RN Programs in West Virginia – Schools, Salary, and License Info

Being a highly populated state, and of a large area, West Virginia has so much to offer.

Depending on what you look for, it will give you.

If you are looking for an education, you’re in the right place.

But if you’re looking for both education and career in Registered Nursing, welcome to the state!

You might have heard very little about West Virginia.

You may have heard it in news, in social media, or anywhere else.

But it’s enough a click in Google, and here you have all that you need to know about this profession.

However, if you don’t find exactly what you need, don’t be discouraged.

Take a look at this article and learn how to become an RN in the state in a few steps.

RN School Choice

The most important things first.

The school.

The school you choose to follow a nursing career has a huge influence on your professional development.

Prior to registering one, you have to check if one offers licensure or not.

One way to find it out is through NCLEX-RN exam passing rates.

The present and historical student passing rates will give you a huge reason to continue with the school.

In terms of these passing rates, I have reviewed the 26 RN programs in West Virginia.

From this analysis, ten of them are top-rated in the field.

Generally speaking, the programs that offer an Associate Degree in Nursing.

Better said, the programs I will be telling you about in this article, which include an ADN, ASN, BSN, or MSN degree.

With this number of programs in the state, you will surely find jobs in the field too.

The state boasts with 30 hospitals that are equipped with 6,000 beds.

As such, even the need for nurses is present.

Registered Nurses, in particular, are highly needed and have a good standing in West Virginia.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that.

In addition, you will also find 107 Health Profession Shortage Areas in the state.

Their shortage is clearly seen in dental, mental health, or primary medical care.

With so many areas of extended areas of the field, chances to practice Registered Nursing in the state are many.

The salary is also satisfactory, with $61,780 in a year.

As such, both advanced nursing degrees are available as well as opportunities to earn more in the field.

Where are aspiring nurses?

If you’re up to this profession, check the RN bridge programs in the state as well:

• RN to BSN Programs in West Virginia
• RN to MSN Programs in West Virginia

ADN Programs in West Virginia

In the variety of nursing degrees, an ADN degree is the shortest and most popular one.

In two years’ time, you can complete this program and work at the same time.

You can get this type of education in more than 10 schools if that is your concern.

Technical and junior colleges are the right institutions to go for it.

Though you can find an ADN degree in universities around the state as well.

So basically, opportunities are waiting, you only need to grab them soon.

What to Look For in an ADN Program in West Virginia

The key to a successful nursing program is finding the right one.

The right ADN program for you so far is the one that meets your criteria the most.

But do you know your criteria yet?

Let me teach you some good ones.

Accreditation

Have you heard about accreditation?

I am joking, of course, you have.

It’s the first most important criteria to look for in a school.

If it is set well, the entire ADN program you pursue will go the same.

It ensures legitimacy.

The best way to find accredited schools is to search for them.

In West Virginia, you will find three organizations doing this practice on a regular basis.

The first accrediting organization there is the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.

The second is the local one The West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.

While the third is the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Professional Nurses.

Licensing

There are some things in life it’s okay to be unsure, but licensing isn’t one of them.

The NXLEC exam is one proof of why it should be otherwise.

Registering it is crucial to get the license and become an RN soon.

The exam has a history since 2015 in West Virginia.

A percentage of 86,7% of nurses who graduated took this exam and the license along with it.

Program Outcomes

ADN program outcomes in West Virginia have a significant role in drawing students.

But as an aspiring student, you have to keep an eye is a few indications they make public.

These include:

• Graduation rate
• Licensure exam pass rate
• Graduate satisfaction
• Employment rate

An example of the school in the state is the Fairmont State University in Fairmont.

It’s the school where an accredited ADN is available.

ADN Program Admission Requirements in West Virginia

ADN programs have their own set of requirements to admit students.

It’s their working practice through which they perform.

Some of the crucial ones include:

• Make sure you meet the general admission requirements of the school you apply in
• Reach the minimum overall GPA (most of the times a 2.0 or higher GPA)
• Must submit ACT, SAT or COMPASS scores
• Completing the Test of Essential Academic Skills  is a must (TEAS)
• Pass the Admission test with a proficient or higher score
• Send a completed health form
• Pass a criminal background check

Tuition and Costs of ADN Programs in West Virginia

An ADN program starts with tuition, but the cost does not end with it.

You have to pay for other additional fees as well.

They usually include fees, uniforms, textbooks, and similar.

These are separate fees.

Of course, tuition differs from school to school.

But in the Saint Mary’s School of Nursing through Marshall University in Huntington, you will find tuition of $13,000.

This tuition cost is special for students who live in the state.

Additional pay comes right away attached.

And congratulations!

You have pursued an accredited ADN program in West Virginia.

Advantages of ADN Programs

The shorter the degree, the better the advantages that pursue it.

One important one is program shortage.

It helps you finish things faster.

The other advantage is the affordability of the ADN program, and the opportunity to access it easily.

How cannot it be so when flexible schedules are the best feature of the ADN program in technical and community colleges!

As such, you can both work and study at your comfort.

LPN to RN Programs in West Virginia

If it were not for the transition RN programs, I would think nursing limited in West Virginia.

But having the chance to jump from LPN to an RN degree is a privilege.

This transition can be an accelerated program.

However, they are always faster than traditional ones.

The beauty of these programs is that they offer students the right amount of credits since they have already completed nursing courses in an LPN Program prior to the RN.

LPN to ADN/BSN Programs

Luckily, LPN to RN programs are of two types.

You can choose to pursue an LPN to ADN program.

Or else switch to an LPN to BSN one.

The first is rather short.

You will complete it in as short as a few semesters.

It is actually available at Bluefield State College.

While an LPN to BSN degree is a longer program because it culminates in a Bachelor’s Degree.

The program is available at Alderson Broaddus University.

You can complete it in 36 months’ time.

The program is indeed a heavy one.

So the student should be prepared to learn the same.

Both of the transition programs have their own admission requirements, which include the following:

• At least have a high school/college GPA
• Have an Active LPN license
• Complete all prerequisite courses with a passing grade
• Professional LPN experience students are preferred

BSN Programs in West Virginia

The second reason why you should try a nursing career in West Virginia is a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

These programs have a tradition of four years in the state.

Yet, the fruits of pursuing them are sweet.

Simply speaking, you can advance in your career more than with an ADN program.

In WV, there are 6 schools offering this degree in an accredited form.

Go and check them.

What To Look For in a BSN Program in West Virginia

There are two things you need to keep in mind when looking for a suitable BSN school.

They are accreditation and reputation.

The more types of programs a school offers, the more convenient for you.

However, you have to choose only one.

An RN to BSN program is common in the majority of BSN schools in West Virginia.

Having an LPN or ADN licensure will pave the way for your BSN in a short time.

By all means, you will find an accredited BSN program at The University of Charleston.

BSN Program Length in West Virginia

The length of the BSN program is four years.

But length may vary a little depending on the type of the program.

An RN to BSN path for instance will take only two years.

So, they are flexible.

BSN Program Admission Requirements in West Virginia

There are two general admission requirements you need to meet to enter a BSN program in the state.

They consist of:

• A Cumulative  GPA of 2.75 or higher
• Take the Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) and pass it with 62% or higher

Tuition and Costs of BSN Programs in West Virginia

The tuition of a BSN program will be different in each school you check.

Similar, to other states, here too, tuition and additional costs are separate in payment.

However, tuition is a primary cost for which you need to make research when it comes to school choice.

If you check the West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, you will see it has a tuition of $14,287 per semester.

This price is valid for 12 to 17 credit hours of working.

In this cost, additional expenses such as travel, books, exams, equipment, fees, and so on are excluded.

Advantages of BSN Programs

The fact that you can earn better pay with a BSN program is a good start.

The other benefit of career advancement is another bonus.

One way to do so is through an RN to BSN program.

MSN Programs in West Virginia

Previous degrees are not the only ones to advance as an RN in West Virginia.

You can do so with an MSN degree as well.

The types of specialties you can choose in one are various.

However, three are the most common.

Basically, you have the chance to become a Nurse Practitioner, a Certified Nurse Midwife, or a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Whichever specialty from these you choose, you can pursue them in 3 or more MSN schools in WV.

MSN Program Length in West Virginia

The length of an MSN program here is generally three years.

It always depends on the course you choose and the school you choose to study in.

MSN Admission Requirements in West Virginia

Entering an MSN program is a big success in Nursing.

For this reason, requirements are necessary to respect.

Some of the most common requirements needed to meet in a nursing school in West Virginia include:

• Complete/ graduate from an accredited BSN program in the state
• Have an RN license
• Reach a minimum of 3.0 on all previous college work
• Submit official transcripts and letters of recommendation

Tuition and Costs of MSN Programs in West Virginia

If you’ve done any Master’s previously, you will know it has a considerable cost.

An MSN has also one.

But it varies from the schools you check.

The Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling offers an MSN program with $665 per credit.

$130 others are required to pay the technology free for the semester.

$212 is needed for the course audit fee.

While $265 for your graduation.

If you’ want to move on with the degree, check NP programs in WV:

• West Virginia DNP Programs
• West Virginia FNP Programs
• West Virginia Nurse Practitioner Programs
• West Virginia Post-Graduate Certificate Nursing Programs

Getting a West Virginia Nursing License

After all the nursing degrees, one thing is sure.

You need to attach a bunch of documents when applying for a license.

Being possible in two ways, by exam, and by endorsement, it is some ease for you.

Applying for nursing licensure by exam, you must send the following documents:

• Verify your nursing education
• Register to take the NCLEX – and make evident the passing score as you complete it
• Send the Criminal Background Check – with fingerprints
• Passport type photo 2”x 2” – signed and dated
• Affidavit notarized
• Certification 1 & 2 – to be signed by the appropriate designate

While applying for licensure by endorsement includes sending the completed/notarized application, as listed below:

• Passport type photo 2” x 2” – signed and dated
• Verify your Licensure – either by request form or through NURSYS

In case you have more questions for the RN license in West Virginia, here is a contact you can make.

It’s the West Virginia RN Board.

Accelerated Nursing Programs in West Virginia

All matters depend on the perspective.

If you see yourself going well, you do.

Now, completing an accelerated BSN program in 12 to 18 months is a dream to many.

Though the programs offering this degree are not many, the chance is glorious.

It’s a way to fasten your nursing career.

The programs are full of clinical hours and course loads.

Apart from them, you may need also to take additional courses.

The latter is a must if you fail to meet all admission criteria in the first place.

As a result of these courses, comes the payment too.

However, it is best to check all programs and choose the one you find a good fit for.

So far you have two types of Accelerated programs in the state:

• West Virginia Accelerated BSN Programs
• West Virginia Accelerated MSN Programs

The Best RN Programs in West Virginia

There are 10 best RN programs to find in West Virginia.

However, to really get the best, you need to find the one that meets your criteria the most.

Check them carefully below.

RN Salaries in West Virgnia

But remember, your education has a crucial role in future work.

ANd it has a huge role in your income as well.

Check the RN salaries in West Virginia as you go.

Annual Salary Range:

Regional Salary in West Virginia

RN Programs by State