West Virginia Nursing CE Requirements for RNs, LPNs, CNAs & HHAs
West Virginia has different continuing education requirements for RNs and LPNs, so each license type should be reviewed separately. RNs generally complete 12 contact hours during each two-year renewal cycle, while LPNs have a broader continuing competency structure that includes more CE hours, practice requirements, and specific mandated topics. This page also covers West Virginia CNA registry requirements and home health aide training and annual in-service requirements.
C-E-U.com can support West Virginia nurses with qualifying online continuing education. Because West Virginia recognizes continuing education from approved nursing education sources, C-E-U.com’s Florida Board of Nursing provider status, Provider #50-47308, is relevant to the general CE requirements.
West Virginia Nursing Continuing Education Requirements at a Glance
| RN | LPN | CNA | HHA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General CE Requirement | 12 contact hours | 24 contact hours | None; registry maintained by paid employment | None; 12 hours per year in-service (federal) |
| Renewal / Reporting Period | Every 2 years | Every 2 years | Every 2 years | 12-month in-service cycle |
| Practice Requirement | No separate general practice-hour requirement | 400 hours of practical nursing practice | 8 hours paid nurse aide work per 2-year period | Employment documented by the home health agency |
| Newly Licensed Requirement | 3 hours safe prescribing and drug diversion | One-time 2 hours end-of-life care and pain management | State-approved training program plus competency exam | 75-hour training with 16 practical hours plus competency evaluation |
| Substance Abuse / Drug Diversion | 3 hours for newly licensed RNs as part of initial requirement | 3 hours each reporting period | Not required | Not required |
| Veterans / Mental Health | Not generally required | 2 hours related to veterans, mental health, and needs of veterans and families | Not required | Not required |
| Governing Body | West Virginia RN Board | West Virginia LPN Board | WV Nurse Aide Registry (OHFLAC) | CMS / employing home health agency |
| CE Broker | ✓ | No routine CE Broker reporting requirement | Not applicable | Not applicable |
West Virginia RN Continuing Education
West Virginia RNs must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle. Newly licensed West Virginia RNs also have an additional requirement to complete 3 contact hours related to safe prescribing and drug diversion within one year of initial licensure.
C-E-U.com can support West Virginia RNs with qualifying online nursing continuing education toward the general 12-hour requirement. C-E-U.com should only represent a course as satisfying the newly licensed RN safe-prescribing and drug-diversion requirement if the course has been specifically developed to meet that targeted content.
West Virginia RN Continuing Education — 12 Contact Hours
West Virginia RNs must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle.
Safe Prescribing and Drug Diversion — 3 Hours
Newly licensed West Virginia RNs must complete 3 contact hours related to safe prescribing and drug diversion within the applicable initial licensure period.
West Virginia LPN Continuing Education
West Virginia LPNs have a more extensive continuing competency requirement than RNs. LPNs must complete continuing education, maintain practice hours, and complete specific required topic areas during the renewal period.
LPN Continuing Education — 24 Contact Hours
West Virginia LPNs must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year reporting period.
Practical Nursing Practice — 400 Hours
West Virginia LPNs must also document at least 400 hours of practical nursing practice during the applicable reporting period.
This practice requirement is separate from the continuing education requirement.
Veterans, Mental Health, and Family Needs — 2 Hours
West Virginia LPNs must complete 2 hours of continuing education related to veterans, mental health, and the needs of veterans and their families.
Substance Abuse and Drug Diversion — 3 Hours
West Virginia LPNs must complete 3 hours of continuing education related to substance abuse and drug diversion during the reporting period.
End-of-Life Care and Pain Management — 2 Hours
Newly licensed West Virginia LPNs must complete a one-time 2-hour course in end-of-life care with pain management.
West Virginia CNA Requirements
West Virginia CNAs are listed on the state Nurse Aide Registry, administered by the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC). Certification runs in two-year periods and is maintained through employment rather than continuing education: aides must work at least eight hours of paid nurse aide employment in an approved facility during each two-year certification period. West Virginia does not require CE hours for registry renewal.
A certification that has lapsed within the previous five years can generally be restored with a 16-hour refresher course followed by the competency exam, rather than repeating the full training program. Separately, CNAs employed in Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing facilities must receive at least 12 hours of in-service education each year under federal rules (42 CFR §483.95(g)).
West Virginia CNA In-Service and Skills Training
C-E-U.com offers self-paced online courses West Virginia CNAs can use toward facility-required annual in-service education and employer training — including dementia and Alzheimer’s care, infection prevention, communication, documentation, resident safety, and professionalism. Certificates download immediately and include verification details your employer can confirm online.
Because West Virginia does not require CE for registry renewal, these courses support employer and facility requirements — confirm with your employer or facility educator that a course fits its in-service plan before enrolling.
West Virginia Home Health Aide (HHA) Requirements
Home health aides working for Medicare-certified home health agencies in West Virginia must meet the federal training standard: at least 75 hours of training, including a minimum of 16 hours of supervised practical training, plus a competency evaluation (42 CFR §484.80). West Virginia does not add a separate state CE-hour requirement on top of the federal standard for agency-employed home health aides.
After certification, federal rules require at least 12 hours of in-service training during each 12-month period, supervised by a registered nurse and documented by the employing agency.
West Virginia Home Health Aide In-Service Training
C-E-U.com offers online courses home health aides and their agencies can use toward the 12-hour annual in-service requirement — including Alzheimer’s and dementia care, infection prevention, safe transfers and mobility, communication, documentation, and home-care safety. Certificates download immediately with verification details agencies can confirm online.
Agencies remain responsible for RN supervision of in-service training and for competency documentation, so confirm with your agency that a course fits its in-service plan before enrolling.
West Virginia Nursing Continuing Education References and Resources
West Virginia RN Board — Official source for West Virginia RN licensure, renewal, continuing education, CE Broker reporting, and Board guidance.
West Virginia RN Continuing Education — Details the 12-hour RN CE requirement, the newly licensed RN safe-prescribing and drug-diversion requirement, approved provider sources, and CE Broker tracking.
West Virginia RN Renewals — Current RN renewal schedule, deadlines, and license-renewal information.
West Virginia RN CE Provider Information — Provider standards, applications, and CE Broker reporting information.
West Virginia LPN Board — Official source for West Virginia LPN licensing, continuing competence, renewal, and regulatory information.
West Virginia LPN Licensure Requirements — Summarizes the 24-hour CE requirement, 400-hour practice requirement, required veterans/mental-health education, substance abuse or drug-diversion education, and the one-time end-of-life/pain-management requirement.
West Virginia LPN Continuing Competence Rule — Official rule establishing the 24 contact hours and 400 practice hours required during the two-year reporting period.
West Virginia LPN Continuing Education Audit Guidance — Practical guidance on required CE topics, audit documentation, and certificate retention.
West Virginia LPN License Lookup — Official license-verification tool for West Virginia LPNs.
West Virginia Nurse Aide Program (OHFLAC) — Official state source for West Virginia nurse aide registry listing, the two-year certification period, the eight-hour employment requirement, and refresher-course reinstatement.
42 CFR §483.95 — Training Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities — Federal rule requiring at least 12 hours of annual in-service education for nurse aides in Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing facilities.
42 CFR §484.80 — Home Health Aide Services — Federal rule setting the 75-hour home health aide training standard, competency evaluation, and 12-hour annual in-service requirement for Medicare-certified home health agencies.
Frequently Asked Questions: West Virginia Nursing Continuing Education
West Virginia RNs generally must complete 12 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year renewal cycle.
West Virginia LPNs must complete 24 contact hours of continuing education during each two-year reporting period and also document at least 400 hours of practical nursing practice.
Yes. West Virginia recognizes continuing education from approved nursing education sources, including other state Boards of Nursing. C-E-U.com is a Florida Board of Nursing continuing education provider, Provider #50-47308.
Yes. Newly licensed RNs must complete 3 contact hours related to safe prescribing and drug diversion within the applicable initial licensure period.
Yes. LPNs must complete 2 hours related to veterans, mental health, and the needs of veterans and their families, plus 3 hours related to substance abuse or drug diversion. Newly licensed LPNs also have a one-time 2-hour end-of-life care and pain management requirement.
Yes. West Virginia uses CE Broker for RN continuing education reporting and tracking.
No. West Virginia nurse aide certification is maintained through employment, not CE hours: you must work at least eight hours of paid nurse aide employment in an approved facility during each two-year certification period. A certification lapsed within the previous five years can usually be restored with a 16-hour refresher course and the competency exam. CNAs working in Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing facilities still receive at least 12 hours of in-service education each year under federal rules — a facility requirement C-E-U.com courses can support.
Home health aides working for Medicare-certified agencies in West Virginia must complete at least 75 hours of training, including a minimum of 16 hours of supervised practical training, and pass a competency evaluation (42 CFR §484.80). After certification, federal rules require at least 12 hours of RN-supervised in-service training during each 12-month period, documented by the agency. C-E-U.com’s online courses can support those annual hours — confirm topic selections with your agency.
Start Your Continuing Education Today!
Complete online continuing education and training at your own pace. Access practical courses, downloadable certificates, and eligible CE Broker reporting for one year.