Section 80. Qualifications for initial licensure

A. An applicant for initial licensure as a nurse practitioner shall:

1. Hold a current, active license as a registered nurse in Virginia or hold a current multistate licensure privilege as a registered nurse;

2. Submit evidence of a graduate degree in nursing or in the appropriate nurse practitioner specialty from an educational program designed to prepare nurse practitioners that is an approved program as defined in 18VAC90-30-10. Evidence shall include a transcript that shows that the applicant has successfully completed core coursework that prepares the applicant for licensure in the appropriate specialty;

3. Submit evidence of professional certification that is consistent with the specialty area of the applicant's educational preparation issued by an agency accepted by the boards as identified in 18VAC90-30-90;

4. File the required application; and

5. Pay the application fee prescribed in 18VAC90-30-50.

B. Provisional licensure may be granted to an applicant who satisfies all requirements of this section with the exception of subdivision A 3 of this section, provided the board has received evidence of the applicant's eligibility to sit for the certifying examination directly from the national certifying body. An applicant may practice with a provisional license for either six months from the date of issuance or until issuance of a permanent license or until he receives notice that he has failed the certifying examination, whichever occurs first.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR495-02-1 and VR465-07-1 § 2.3, eff. June 22, 1989; amended, Volume 12, Issue 01, eff. November 1, 1995; Volume 15, Issue 07, eff. January 20, 1999; Volume 21, Issue 11, eff. March 9, 2005; Volume 21, Issue 21, eff. July 27, 2005; Volume 22, Issue 26, eff. November 18, 2006; Errata, 24:18 May 12, 2008; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 24, eff. September 3, 2008; Volume 25, Issue 05, eff. December 25, 2008.

Statutory Authority

§ 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.