VCNP’s Government Relations Committee meets year round to prepare for the Virginia General Assembly each January. Committee members organize regional legislative events each fall, connect with local legislators, and work to provide resources to the regional members to help them better understand how their involvement in the legislative process can advance NP practice for all of Virginia’s NPs.
NON-Members: JOIN US! For more information and resources on VCNP Advocacy efforts, join VCNP NOW!
VCNP Members: Log in for more information.
Advocacy Toolkit
To access VCNP legislation and additional advocacy resources, you must be a member of VCNP. Click here to access the members section.
Autonomous Practice Licensure
- FAQs: Autonomous Practice Licensure & Practice Agreement Changes beginning July 1, 2021 (updated July 18, 2021)
- FAQs: Autonomous Practice Licensure & the Attestation Process (updated February 9, 2019)
- Autonomous practice licensure application materials may be found on the Virginia Board of Nursing website.
Questions About Autonomous Practice and the Attestation Process?
Let us assist!
Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice
- Federal Trade Commission Competition and the Regulation of Advanced Practice Nurses, March 2014
- Institute of Medicine Report on the Future of Nursing [click here for brief version]
- National Health Policy Forum White Paper on SOP
- Reforming Scopes of Practice – Citizen Advocacy Center
- Who will Provide Primary Care? – Josiah Macy Foundation
- Closing the Gap Between Can and May in Healthcare Providers Scope of Practice – Barbara Safriet
- Medicare – PECOS Resources
Legislative Information
- Virginia General Assembly
- Who is my legislator?
- Legislative Process
- Virginia Regulatory Process
- Legislative Guide
- Legislator Visit Guide
- VCNP-AANP Poster – Primary Care Solution
- History of VCNP and legislative accomplishments
Links to Organizations
The VCNP PAC supports our legislative mission. To contribute to the VCNP PAC, please click the link below.
2023 Virginia General Assembly
VCNP worked with Delegate Roxann Robinson to introduce HB 2183. During the January 19 House Health, Welfare & Institutions subcommittee meeting, House Bill 2183 failed to move forward after a tie vote. We thank all of you for your support and will continue to update you on legislative developments.
2022 Virginia General Assembly
What next? If you are eligible for autonomous practice, please apply! For those who have two years of practice experience, you will only have a short window of time to apply, so we urge you to strongly consider applying now.
Thank you for your efforts and support of NP practice.
Rebekah M. Compton column:
Allow nurse practitioners to be a permanent solution to health care access
VCNP President, Rebekah “Becky” Compton provided an Op-Ed in the Richmond Times Dispatch on January 20, 2022.
2021 Virginia General Assembly
We did it! On February 25, Governor Northam signed HB 1737, which became effective July 1, 2021.
HB 1737 reduces from five to two the number of years of full-time clinical experience a nurse practitioner must have to be eligible to practice without a written or electronic practice agreement. This legislation has a “sunset” clause and will expire in June 2022.
2020 Virginia General Assembly
HB 793, Autonomous Practice Licensure, and the Attestation Process
HB 793 eliminates the requirement for a practice agreement with a physician for a nurse practitioner (NP) who has completed the equivalent of at least five years of full-time clinical experience and submitted an application attestation for autonomous practice licensure from the physician. NPs meeting this requirement may practice autonomously in the category in which the NP is certified and licensed.
FAQs: Autonomous Practice Licensure & the Attestation Process
- Autonomous practice licensure application materials may be found on the Virginia Board of Nursing website
- For more information on Autonomous Practice Licensure, check out this VCNP Autonomous Practice One Pager.
2019 Virginia General Assembly
Virginia HB 1640 and SB 1178 ensure that NPs are able to bill insurance directly through their National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers. Without this simple code change, patients could lose their access to needed care due to an inability to utilize their insurance.