What decides whether you need a new license
Two things: whether Virginia is a compact state, and whether your own license is multistate rather than single-state. Compact privilege only exists between compact states, and only a multistate license carries it. Run your exact home/assignment pairing through the compact state checker.
Practicing in Virginia on assignment
Working under privilege still means following Virginia's scope of practice and nurse practice act, and you remain accountable to the Virginia Board of Nursing while you are here. If any of the assignment is telehealth, remember licensure generally follows the patient’s location — see the Virginia telehealth guide.
The law that governs this in Virginia
Taking an assignment in Virginia is practice in Virginia, so it is Virginia’s own nurse practice act that defines what you may do and the Virginia Board of Nursing that applies it. That act is Va. Code tit. 54.1, ch. 30 (Nursing).
The compact itself is separate law. Virginia adopted it at Va. Code tit. 54.1, ch. 30, art. 6.1 (§ 54.1-3040.2 et seq.), which is what allows a multistate license issued elsewhere to reach Virginia at all — the practice act still decides what you may do once it does.
Before you sign
We are an independent licensing reference — we do not list assignments, agencies, or pay rates, and nothing here is a job offer. For the wider pre-assignment checklist (contract terms, credentialing, housing), see what to check before accepting a travel assignment. Confirm licensure with the Virginia Board of Nursing.
Since when has a compact license worked in Virginia?
Nurses holding another state’s multistate license have been able to practice in Virginia since January 19, 2018. It has been a member long enough that most guidance you find will be accurate on this point.