The physical and mental changes that occur when someone awakens to their latent vampire nature are referred to as "turning". Sometimes it is also referred to as "being embraced", a phrase from role-playing games, and there are a few other terms drawn from vampire fiction ("the dark gift", "the dark kiss", "bringing across", and «bloodsiring", for example).

Some groups believe that ordinary people can be turned into vampires, but this is most likely a misinterpretation of the awakening process. Those experiencing the awakening, undergo various mental and physical changes which occur during or shortly after the onset of puberty, but in some individuals may take years to manifest.

However, only a minority of HLV's gives full credence to the possibility of "turning". The majority of HLV's of all types believe that they were born as they are and cannot be "turned" or "turn" anyone who is not also an HLV by birth themselves. If someone appears to have been turned, he or she was most likely a latent vampire to begin with.

The method for this turning varies from group to group, but generally involves a rite of blood or energy exchange between the vampire and the person to be turned. Blood vampires most often identify an experience of sharing blood with another person who was already a blood vampire. Psychic vampires may identify an experience in which they "linked" or psychically bonded with an existing psychic vampire, sometimes via such media as online chat or the telephone.