A licensee who is not practicing, and who has no disciplinary action pending against his or her license, may request his or her name be entered on the inactive list by completing an inactive application furnished by the board and indicating his or her desire to be placed on inactive status. The board shall then designate the licensee's records "inactive". No fee is required for inactive status and no license is issued. The board may provide the inactive licensee, upon application, payment of the current fee, and completion of required continuing education, an active license to practice registered professional nursing in West Virginia. The board may inquire into activities and events during the term of the inactive license period.
A licensee who has retired from the practice of nursing in all states may upon request be placed in a retired status. The retired status registered professional nurse may not practice as a registered professional nurse in any state and may not in any way indicate to any persons that he or she is licensed to practice as a registered professional nurse. If the individual in a retired status does practice in any form, voluntarily or for pay, as a registered professional nurse, he or she is guilty of practicing nursing without a license and shall be subject to the appropriate penalties contained in law and rule. If at any time the individual in the retired status desires to return to the practice of nursing, he or she shall submit the reinstatement application along with the current fee and shall meet all reinstatement requirements.
W. Va. Code R. § 19-3-8