What decides whether you need a new license
Two things: whether West 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 West Virginia on assignment
Working under privilege still means following West Virginia's scope of practice and nurse practice act, and you remain accountable to the West Virginia RN Board / LPN Board while you are here. If any of the assignment is telehealth, remember licensure generally follows the patient’s location — see the West Virginia telehealth guide.
The law that governs this in West Virginia
Taking an assignment in West Virginia is practice in West Virginia, so it is West Virginia’s own nurse practice act that defines what you may do and the West Virginia RN Board / LPN Board that applies it. That act is W. Va. Code art. 30-7 (registered nurses); art. 30-7A (licensed practical nurses).
The compact itself is separate law. West Virginia adopted it at W. Va. Code art. 30-7F (Nurse Licensure Compact), which is what allows a multistate license issued elsewhere to reach West 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 West Virginia RN Board / LPN Board.
Since when has a compact license worked in West Virginia?
Nurses holding another state’s multistate license have been able to practice in West Virginia since January 19, 2018. It has been a member long enough that most guidance you find will be accurate on this point.