West Virginia RN Continuing Education Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
12 contact hours
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years (expires June 30)
Keep records
4 years (audit rule)
Issued by
WV RN Board
West Virginia keeps the headline number modest: 12 contact hours of continuing education each two-year reporting period to renew an RN license. The hours should reflect your educational needs as a nurse, but there is no long list of rotating mandatory topics for a standard RN license, so most of your hours are yours to direct.
The details that catch people are on the back end - hours do not carry forward, the license expires on a fixed June 30 date, and you are expected to keep your certificates for four years in case of audit. Here is the full picture, in plain English.
The base requirement: 12 contact hours every 2 years
The West Virginia RN Board requires 12 contact hours of continuing education for each two-year reporting period to renew an active RN license. A contact hour equals 50 minutes of instruction, and the contact hour is the official unit of measure in West Virginia.
Your continuing education should reflect your needs as a nurse across broad areas such as professional practice, the biological and behavioral sciences, legal aspects of nursing, and management. The activities must be approved by the Board or an accredited organization such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center, so confirm a course is approved before you pay for it.
No carryover, and keep your certificates
- Excess hours do not roll over. Contact hours earned beyond the 12 required cannot be carried forward to the next reporting period - each cycle stands on its own.
- Retain copies of your certificates or proof of attendance for at least four years, because the Board may request them during an audit.
- You do not submit certificates with a routine renewal, but you must be able to produce them on request.
- Hold the proof in one place - an audit can ask for documentation of courses you completed earlier in the cycle, and reconstructing it after the fact is the hard part.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
West Virginia RN licenses renew every two years, with licenses expiring June 30 of even-numbered years rather than on your birthday. Your exact cycle is shown in your WV RN Board online account. Complete your 12 contact hours before you renew, and keep the certificates for four years in case you are audited.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Enter '12 contact hours by your June deadline' once, and the progress ring shows exactly how many hours are still owed at a glance.
- Snap a photo of each certificate as you finish a course; it is stored privately with the credit it proves, satisfying the 4-year retention rule by default.
- Reminder emails at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your June 30 renewal, with your remaining hours in the subject line - because a fixed date is easy to forget.
- Hold licenses in more than one state? Track West Virginia alongside the others on one dashboard, and export a dated PDF packet - summary plus every certificate - in one click if the Board audits you.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does a West Virginia RN need to renew?
Twelve contact hours of continuing education for each two-year reporting period. A contact hour equals 50 minutes of instruction.
Does West Virginia let you carry over extra CE hours?
No. Contact hours earned beyond the 12 required cannot be carried forward to the next reporting period - each cycle is counted separately.
How long must West Virginia nurses keep CE records?
At least four years. The Board may request your certificates or proof of attendance during an audit, so keep copies even though you do not submit them at renewal.
When do West Virginia RN licenses expire?
On June 30 of even-numbered years, with renewal every two years. The date is fixed rather than tied to your birthday.
Official sources
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
CredTally tracks all of this for you
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
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