NKU nurse practitioner clinicals in Virginia

NKU prints its state table in two places. The graduate-admissions version moved Virginia into the authorized column for the MSN and post-master's certificates between October 2025 and January 2026. The online-program version still shows Virginia as not authorized. Because the NP concentrations sit under that same MSN row, email studentclinicalinfo@nku.edu and ask which copy governs your program before you commit. Our state authorization guide sets out every conflict.

AANP puts Virginia in its restricted group. The state ties NP practice to a patient care team physician through a practice agreement until the NP can attest to three full-time years of clinical work or the equivalent. Your NP preceptor may therefore work inside a physician team, and NKU's FNP and AGACNP rules accept MD and DO preceptors as well as NPs, so one team practice could cover more than one of your rotations.

Virginia's Board of Nursing keeps out-of-state and post-licensure programs outside its approval process, so there is no board filing ahead of your first day. Va. Code § 54.1-3001 exempts an RN whose current license from another state is unrestricted while they study in an advanced professional nursing program with required clinical practice; the exemption reaches only the clinicals the curriculum calls for.

Northern Virginia belongs to the Washington metro, where Inova is the big system. Richmond has VCU Health, Charlottesville has UVA Health, Roanoke has Carilion Clinic, and Sentara Health covers the Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake area. NKU keeps its affiliated-site list to itself, so assume a Virginia practice may need an agreement negotiated and give it time; NKU recommends 90 days and requires at least 30.

Virginia's Nurse Preceptor Incentive Program, now run by the Virginia Nursing Workforce Center, pays preceptors of students at Virginia schools only. For an NKU rotation, the thanks comes from NKU: a professional development provision after the term, ANCC or AANPCP hours letters on request, and a Preceptor of the Year award. Mention those when you approach a preceptor.

Virginia has used compact licensing since January 19, 2018, so a Virginia resident's RN license is multistate. NKU checks for a current RN license without encumbrances from your state of licensure and practice. Virginia has no APRN Compact law, a point that only matters when you seek NP licensure later. Nurses near the western border can also consider West Virginia or Kentucky sites, since both are NKU-approved compact states.

Virginia is new territory on NKU's list, and we treat it as a priority. A placement advisor contacts NPs, physicians and psychiatric prescribers in your part of the state, explains NKU's 7-week rotations of about 125 to 150 hours and what NKU offers preceptors, then collects each preceptor's resume, license and signed Preceptor Responsibilities form so nothing is missing from your Medatrax request. NKU approves each match; we hand its reviewers a file that is ready for review.