Clinical nurse specialist education programs. A. An approved program shall be in a school of nursing that holds accreditation as defined in 18VAC90-20-10 that is within a regionally accredited college or university that offers a graduate degree in nursing designed to prepare a registered nurse for advanced practice in a clinical specialty in nursing. B. A program that is in the process of obtaining and has not been denied accreditation may be considered by the board as an approved program for the purpose of registering a person who graduated during the accrediting process. Registration A. Initial registration. An applicant for initial registration as a clinical nurse specialist shall: 1. Be currently licensed as a registered nurse in Virginia or hold a current multistate licensure privilege as a registered nurse; 2. Submit evidence of a graduate degree in nursing from an approved program as defined in 18VAC90-20-275; 3. Submit evidence of current specialty certification as a clinical nurse specialist from a national certifying organization acceptable to the board or has an exception available from March 1, 1990, to July 1, 1990; and 4. Submit the required application and fee. B. Renewal of registration. 1. Registration as a clinical nurse specialist shall be renewed biennially at the same time the registered nurse license is renewed. If registered as a clinical nurse specialist with a multistate licensure privilege to practice in Virginia as a registered nurse, a licensee born in even-numbered years shall renew his license by the last day of the birth month in even- numbered years and a licensee born in odd-numbered years shall renew his license by the last day of the birth month in odd-numbered years. 2. The clinical nurse specialist shall complete the renewal form and submit it with the required fee and evidence of current specialty certification unless registered in accordance with an exception. 3. Registration as a clinical nurse specialist shall lapse if the registered nurse license is not renewed or the multistate licensure privilege is lapsed and may be reinstated upon: a. Reinstatement of R.N. license or multistate licensure privilege; b. Payment of reinstatement and current renewal fees; and c. Submission of evidence of continued specialty certification unless registered in accordance with an exception.
