has its own practice and prescribing distinctions. |
Virginia’s 2023 statutory changes replaced the former umbrella use of “nurse practitioner” with “advanced practice registered nurse,” aligning state terminology more closely with the APRN Consensus Model. Older documents and search habits may still use NP broadly.
Choose the Correct Virginia Nursing Verification Route
The Board of Nursing separates RN/LPN verification from verification of all Board credentials. Choose the record that answers your actual question.
How to Verify a Virginia APRN License Step by Step
Use this workflow for employment, credentialing, patient research, telehealth review, payer enrollment, another-state applications or your own license-status check.
Open the official Virginia DHP License Lookup
Use the DHP system linked by the Virginia Board of Nursing. It is the Commonwealth’s primary-source verification system, not a private provider directory.
Search by the license number if you have it
DHP provides a direct license-number search. This is usually the cleanest way to avoid confusing two practitioners who share a similar name.
Otherwise search by occupation and name
The public system also supports occupation, first name, last name, state, ZIP code and status. Use only the fields you know accurately.
Open the complete practitioner record
Confirm the exact advanced-practice credential, name, license number, initial licensure information, status and expiration date. A similar-name search row is not enough.
Verify the RN layer
Confirm the Virginia RN license or the qualifying multistate RN privilege. Virginia APRN licensure requires current RN authority, so an APRN-only check can leave an important gap.
Confirm specialty certification when relevant
Virginia licenses APRNs consistent with education and professional certification in an approved specialty or population focus. Verify the certification separately when credentialing requires it.
Check public disciplinary information when needed
DHP board actions can appear with the license record, and the Board of Nursing publishes Recent Case Decisions. Review them for safety-sensitive or credentialing decisions.
Document the date you checked
Employers should record the official source, date, APRN number, specialty, status, expiration date, RN verification and any relevant public disciplinary information.
How to Read a Virginia APRN License Status
Finding a person in DHP License Lookup does not automatically mean the credential is currently active. The database includes current records and records expired since January 1, 2000.
| Field or result | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Occupation / credential | Distinguishes APRN authority from RN, LPN, CNA or another Virginia health profession. | Confirm you opened the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse record when advanced-practice authority is required. |
| License number | Provides a stronger identity match than a common name. | Compare the entire number with the credentialing file or practitioner-provided information. |
| Current status | Shows whether DHP currently treats the credential as active/current or another status. | Do not infer current practice authority from an expired or lapsed record. |
| Expiration date | Virginia APRN licensure renews biennially. | Schedule a recheck near expiration and verify again after renewal. |
| Additional public information | May signal public Board documents or disciplinary information connected with the license. | Open and read the official public material before making a high-stakes credentialing decision. |
| No result | Could be caused by search criteria, terminology, name changes, an unissued application or another license issue. | Retry with fewer fields and then use Board contact or application-status resources if necessary. |
DHP specifically advises users to select “Current Licensees” in the Status field when they want to limit the lookup to current, unexpired records.
Why Virginia APRN Verification Should Include the RN License
Virginia APRN licensure is layered on nursing authority. For initial APRN licensure, the Board requires a current Virginia RN license or an RN license carrying multistate privilege from an eligible Nurse Licensure Compact state.
Check the RN record too
If the practitioner holds a Virginia RN license, verify that record in addition to the APRN credential, particularly for employment or clinical credentialing.
APRN and NLC are not the same layer
A nurse may use a multistate RN privilege from another compact state while holding a Virginia APRN license. The RN compact privilege does not replace the separate Virginia APRN credential.
Out-of-state compact RN changes the renewal route
Virginia Board guidance says APRNs whose RN license is in another compact state cannot renew the Virginia APRN license online and must provide proof of the valid multistate compact RN license.
If an applicant says, “My RN license is from another compact state,” document which state is the primary state of residence, verify the multistate RN privilege, and separately verify the Virginia APRN record.
Virginia APRN License Renewal: Timing, Fees and Online Route
Virginia APRN licenses renew biennially. The exact renewal timing depends on whether the APRN also holds a Virginia RN license or practices through an RN multistate privilege issued by another compact state.
| Renewal situation | Current Virginia rule | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia APRN + Virginia RN license | The APRN license is renewed biennially at the same time as the Virginia RN license. | Review both credentials in DHP and renew during the applicable birth-month cycle. |
| Virginia APRN + multistate RN privilege from another compact state | APRN renewal is due by the last day of the birth month in the year matching the licensee’s birth-year parity: even birth year in even years, odd birth year in odd years. | Follow Board instructions for non-online APRN renewal and provide proof of the valid multistate RN license. |
| Renewal notice not received | Failure to receive a notice does not remove the licensee’s responsibility to renew by the expiration date. | Track the DHP expiration date directly and keep contact information current. |
| APRN license allowed to lapse | Reinstatement requirements depend on how long the license has been lapsed. | Do not practice based on an expired record; use the proper renewal or reinstatement process. |
$80
Current Virginia Board of Nursing biennial APRN renewal fee.
+$25
Current additional APRN late-renewal fee.
$150
Current APRN reinstatement fee for lapsed or expired licensure.
$200
Current APRN reinstatement fee after suspension or revocation.
The RN has its own fee schedule. The current biennial RN renewal fee is $140, with a $50 late-renewal charge. Do not mistake the $80 APRN fee for a combined RN-and-APRN payment.
The Board of Nursing says ordinary paper renewal notices are no longer mailed. Email notices are sent to licensees with an email address on record at least 45 days before the renewal deadline. Keep both email and mailing information current in Online Licensing.
Virginia APRN Continuing Competency and Certification
Virginia does not use one generic CE rule for every APRN. Renewal requirements depend in part on when the APRN was initially licensed and whether the practitioner holds prescriptive authority.
Maintain current professional certification
An APRN initially licensed on or after May 8, 2002 generally must hold current professional certification in the specialty area from a certifying agency recognized by Virginia regulation.
Certification or qualifying 40-hour pathway
For APRNs licensed before that date, and certain CNSs with retired certification, Virginia regulation permits either current specialty certification or at least 40 hours of approved continuing education in the specialty area.
Keep documentation four years
Virginia requires APRNs to retain supporting continuing-competency records for four years following the renewal period to which the documentation applies.
Random audits are permitted
An APRN selected for a Board audit must provide evidence and supporting documentation within 30 days after receiving notification.
RN CE alone may not satisfy APRN requirements
Advanced-practice competency rules are separate from the underlying RN renewal requirements. Check both layers when planning renewal.
Virginia APRN Prescriptive Authority: What Verification Should Include
Being licensed as an APRN and having the authority relevant to prescribing are connected but not identical verification questions. Do not assume that a generic APRN search answers every prescribing issue.
An NPI is a federal healthcare identifier. It does not replace Virginia APRN license verification, Board authorization or any controlled-substance credential required for the practitioner’s scope.
Autonomous Practice Is Not the Same as APRN License Status
A Virginia APRN may hold a valid APRN license without holding Virginia’s autonomous-practice designation. The distinction matters when an employer or patient is trying to understand whether a practice agreement is required.
3 years or 5,400 clinical hours
Eligible Virginia APRNs may apply for autonomous practice after an equivalent of three years of full-time clinical experience, described by Board materials as 5,400 clinical hours.
Role-specific limits apply
The Board’s current application guidance excludes CRNAs, CNMs and CNSs from this particular autonomous-practice application pathway.
$100 attestation fee
Virginia’s APRN fee regulation currently lists a $100 autonomous-practice attestation fee.
If autonomous practice matters, do not ask only, “Is the NP licensed?” Ask whether the APRN holds the specific autonomous-practice authority applicable to the role and whether any practice-agreement requirement still applies.
Virginia APRN Fees at a Glance
Use the live Board fee page before paying. These are the current APRN amounts published by the Virginia Board of Nursing and Virginia Administrative Code.
| APRN transaction | Current fee | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Initial APRN application | $125 | Initial Virginia advanced-practice licensure or applicable endorsement route. |
| Biennial APRN renewal | $80 | Regular APRN license renewal. |
| Late renewal | $25 additional | Renewal submitted after the applicable expiration deadline within the allowed route. |
| Reinstatement | $150 | Applicable reinstatement of lapsed APRN licensure. |
| Reinstatement after suspension or revocation | $200 | Disciplinary reinstatement route. |
| Verification to another jurisdiction | $35 | When another licensing jurisdiction requires Board-provided verification. |
| Duplicate license | $15 | Duplicate license request. |
| Duplicate wall certificate | $25 | Replacement wall certificate. |
| Autonomous-practice attestation | $100 | Applicable autonomous-practice application. |
Always recheck the Virginia Board of Nursing fee page immediately before submitting an application, renewal, reinstatement or formal verification request.
Applied for a Virginia APRN License but Cannot Find It?
An application receipt is not the same as an issued license. If a newly filed APRN application does not yet appear in License Lookup, check the application record rather than repeatedly searching the public database.
Return to Initial Applications
The Board directs online APRN applicants back to the Initial Applications system to review the application checklist and track outstanding documentation.
Confirm the public record
Once the license is issued, verify it through DHP License Lookup. Do not use a completed checklist or payment receipt as final proof that the credential has been granted.
Virginia’s application materials identify current Virginia RN licensure or qualifying multistate RN privilege, graduate advanced-practice nursing education and approved professional certification in the specialty area among the core licensing requirements.
Expired or Lapsed Virginia APRN: Renewal vs Reinstatement
The length of the lapse changes the correct route. Do not assume every expired APRN license can be restored by simply paying a late fee.
| Situation | Virginia rule | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Lapsed within one renewal period | An APRN license may be reinstated within one renewal period by payment of the current renewal fee plus late-renewal fee. | Use the Board’s current lapsed-license instructions and confirm the updated DHP record before practicing. |
| Lapsed more than one renewal period | A reinstatement application and reinstatement fee are required, along with current RN authority and applicable competency documentation. | Begin the APRN reinstatement route rather than ordinary renewal. |
| Suspended or revoked | A separate disciplinary reinstatement process and fee apply. | Use the Board’s reinstatement-after-discipline application and follow the governing order. |
A lapsed or expired record should not be treated as current practice authority. Verify the reinstated status in DHP License Lookup after the Board completes the process.
Virginia APRN Discipline and Board Orders
A current license and a clean disciplinary history are different questions. DHP makes Board actions part of the public record and provides public information through License Lookup and Board case-decision resources.
Open additional public information
If the practitioner record includes public information or a Board action, review the actual document rather than relying on a status label alone.
Check Board case decisions
The Virginia Board of Nursing publishes Recent Case Decisions for Nursing. This can be useful for credentialing or compliance review.
Board action can remain public
DHP explains that Board actions remain public records. Revoked or suspended licenses that are not reinstated can remain visible in License Lookup for extended periods.
If discipline matters to the decision, review the public action documents and applicable case decisions. A current license status alone does not answer every disciplinary-history question.
No Virginia APRN License Result? Troubleshoot in This Order
A failed name search is not enough to conclude that a nurse practitioner is unlicensed. Work through the likely causes before contacting the Board.
Search APRN, not only RN
The individual may appear under an RN record but the advanced-practice credential still needs a separate APRN check.
NP vs APRN wording
Older documents and common searches may say Nurse Practitioner while current Virginia pages use Advanced Practice Registered Nurse as the umbrella profession.
Try fewer name fields
Check spelling, former legal names, hyphenation and middle-name differences. Search by license number whenever it is available.
Remove ZIP or status filters
An outdated address or overly narrow status filter can exclude the intended record. Begin with the strongest identifier and add filters only when needed.
Use Application Status
A pending APRN application will not necessarily appear as an issued license. Check the online application checklist and issuance status.
Check status rather than assuming absence
DHP includes licenses expired since January 1, 2000. Broaden the Status filter when researching a historical Virginia record.
If the record still cannot be resolved, contact the Nursing Call Center at 804-367-4515 or nursebd@dhp.virginia.gov. Have the person’s full legal name, APRN number if known, specialty and the search steps you already tried.
Virginia APRN Employer and Credentialing Checklist
For hiring, privileging, payer enrollment, telehealth or staffing, create a verification record another reviewer can reproduce.
Primary-source verification file
- Full practitioner name shown by Virginia DHP
- Virginia APRN license number
- APRN specialty or population focus
- Current APRN status and expiration date
- Virginia RN status or qualifying multistate RN privilege
- National specialty certification when required
- Prescriptive-authority information when prescribing is part of the role
- Autonomous-practice designation when relevant
- Public Board action or discipline review when policy requires it
- Date and source of every verification
Weak credential evidence
- A resume or staffing-agency profile
- A clinic website biography
- An NPI Registry result
- A photograph of a paper license
- An RN license without the APRN credential
- A national NP certificate without checking Virginia licensure
- A stale screenshot saved from a previous renewal cycle
- A similar-name result without matching license number and specialty
DHP’s free License Lookup is intended for ordinary individual and low-volume searches. Organizations performing regular high-volume verification can use Virginia’s subscription data services and license-status notification tools.
How Patients Can Check a Virginia Nurse Practitioner
Patients do not need to perform a full hospital credentialing process, but checking a provider through the official DHP database is more reliable than relying only on an insurance directory or clinic biography.
Virginia Board of Nursing Contact Information
Use direct Board contact after checking License Lookup and the relevant online guidance. This is especially useful for unresolved renewal, specialty, application, prescriptive-authority or compact-RN questions.
| Contact | Official detail | Useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Board of Nursing | Perimeter Center, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, VA 23233-1463 | Board correspondence when an official instruction requires mailing or delivery. |
| Nursing Call Center | 804-367-4515 | APRN licensing, renewal, compact, specialty and Board-process questions. |
| General Board email | nursebd@dhp.virginia.gov | General Board questions and paper APRN application requests where instructed. |
| Continued Competency Audits | NursingCE@dhp.virginia.gov | Questions connected with nursing continued-competency audits. |
| DHP technical call center | 804-367-4444 / CallCenter@dhp.virginia.gov | Online Licensing login, account, PIN and technical problems. |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:15 a.m.-5:00 p.m., except holidays | Planning a phone or in-person contact with DHP. |
Official Virginia APRN License Verification Resources
Use the official resource that matches your task. Public verification, renewal, application status, competency, fees and Board practice guidance are separate functions.
Primary-source public verification.
Use to search Virginia healthcare professionals by license number or by occupation, name, state, ZIP and status.
Nursing verification hub.
Use to distinguish RN/LPN verification from verification of all Virginia Board of Nursing licenses, certificates and registrations.
Official advanced-practice guidance.
Use for Virginia APRN roles, specialties, practice-agreement rules and autonomous-practice information.
Initial, endorsement and reinstatement routing.
Use when applying for first-time APRN licensure, endorsement, specialty additions, prescribing authorization, reinstatement or autonomous practice.
Renewal and account portal.
Use when your Virginia APRN is eligible for online renewal, address/email updates or other supported account actions.
Renewal certification and CE rules.
Use to confirm specialty-certification requirements, the pre-2002 alternative pathway, documentation retention and audit rules.
Current licensing fee table.
Use before paying APRN application, renewal, late, reinstatement or other Board fees.
Phone, email and Board address.
Use after checking online resources when a licensing, compact, specialty or renewal issue remains unresolved.
Virginia APRN License Verification FAQs
These answers cover the most common Virginia NP/APRN lookup, renewal, RN-license, certification, fee, prescribing and no-result questions.
How do I verify a Virginia nurse practitioner license?
Use Virginia DHP License Lookup. Search by the practitioner’s license number when available or by occupation and name, then open the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse record and confirm the license number, specialty, status and expiration date.
Does Virginia call nurse practitioners APRNs?
Yes. Virginia now uses Advanced Practice Registered Nurse as the umbrella title covering nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists. “VA NP license verification” remains a common search phrase.
Is Virginia DHP License Lookup primary-source verification?
Yes. Virginia DHP states that License Lookup serves as primary-source verification of credentials issued by the Commonwealth and is the official public system for individual license-status checks.
Should I verify the Virginia RN license as well as the APRN license?
Yes when current advanced-practice authority matters. Virginia APRN licensure requires a current Virginia RN license or qualifying multistate RN privilege, so employers and credentialing teams should verify both layers.
How often does a Virginia APRN license renew?
Virginia APRN licensure renews biennially. APRNs with a Virginia RN license renew the APRN license at the same time as the RN license. APRNs practicing through a multistate RN privilege from another compact state follow the APRN birth-month parity schedule in Virginia regulation.
How much is Virginia APRN license renewal?
The current Virginia Board of Nursing fee schedule lists APRN biennial renewal at $80, with an additional $25 late-renewal fee. A Virginia RN license has its own separate renewal fee.
Can every Virginia APRN renew online?
No. The Board says APRNs who have a Virginia RN license can renew online when eligible and after receiving renewal instructions. An APRN whose RN license is issued by another compact state cannot renew the Virginia APRN license online and must provide proof of the valid multistate RN license.
What continuing competency does a Virginia APRN need?
An APRN initially licensed on or after May 8, 2002 generally must maintain current professional certification in the specialty area. APRNs licensed before that date, and certain CNSs with retired certification, may meet the regulation through current certification or at least 40 hours of qualifying specialty continuing education.
Does a Virginia APRN with prescriptive authority need pharmacology CE?
Yes. Virginia regulation requires an APRN with prescriptive authority to obtain eight hours of continuing education in pharmacology or pharmacotherapeutics for each biennium in addition to applicable advanced-practice competency requirements.
What if I cannot find a Virginia APRN in License Lookup?
Confirm that you searched the APRN occupation rather than only RN, try the license number, check spelling and former names, remove unnecessary ZIP or status filters, and use the Board application-status route if the license was recently applied for. Contact the Board if the record still cannot be resolved.
Can Virginia License Lookup show expired APRN records?
Yes. DHP states that License Lookup includes current records and records of licenses that have expired since January 1, 2000. Select the Current Licensees status filter when you want only current, unexpired results.
Is verificationlicense.org the Virginia Board of Nursing?
No. verificationlicense.org is an independent information guide. It does not issue, renew, reinstate, discipline or change Virginia nursing licenses. Final status should be verified through Virginia DHP and the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Ready to Verify a Virginia APRN or Nurse Practitioner?
Start with Virginia DHP License Lookup and confirm the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse record, exact specialty, license number, current status and expiration date. Then verify the related Virginia RN license or qualifying multistate RN privilege when current practice authority matters.
For renewal, remember that the APRN license is biennial, the current APRN renewal fee is $80, specialty certification or other competency rules apply, and APRNs using an out-of-state compact RN privilege have a different renewal route. Use official Board resources for final decisions.