{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3017.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3017.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3017.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3017.html"}],"law_id":85626,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85626,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3017","catch_line":"Qualifications of applicant for registered nurse’s license; examination; graduates of foreign nursing education programs","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 54-346; 1970, c. 116; 1979, c. 5, \u00a7 54-367.13; 1982, c. 598; 1988, c. 765; 2011, c. 390; 2023, c. 579.","full_text":"A\n\nAn applicant for a license to practice professional nursing shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board that such applicant:1\n\nHas completed an approved four-year high school course of study or the equivalent as determined by the appropriate educational agency;2\n\nHas received a diploma or degree from an approved professional nursing education program;3\n\nHas passed a written examination as required by the Board; and4\n\nHas committed no acts which are grounds for disciplinary action as set forth in this chapter.B\n\nThe Board shall consider and may accept relevant practical experience and didactic and clinical components of education and training completed by an applicant for licensure as a registered nurse during his service as a member of any branch of the armed forces of the United States as evidence of the satisfaction of the educational requirements for licensure.C\n\nAn applicant who graduated from a nursing education program in a foreign country shall be required to:1\n\nHave (i) graduated or be eligible to graduate from a licensing board-approved RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program or (ii) graduated from a foreign RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program that has been approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and has been verified by an independent credentials review agency recognized by the Board to be comparable to a U.S. licensing board-approved RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program; and2\n\nHave, if a graduate of a foreign RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program not taught in English or if English is not the individual’s native language, successfully passed an English proficiency examination that includes reading, speaking, writing, and listening components.\n\t\t\t\tThe Board shall identify multiple approved entities to provide language examinations and multiple approved entities to evaluate and verify credentials earned from a nursing education program in a foreign country. The Board shall make the list of approved entities publicly available on its website.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":306699,"text":"An applicant for a license to practice professional nursing shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board that such applicant:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":306700,"text":"Has completed an approved four-year high school course of study or the equivalent as determined by the appropriate educational agency;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":306701,"text":"Has received a diploma or degree from an approved professional nursing education program;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":306702,"text":"Has passed a written examination as required by the Board; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":306703,"text":"Has committed no acts which are grounds for disciplinary action as set forth in this chapter.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":306704,"text":"The Board shall consider and may accept relevant practical experience and didactic and clinical components of education and training completed by an applicant for licensure as a registered nurse during his service as a member of any branch of the armed forces of the United States as evidence of the satisfaction of the educational requirements for licensure.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"C"},"6":{"id":306705,"text":"An applicant who graduated from a nursing education program in a foreign country shall be required to:","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C1"},"7":{"id":306706,"text":"Have (i) graduated or be eligible to graduate from a licensing board-approved RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program or (ii) graduated from a foreign RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program that has been approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and has been verified by an independent credentials review agency recognized by the Board to be comparable to a U.S. licensing board-approved RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program; and","type":"section","prefixes":["C","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"C1","prefix_anchor":"C1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C2"},"8":{"id":306707,"text":"Have, if a graduate of a foreign RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program not taught in English or if English is not the individual’s native language, successfully passed an English proficiency examination that includes reading, speaking, writing, and listening components.\n\t\t\t\tThe Board shall identify multiple approved entities to provide language examinations and multiple approved entities to evaluate and verify credentials earned from a nursing education program in a foreign country. The Board shall make the list of approved entities publicly available on its website.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C1"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16247,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensure of Registered Nurses","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13068,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:11:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:11:08","permalink":{"id":242783,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16247,"identifier":"2","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2","url":"\/54.1\/III\/30\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13068,"edition_id":1,"name":"Nursing","identifier":"30","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:13","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:13","permalink":{"id":242687,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13068,"identifier":"30","token":"54.1\/III\/30","url":"\/54.1\/III\/30\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":73028,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3016","catch_line":"Use of title \"registered nurse\" or \"R.N.\"","url":"\/54.1-3016\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3016","metadata":false},{"id":85031,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3016.1","catch_line":"Correctional health assistants","url":"\/54.1-3016.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3016.1","metadata":false},{"id":85626,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3017","catch_line":"Qualifications of applicant for registered nurse's license; examination; graduates of foreign nursing education programs","url":"\/54.1-3017\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3017","metadata":false},{"id":70384,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3017.1","catch_line":"Registered nurse provisional license","url":"\/54.1-3017.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3017.1","metadata":false},{"id":65602,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3018","catch_line":"Registered nurse's license by endorsement","url":"\/54.1-3018\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3018","metadata":false},{"id":82602,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3018.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3018.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3018.1","metadata":false},{"id":73404,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3018.2","catch_line":"Pediatric sexual assault patient services; requirements","url":"\/54.1-3018.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3018.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":85031,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3016.1","catch_line":"Correctional health assistants","url":"\/54.1-3016.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3016.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":70384,"structure_id":16247,"section_number":"54.1-3017.1","catch_line":"Registered nurse provisional license","url":"\/54.1-3017.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3017.1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3017\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 116; in 1979, chapter 5; in 1982, chapter 598; in 1988, chapter 765; in 2011, chapter 390<\/a>; in 2023, chapter 579<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":242793,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85626,"identifier":"54.1-3017","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3017","url":"\/54.1-3017\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3017\/","token":"54.1\/III\/30\/2\/54.1-3017","dublin_core":{"Title":"Qualifications of applicant for registered nurse’s license; examination; graduates of foreign nursing education programs","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3017","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> An applicant for a license to practice professional nursing shall submit evidence<\/span> satisfactory to the Board<\/span> that such applicant: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Has completed an approved four-year high school course of study or the equivalent as determined by the appropriate educational agency; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Has received a diploma or degree from an approved professional nursing education program; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Has passed a written examination as required by the Board<\/span>; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Has committed no acts which are grounds for disciplinary action as set forth in this chapter. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Board<\/span> shall consider and may accept relevant practical experience and didactic and clinical components of education and training completed by an applicant for licensure as a registered nurse<\/span> during his service as a member of any branch of the armed forces of the United States as evidence<\/span> of the satisfaction of the educational requirements for licensure. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> An applicant who graduated from a nursing education program in a foreign country shall be required to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Have (i) graduated or be eligible to graduate from a licensing board<\/span>-approved RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program or (ii) graduated from a foreign RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program that has been approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and has been verified by an independent credentials review agency recognized by the Board<\/span> to be comparable to a U.S. licensing board<\/span>-approved RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Have, if a graduate of a foreign RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program not taught in English or if English is not the individual’s native language, successfully passed an English proficiency examination that includes reading, speaking, writing, and listening components.\n\t\t\t\tThe Board<\/span> shall identify multiple approved entities to provide language examinations and multiple approved entities to evaluate and verify credentials earned from a nursing education program in a foreign country. The Board<\/span> shall make the list of approved entities publicly available on its website. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nQUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANT FOR REGISTERED NURSE’S LICENSE; EXAMINATION;\nGRADUATES OF FOREIGN NURSING EDUCATION PROGRAMS (\u00a7 54.1-3017)\n\nA. An applicant for a license to practice professional nursing shall submit\nevidence satisfactory to the Board that such applicant:\n\n 1. Has completed an approved four-year high school course of study or the\n equivalent as determined by the appropriate educational agency;\n\n 2. Has received a diploma or degree from an approved professional nursing\n education program;\n\n 3. Has passed a written examination as required by the Board; and\n\n 4. Has committed no acts which are grounds for disciplinary action as set\n forth in this chapter.\n\nB. The Board shall consider and may accept relevant practical experience and\ndidactic and clinical components of education and training completed by an\napplicant for licensure as a registered nurse during his service as a member of\nany branch of the armed forces of the United States as evidence of the\nsatisfaction of the educational requirements for licensure.\n\nC. An applicant who graduated from a nursing education program in a foreign\ncountry shall be required to:\n\n 1. Have (i) graduated or be eligible to graduate from a licensing\n board-approved RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program or (ii) graduated\n from a foreign RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education program that has been\n approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and has\n been verified by an independent credentials review agency recognized by the\n Board to be comparable to a U.S. licensing board-approved RN or LPN\/VN\n prelicensure education program; and\n\n 2. Have, if a graduate of a foreign RN or LPN\/VN prelicensure education\n program not taught in English or if English is not the individual’s\n native language, successfully passed an English proficiency examination that\n includes reading, speaking, writing, and listening components.\n \t\t\t\tThe Board shall identify multiple approved entities to provide language\n examinations and multiple approved entities to evaluate and verify credentials\n earned from a nursing education program in a foreign country. The Board shall\n make the list of approved entities publicly available on its website.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 54-346; 1970, c. 116; 1979, c. 5, \u00a7 54-367.13; 1982, c.\n598; 1988, c. 765; 2011, c. 390; 2023, c. 579.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}