<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85626</law_id><section_number>54.1-3017</section_number><catch_line>Qualifications of applicant for registered nurse&amp;#8217;s license; examination; graduates of foreign nursing education programs</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="30">Nursing</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Licensure of Registered Nurses</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> An applicant for a license to practice professional nursing shall submit <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> that such applicant: <a id="paragraph-306699" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Has completed an approved four-year high school course of study or the equivalent as determined by the appropriate educational agency; <a id="paragraph-306700" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Has received a diploma or degree from an approved professional nursing education program; <a id="paragraph-306701" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Has passed a written examination as required by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>; and <a id="paragraph-306702" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Has committed no acts which are grounds for disciplinary action as set forth in this chapter. <a id="paragraph-306703" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">registered nurse</span> during his service as a member of any branch of the armed forces of the United States as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the satisfaction of the educational requirements for licensure. <a id="paragraph-306704" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> An applicant who graduated from a nursing education program in a foreign country shall be required to: <a id="paragraph-306705" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Have (i) graduated or be eligible to graduate from a licensing <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">Board</span> to be comparable to a U.S. licensing <span class="dictionary">board</span>-approved RN or LPN/VN prelicensure education program; and <a id="paragraph-306706" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">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&#x2019;s native language, successfully passed an English proficiency examination that includes reading, speaking, writing, and listening components.
				The <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall make the list of approved entities publicly available on its website. <a id="paragraph-306707" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3017/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 54-346; 1970, c. 116; 1979, c. 5, &#xA7; 54-367.13; 1982, c. 598; 1988, c. 765; 2011, c. 390; 2023, c. 579.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
