How to Become a Registered Nurse in West Virginia

West Virginia map

Are you ready to start working as a registered nurse in West Virginia?

Start today with these schools that offer advanced training to prepare you for the national certification boards as an RN.

Kickstart your career with the best schools in WV to ensure you have what you need to succeed at this level in nursing.

As a result, you will be rewarded handsomely with a good paycheck.

See more with our frequently asked questions about how to become a registered nurse in West Virginia.

3 Registered Nurse Schools in West Virginia

Marshall University and St. Mary’s Medical Center

Marshall University and St. Mary’s Medical Center Logo

In Huntington, West Virginia, Marshall University joined forces with St. Mary’s Medical Center to train students for a career as registered nurses.

This training is part of the oldest nursing program in the state–established in 1926.

Students receive their degree in two years from Marshall University and the cooperative program includes 73 credit hours.

Once graduated, nursing students are fully prepared to sit for the state boards for licensing at the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses.

Clinical experience is also part of the registered nursing program here at Marshall University.

This school prepares students to be ready to pass the national certification boards for registered nurses.

West Virginia University

West Virginia University Logo

At West Virginia University in Morgantown and Bridgeport campuses in WV, students are able to pursue a registered nursing career in undergraduate and graduate programs.

The program has a 99 percent success rate in passing the NCLEX-RN, which is the national certification board for registered nurses.

In the program, students earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree in the traditional route.

The school also offers a  BS/BA to BSN program, where students can take the NCLEX-RN exam after only the first 18 months of training.

This allows students to certify as registered nurses before they have graduated, allowing them to work in a more professional capacity during clinical practice.

Tuition at the Morgantown campus is $5,868 in total.

West Virginia Junior College

West Virginia Junior College Logo

The West Virginia Junior College has three campuses in WV–Morgantown, Charleston, and Bridgeport.

Decide where you would like to attend college to earn your degree as a registered nurse.

The college offers a program to train registered nurses who wish to work as traveling nurses, psychiatric nurses, or school nurses.

The training takes only 18 months, which is one of the more accelerated programs.

However, that is because this is a junior college, and there are only two-year programs available at this school.

Students are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN exam at the national level once they graduate from the WVJC program for nursing.

Registered Nurse Schools in West Virginia – Summary Table

Top 3 Schools in West Virginia

School NameAddress
Marshall University and St. Mary’s Medical Center2900 1st Ave, Huntington, WV 25702
West Virginia UniversityMorgantown, WV 26506
West Virginia Junior College148 Willey St, Morgantown, WV 26505

Salary

A registered nurse’s salary on average in the US is $66,300 a year.

If you have trained as a registered nurse in West Virginia and have passed the national certification board exam, then you are eligible to earn this amount of money.

Keep in mind, the environment where you work will also determine your salary.

This varies by geographical location, as well as the level of stress or patient load that you are expected to maintain at your job.

Annual Salary Range:
$52K
$58K
$67K

Average Salary of Registered Nurse (RN)s in West Virginia

City NameSalary
Charleston$60,490
Huntington$59,320
Parkersburg$58,970
Wheeling$65,010
Morgantown$65,010
Fairmont$65,010
Beckley$59,960
Martinsburg$73,590
Clarksburg$58,440
Weirton$64,790
* Salary information last updated 2024

Regional Salary in West Virginia

RegionEmployedAvg. Annual SalaryAvg. Hourly PayTop 10% Annual SalaryBottom 10% Annual Salary
Beckley, WV1,190$72,400$34.81$95,120$39,980
Charleston, WV3,740$75,720$36.41$102,760$36,010
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH4,840$78,170$37.58$101,560$56,400
Morgantown, WV4,030$73,870$35.51$86,090$52,580
Parkersburg-Vienna, WV890$73,400$35.29$82,690$58,120
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH1,110$72,560$34.88$85,370$60,840
Wheeling, WV-OH1,340$74,210$35.68$90,310$56,270
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Registered Nurses, OCC Code 29-1141, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fee for obtaining my certification as an RN in WV?

The cost of getting certified as a registered nurse in West Virginia is $200.

This amount must be paid in order for a student in nursing to be eligible to sit for the board exams.

Where can I work as a new registered nurse in West Virginia?

The role of a registered nurse is very important in the medical industry.

As a result, there are openings in all sorts of work environments.

These include hospital settings and emergency rooms, as well as nursing homes, hospice care, and physical therapy offices.

A registered nurse is one of the more advanced medical staff positions in the industry.

It is a level above a licensed practical nurse and has more capacity for providing medical care.

Do I need to recertify my registered nursing license in WV?

Yes, every two years you have to recertify your license as a registered nurse in WV.

This is free of charge thanks to the WV RN Board, which is where you will need to recertify.

Do I have to have a state license to work as a registered nurse in WV?

Yes, you must obtain a state license to be able to work as a registered nurse in West Virginia.

The licensing requirements include passing a state or national certification exam as a registered nurse.

The most popular national exam is the NCLEX-RN and most schools focus on that particular board exam when training students in the field.

What is the state licensing board for registered nurses in West Virginia?

In West Virginia, the state licensing board for registered nurses is the WV RN Board.

Anyone who wants to be employed as a registered nurse in WV must be certified and licensed.

The certification can be by the NCLEX-RN board, but the licensure has to be state mandated.

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