Verify a Virginia LPN License Without Confusing LPN, LVN or CNA Records
Use this guide to verify a Virginia Licensed Practical Nurse through the official Virginia Department of Health Professions or Nursys, confirm current status and expiration, check compact practice authority, and find the correct renewal or reinstatement route.
Virginia officially uses the title Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). “LVN” is a common search term used in some other states, but Virginia does not issue a separate LVN credential.
Quick Answer: How to Verify a Virginia LPN License
For a fast public check, open Virginia DHP License Lookup and search by license number when you have it. If you only know the nurse’s name, use the supported occupation and name filters to locate the Licensed Practical Nurse record.
The Virginia Board of Nursing also directs RN/LPN verification users to Nursys. DHP License Lookup works well for a direct Virginia credential check, while Nursys is especially useful when nursing-jurisdiction or multistate-license information matters.
DHP License Lookup
Virginia DHP identifies its License Lookup as primary-source verification of credentials issued by the Commonwealth. Use the individual record rather than a private directory or search snippet.
Nursys
The Virginia Board of Nursing provides a specific RN/LPN verification route through Nursys. This is particularly useful for nursing-license and compact-related checks.
CNA is not LPN
A Virginia Certified Nurse Aide is a separate Board of Nursing credential. Do not treat a CNA certification record as proof of practical-nurse licensure.
If the task is employment, credentialing or public verification, match the full name, exact LPN credential, license number, status and expiration rather than relying on a name match alone.
Virginia LPN vs LVN: Use the Correct License Name
If you searched for “Virginia LVN license verification,” use the same practical-nurse resources described on this page but look for the Virginia title Licensed Practical Nurse.
Choose the Right Virginia LPN Verification Route
“License verification” may mean a public status check, compact check, endorsement verification, renewal, applicant-status review or employer documentation. Choose the route that matches the task.
Verify a Virginia LPN
Start with DHP License Lookup. Confirm the name, LPN occupation, license number, status and expiration before relying on the record.
Check Nursys
Use Nursys when nursing-jurisdiction details, multistate authority or license verification for another board are part of the task.
Renew or update
Use DHP Online Licensing for renewal and other licensee account functions. Confirm the public record again after the transaction has been processed.
Check an application
A pending application is not an issued license. Online LPN applicants should use the Initial Applications checklist until the Board issues the credential.
Reactivate or reinstate
Inactive and lapsed licenses have different requirements. Do not assume an ordinary renewal transaction restores authority to practice.
Check the exact nursing role
Use the Virginia CNA verification guide when the credential is Certified Nurse Aide rather than LPN.
Virginia LPN License Lookup: Step-by-Step
A reliable verification requires more than finding a matching surname. Follow these steps before hiring, scheduling, credentialing or relying on a Virginia practical-nurse license.
Open the official Virginia DHP License Lookup
Start with the public lookup linked by Virginia DHP and the Board of Nursing rather than a private people-search or license-directory page.
Search by license number when available
A license-number search is the strongest way to reduce similar-name errors. Use the number from the credentialing file or directly from the nurse when available.
Use occupation and name filters when needed
If you do not have the license number, search using the supported occupation and name fields. Make sure the profession is Licensed Practical Nurse rather than RN, CNA or another health profession.
Open the matching individual record
Compare the full legal name, license number, profession, licensure status, initial date and expiration information shown by the official service.
Confirm current authority rather than historical licensure
A person may have held a Virginia license previously without having current authority to practice. Read the status and expiration fields together.
Check Nursys when compact information matters
For cross-state nursing practice, endorsement or multistate-license review, follow the Virginia Board of Nursing’s RN/LPN Nursys route.
Save dated verification information
For an employer or credentialing file, record the official source, date checked, nurse’s name, license number, credential, status, expiration and multistate information when relevant.
Virginia LPN License Status: How to Read the Result
Finding a name is not the same as proving current authority to practice. Read the credential, status and expiration together and review compact or disciplinary information when the decision requires it.
| Result or situation | What it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Current / unexpired | The Virginia LPN credential appears current for the period shown. | Match the license number and expiration. Check Nursys when multistate authority matters. |
| Expired / lapsed | The license was not maintained through the required renewal period. | Do not rely on an old license card or previous active status. Review the applicable reinstatement route. |
| Inactive | The licensee has inactive rather than active practice status. | Do not treat inactive status as authority to practice nursing. Follow the Board’s reactivation requirements. |
| Multistate license / privilege | The nurse may have authority through the Nurse Licensure Compact based on the qualifying home-state license. | Confirm the primary state of residence, home-state license and state where practice occurs. |
| Disciplinary concern | A Board order or other public action may affect the nurse’s authority or conditions of practice. | Review the official Virginia Board of Nursing case-decision resources and applicable Nursys information. |
| No result | You may have the wrong credential, name, jurisdiction or application stage. | Work through the troubleshooting section before drawing a conclusion. |
A paper license, resume, employee profile, private directory entry or old screenshot does not replace a current official verification.
Virginia LPN Compact License and Primary State of Residence
Virginia participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact. The NLC can allow a qualifying LPN who holds a multistate license in the nurse’s primary state of residence to practice in other compact jurisdictions without obtaining a separate nursing license in each one.
The home state controls the multistate license
The compact ties multistate licensure to the nurse’s primary state of residence. Proof of residency may be required when Virginia is claimed as the primary state.
Check the home-state license
If another compact state is the nurse’s primary state of residence, the nurse generally relies on the qualifying multistate license from that home state rather than holding a second multistate license from Virginia.
Follow the patient-location rules
Virginia’s NLC guidance says the nurse must comply with the nursing laws of the state where the patient is located when the care is provided, including electronic nursing practice.
If the nurse works across state lines or provides remote care, use Nursys and current NLC guidance rather than assuming a Virginia address proves the applicable multistate authority.
Virginia LPN Renewal: Timing, Fees and Online Route
Virginia LPN licenses renew biennially. The renewal year follows the licensee’s birth year, with renewal due by the last day of the birth month in the applicable even- or odd-numbered year.
| Virginia LPN item | Current amount or rule | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Active LPN renewal | $120 biennially | Use DHP Online Licensing and complete applicable competency requirements. |
| Late active renewal | Additional $40 | A lapsed license should not be treated as current authority simply because a late payment is planned. |
| Inactive LPN renewal | $60 biennially | Inactive status does not authorize active nursing practice. |
| Late inactive renewal | Additional $20 | Review reactivation requirements before returning to nursing practice. |
| LPN reinstatement | $200 | Additional evidence can apply depending on the length and circumstances of the lapse. |
| After suspension or revocation | $300 reinstatement fee | The applicable Board order and disciplinary requirements still control. |
| Nursys verification to another state | $30 according to current Board FAQ | Use formal Nursys verification when the receiving board requires it. |
Renew in an even-numbered year
An LPN born in an even-numbered year renews by the last day of the birth month in an even-numbered year.
Renew in an odd-numbered year
An LPN born in an odd-numbered year renews by the last day of the birth month in an odd-numbered year.
Virginia regulations provide for a renewal notice, but failure to receive the notice does not remove the licensee’s responsibility to renew by the expiration date.
What to Have Ready Before Renewing a Virginia LPN License
Prepare your account and professional information before the deadline so a login, identity or continuing-competency issue does not become a last-minute problem.
Have these details ready
- Your Virginia LPN license number.
- Your DHP Online Licensing account credentials.
- A supported payment method for the renewal fee.
- Your current address and contact information.
- Records supporting the continued-competency option you are using.
- Your primary state of residence information when NLC status applies.
Use only official DHP systems
- Do not enter Social Security information on unofficial license-directory sites.
- Do not rely on an unsolicited renewal-payment link.
- Confirm that the page belongs to Virginia DHP before paying.
- Do not assume a payment receipt alone proves that the public record has updated.
Keep your transaction confirmation and recheck DHP License Lookup after processing so your credentialing records match the official public status and expiration.
Virginia LPN Continuing Competency for Renewal
To renew an active Virginia nursing license, an LPN must satisfy at least one approved continued-competency option unless an applicable exemption applies. Virginia does not require every LPN to use the same CE-hour formula.
15 contact hours + 640 practice hours
One permitted route is 15 contact hours of qualifying nursing education plus 640 hours of active nursing practice during the applicable period.
30 contact hours
Another option is 30 contact hours of qualifying workshops, seminars, conferences or courses relevant to nursing practice.
Virginia allows alternatives
Other permitted choices include current specialty certification, qualifying post-licensure academic education, a Board-approved refresher course, nursing research, publication and certain teaching activities.
The continuing-competency rule exempts the first renewal following initial nursing licensure by examination or endorsement.
The Board may grant a good-cause extension of up to one year when the licensee makes a written request 60 days before renewal. The regulations also allow exemptions in certain circumstances beyond the licensee’s control.
Inactive, Lapsed or Reinstated Virginia LPN License
Inactive and lapsed status are not interchangeable. The right process depends on whether the nurse deliberately selected inactive status, missed renewal, remained lapsed for an extended period or is subject to disciplinary action.
| Situation | What it means | Next action |
|---|---|---|
| Inactive license | The license is being maintained in inactive rather than active status. | Do not practice nursing under inactive status. Use the Board’s inactive-to-active route before returning to work. |
| Recently lapsed | The renewal deadline passed and the credential is no longer current. | Follow the applicable late-renewal or reinstatement instructions and meet competency requirements before practicing. |
| Longer lapse | Additional reinstatement documentation can be required. | Use the current RN/LPN reinstatement instructions rather than ordinary renewal. |
| Suspended or revoked | A disciplinary order controls the license status and conditions for possible reinstatement. | Review the official Board order and disciplinary reinstatement process. |
Applied for a Virginia LPN License but No Record Appears Yet?
A pending application and an issued license are different. Online applicants should use the Virginia Initial Applications checklist while the file is under review and use License Lookup to confirm when the license has actually been issued.
Check the application checklist
Virginia Board of Nursing allows online LPN applicants to return to the Initial Applications system to review checklist items, status and additional instructions.
Allow the official review period
The Board states that complete, fully documented applications meeting minimum regulatory requirements are processed within 30 business days, or about six weeks, from receipt of the application and fee.
Check License Lookup
If an online application no longer appears in the pending-license area, the Board advises checking Online Licensing or License Lookup because the credential may have been issued.
The Board says incomplete applications are retained for one year from submission. After that period, a new application and fee may be required.
Moving to Virginia or Applying by LPN Endorsement
Endorsement is an application process, not the same thing as checking a license. It is generally for a nurse already licensed by examination in another U.S. jurisdiction who needs Virginia authority under the applicable licensing and compact rules.
Common items to prepare
- The current Virginia LPN endorsement instructions.
- Verification of original licensure when required.
- The Virginia-required criminal background check.
- Proof of primary state of residence.
- Name-change documentation when records use different legal names.
Primary residence may change the application route
If the applicant’s primary state of residence is another compact state, Virginia directs the nurse to apply for licensure in that primary state rather than automatically applying for a duplicate multistate Virginia license.
Review the current NLC and endorsement instructions before submitting a nonrefundable fee.
The Virginia Board of Nursing lists the LPN application fee for licensure by examination or endorsement as $170. Confirm the current instructions and jurisdiction before paying.
Virginia LPN Employer and Credentialing Checklist
Hospitals, long-term-care facilities, home-health agencies, staffing firms, schools and other employers should document the official verification rather than saving only an undated screenshot.
Credentialing record
- Official source used: Virginia DHP and/or Nursys.
- Date the record was checked.
- Nurse’s full legal name.
- Virginia LPN license number.
- Credential type: Licensed Practical Nurse.
- Current status and expiration date.
- Single-state or multistate information when relevant.
- Applicable public Board actions reviewed when required.
Weak verification evidence
- Resume or job application.
- Old wall certificate or pocket card.
- Uniform badge or employee profile.
- Private directory result.
- Undated screenshot.
- NCLEX result before license issuance.
- CNA certification when an LPN license is required.
Virginia DHP identifies License Lookup as primary-source verification of credentials issued by the Commonwealth, making it the correct starting point for an ordinary Virginia status check.
No Virginia LPN Result Found? Troubleshoot Before Making a Decision
A missing search result can come from the profession selected, legal name, application stage, compact status or issuing jurisdiction. Check these possibilities before assuming the person has never held a practical-nurse license.
Search LPN, not a separate Virginia LVN category
Virginia uses Licensed Practical Nurse. Return to the LPN or practical-nursing route if you were looking only for “LVN.”
Try the legal or former name
Marriage, divorce, hyphenation or another legal name change can complicate a name-only search. Use the license number whenever possible.
Check CNA, RN or another profession
A person working in healthcare may hold a different credential. Verify the exact role required for the job or service.
Use the applicant checklist
A submitted examination or endorsement application does not automatically appear as an issued license. Use the application-status system until issuance.
Check the primary-state license
A nurse practicing in Virginia under multistate privilege may hold the qualifying multistate license in another compact primary state of residence.
Contact the Board after checking official systems
Have the nurse’s full name, license number if known, credential and the result of your DHP or Nursys search ready so Board staff can direct you efficiently.
Public verification normally does not require you to send a nurse’s Social Security number through email, chat or a third-party lookup site. Use official DHP systems for sensitive application or account information.
Virginia Board of Nursing Contact and License Help
Use the Board contact route after checking the relevant public lookup and online instructions. This helps distinguish a verification problem from an application, renewal or technical-support problem.
Virginia Board of Nursing
Perimeter Center9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300
Henrico, VA 23233-1463
Nursing Call Center: 804-367-4515
General Board email: nursebd@dhp.virginia.gov
Use the correct help route
For licensing questions, contact the Board of Nursing. For an ordinary license-status check, use DHP License Lookup first. For RN/LPN nursing verification through the national nursing system, use Nursys.
“I am trying to verify or restore a Virginia Licensed Practical Nurse license. I checked DHP License Lookup and have the nurse’s full name, license number if available, current status shown and the task I need to complete. Which Board route applies next?”
Official Virginia LPN Verification and Renewal Resources
These official resources are grouped by task so you can open the service that matches verification, renewal, competency, compact or application needs.
Official primary-source public credential verification.
Use for direct Virginia license-status and credential checks.
Official nursing verification route selector.
Use to choose the appropriate RN/LPN or Virginia Board credential verification service.
Nursing license and privilege verification.
Use when nursing jurisdiction, compact authority or verification to another board matters.
Virginia professional-license renewal guidance.
Use before renewal if you need the official online process or account guidance.
Current nursing fee schedule.
Check active, inactive, late, reinstatement and LPN application fees before paying.
Official renewal competency options.
Use to choose a qualifying competency route and confirm exemptions or extension provisions.
Primary-state and multistate-practice guidance.
Use when the LPN works across state lines, remotely or after changing primary residence.
Exam, endorsement and reinstatement guidance.
Use when applying for or restoring a Virginia LPN license rather than simply verifying an existing credential.
Virginia LPN / LVN License Verification FAQs
How do I verify a Virginia LPN license online?
Open Virginia DHP License Lookup and search by license number when available. You can also use supported profession and name filters, then open the matching Licensed Practical Nurse record and confirm its status and expiration.
Does Virginia use LPN or LVN?
Virginia licenses practical nurses as Licensed Practical Nurses, or LPNs. LVN is terminology used in some other jurisdictions rather than a separate Virginia license category.
Is Virginia DHP License Lookup a primary-source verification?
Yes. Virginia DHP states that its License Lookup is a primary-source verification service for credentials issued by the Commonwealth.
Should I use DHP or Nursys to verify a Virginia LPN?
DHP License Lookup is appropriate for direct Virginia credential verification. The Virginia Board of Nursing also provides Nursys for RN/LPN verification, particularly when nursing jurisdiction or multistate information matters.
How much does a Virginia LPN license cost to renew?
The current Virginia Board of Nursing fee schedule lists active LPN renewal at $120 biennially. Late active renewal adds $40.
When does a Virginia LPN license renew?
Virginia uses a biennial birth-year schedule. A nurse born in an even-numbered year renews by the last day of the birth month in an even-numbered year, while a nurse born in an odd-numbered year renews in the corresponding odd-numbered year.
What continuing competency does a Virginia LPN need?
An active LPN must satisfy at least one approved Virginia continued-competency option. Options include 15 contact hours plus 640 active practice hours, 30 contact hours and several qualifying certification, education, research, publication or teaching routes.
Is the first Virginia LPN renewal exempt from continuing competency?
Yes. Virginia regulations exempt the first renewal after initial nursing licensure by examination or endorsement from the continued-competency requirement.
Can an inactive Virginia LPN work as a nurse?
Inactive status should not be treated as current authority to practice. The nurse must follow the Board’s reactivation requirements before returning to active nursing practice.
Does Virginia participate in the Nurse Licensure Compact?
Yes. Virginia participates in the NLC for qualifying RNs and LPNs. Multistate authority depends on primary state of residence and the compact requirements.
Why is a Virginia LPN not appearing in License Lookup?
Check whether you searched the correct LPN credential, verify the legal or former name, try the license number, consider whether the person holds a different credential, use Nursys for compact situations and check the applicant portal if licensure is still pending.
Is Virginia CNA verification the same as Virginia LPN verification?
No. Certified Nurse Aide and Licensed Practical Nurse are different Virginia Board of Nursing credentials. Verify the specific credential required for the task.
Is verificationlicense.org the Virginia Board of Nursing?
No. verificationlicense.org is an independent informational website. It does not issue, renew, reinstate, discipline or change Virginia nursing licenses. Official status comes from Virginia DHP, the Virginia Board of Nursing and applicable official nursing systems.
Ready to Verify a Virginia LPN?
Start with Virginia DHP License Lookup, match the exact Licensed Practical Nurse record and review current status and expiration. Use Nursys when multistate authority, another nursing jurisdiction or formal nursing verification matters.
If the license is inactive, lapsed, pending or due for renewal, use the corresponding Virginia Board or DHP process rather than relying on an old credential, private directory or previous search result.