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If you violate any laws or state regulations related to medical or nursing practice, your license may be suspended or revoked. Your license may also be suspended or revoked if it is proven that you:  Told people you were a doctor Exceeded your authority as an NP Have become unable to practice due to mental illness or excessive use of drugs or alcohol Violated laws or regulations specifically relating to the possession, use, or distribution of drugs Virginia requires licensed nurses to update their education continuously while practicing. You have several different options to meet this requirement:  Current and active specialization certification by a national certifying organization (each will have its own continuing education requirements) Completion of at least 3 credit hours of nursing-related education from an accredited college or university A board-approved refresher course in nursing Nursing-related, evidence-based project or research study Publication as the author or co-author of a nursing-related, evidence-based article or study Teaching a nursing-related course offered for at least 3 credit hours Up to 30 contact hours teaching or developing nursing-related continuing education courses 15 contact hours of nursing-related workshops, seminars, and the like plus at least 640 hours of active practice as a nurse 30 contact hours of nursing-related workshops, seminars, and the like Both your RN license and your NP license must be renewed every 2 years. If you have prescriptive authority, you can also renew that at the same time. All nurses in Virginia renew their licenses during the month of their birthday. The entire process can be completed online.  Since you had to apply for your initial license online, you already have a user name and password for the Department of Health Professions Online Licensing website. Just go to https://www.license.dhp.virginia.gov/license/ to renew your licenses. If you were born in an even-numbered year, you'll renew your license on even-numbered years, regardless of the year it was initially issued. If you were born in an odd-numbered year, you'll renew your license on odd-numbered years. NPs in Virginia may be able to apply for prescriptive authority after working 2 years as an NP. During those 2 years, you must work at least 1,000 hours and complete at least 15 credits of continuing education in pharmacology. To be eligible for prescriptive authority, you also must show that you studied pharmacology or pharmatherapeutics during your graduate nursing studies. You also need at least 30 contact hours in pharmacology education. Once you have 5 years of full-time clinical experience under the direct supervision of a physician, you can apply to practice autonomously. This license would allow you to practice as an NP without being supervised by a physician. You can download the autonomous practice license application at https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/media/dhpweb/docs/nursing/forms/NP_AutonomousPractice,.pdf.

Summary:
Follow the state regulations governing nurse practitioner practice. Demonstrate compliance with Virginia continuing education requirements. Renew your licenses every 2 years. Complete a separate application for prescriptive authority after 2 years. Apply for an autonomous practice license after 5 years if desired.