Transferring WIC from Virginia to Tennessee
WIC transfers through the VOC card. Ask your current Virginia clinic for a Verification of Certification before leaving; Tennessee is federally required to accept it in place of a new eligibility screening. Your Virginia-issued food benefits stop working, but the certification itself moves intact.
Official Tennessee WIC agency: Tennessee Department of Health ↗
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before you leave Virginia, ask your local health district WIC office for a Verification of Certification (VOC) card for each participant — federal rules (7 CFR 246.7) require your new state to accept it, so your WIC certification moves with you. Then contact a WIC clinic in your new state to transfer.
Virginia Department of Health ↗
Moving week
- 2
Carry the VOC with your moving documents
Your current state's WIC food benefits stop working after you leave its issuing system, but the VOC keeps your certification alive.
After you arrive
- 3
Contact Tennessee Department of Health and book a transfer appointment
Bring the VOC and proof of your new address. With a valid VOC you are enrolled without a new income screening until your current certification period ends. Stated timing: up to 20 days.
Tennessee Department of Health ↗
Virginia vs Tennessee: the numbers that decide it
| Virginia (old state) | Tennessee (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Virginia WIC | Tennessee WIC |
| Agency | Virginia Department of Health | Tennessee Department of Health |
| Income limit | 185% of the federal poverty level (federal, same in every state) | 185% of the federal poverty level (federal, same in every state) |
| Accepts VOC transfer card | Yes (federally required) | Yes (federally required) |
Verified 2026-08-08 (Virginia) and 2026-08-08 (Tennessee) against the official sources cited below.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full Virginia → Tennessee checklistCommon questions
What exactly is the VOC card?
The Verification of Certification is a document your current WIC clinic issues that proves you are certified. Federal rules (7 CFR 246.7) require every state agency to accept it, so Tennessee enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Virginia?
Call your old Virginia clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Tennessee Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Tennessee; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Virginia WIC benefits card work in Tennessee?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Virginia card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Tennessee Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Tennessee's system.
Where do I actually apply in Tennessee?
Through Tennessee Department of Health. Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- USDA FNS — Virginia WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- Virginia Department of Health — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Department of Health — Tennessee WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08