Out of State Online Nursing Program Guide
Out of State Online Nurisng Program Approval Guidance
Online nursing programs that are seeking to offer classes to students who reside in West Virginia either need to be a member of NC-SARA or obtain approval from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (Commission). To obtain approval from the Commission, programs need to complete a series 20 application form. The form can be secured through the application, please contact Lucy Kefauver at lucy.kefauver@wvhepc.edu or (304)558-0261.
Pre-licensure nursing programs must also gain approval from the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Nurses prior to providing instruction in West Virginia. They should contact the Board at rnboard@wv.gov or 304.744.0900. Post licensure nursing programs are not regulated by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Nurses prior to providing instruction in West Virginia. Any nursing faculty from out of state/online programs is required to have an eNLC RN Multistate license or WV RN Single State RN license if they will be accompanying nursing students to clinical facilities and practicing nursing with patients located in West Virginia.
Faculty from out of state online nursing programs must have licensure if they are in any way participating in the care of patients located in WV. Faculty do not need WV licensure to evaluate student's coursework. For additional questions or guidance about licensure requirements, please contact the Board at rnboard@wv.gov or 304.744.0900
Online nursing programs should follow the guidance below in regard to clinical rotations.
Out of State Online Pre-Licensure Program Clinical Rotations
All prelicensure nursing programs outside of West Virginia (WV) are required to seek approval from the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Nurses (WVRN Board) to complete clinical rotations in the state. To gain approval, schools must complete and return an Out of State School of Nursing Approval application (click here for the application).
Pre-licensure nursing programs out of WV are also required to seek approval from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission if their institution is NOT engaged in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). To see if your institution is a participant, please click here. If your institution is a participant, you do not need to seek WVHEPC approval unless your institution seeks to send 10 or more students to a single site in West Virginia. If your institution is not a participant, you should contact Lucy Kefauver at lucy.kefauver@wvhepc.edu or 304.558.0261.
If any out-of-state school wants to send 10 or more students to complete clinical rotations at a single site in WV at the same time, they must seek approval from both the WVRN Board and the WV HEPC. The WVRN Board requires that an Out of State School of Nursing Approval application is completed (click here for the application) and you should contact Lucy Kefauver at lucy.kefauver@wvhepc.edu or 304.558.0261.
Out of State Online Graduate Nursing Program Clinical Rotations
APRN and graduate nursing programs outside of WV are required to seek approval to complete clinical rotations in the state from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission if their institution is not engaged in NC-SARA. To see if your institution is a participant, please click here. If your institution is a participant, you do not need to seek WVHEPC approval unless your institution seeks to send 10 or more students to a single site in West Virginia. If your institution is not a participant, you should contact Nikki Bryant at nikki.bryant@wvhepc.edu or 304.558.0261 extension 290.
APRN and graduate nursing students enrolled in nursing programs outside of WV are not required to seek approval from the WV RN Board to complete clinical rotations in the state.
All APRN and graduate students who wish to complete clinical rotations in WV must have a valid WV RN license if the student’s primary state of residence (PSOR) is in WV or eNLC RN multistate compact license if the student’s PSOR is outside of WV. All WV licensing applications are available in the nursing portal found here.