Nurse state crossing · Washington licensing · NLC status table · LPN/LVN list
RN work list: Washington
What an RN has to do to work in Washington. Pick where you live and the page shows your route.
Pick your home state to see which route applies. Both are listed below.
Washington: Nurse Licensure Compact state
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Starting today, nurses in Washington state can apply for a multistate license to practice in Washington and other states within the Nurse Licensure Compact.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Home and work in Washington
If you already hold a licence Washington issued, there is no state line to cross. Renewal and continuing-education rules are on the Washington licensing page.
Moved here from another compact state? NCSBN says “when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement” and “You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.” The endorsement steps are below.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement
You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
Route A: practise on your multistate licence
For a nurse whose home state and Washington are both compact states in force, holding a multistate licence.
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Look yourself up on Nursys QuickConfirm. NCSBN: “If you already have a license and you are unsure if your license is single-state or multistate, use Quick Confirm at nursys.com at no cost.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
If you already have a license and you are unsure if your license is single-state or multistate, use Quick Confirm at nursys.com at no cost.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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Only the compact state you actually live in can issue your multistate licence. NCSBN: “If a nurse's PSOR is a compact state, that nurse may be eligible for a multistate license.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
If a nurse's PSOR is a compact state, that nurse may be eligible for a multistate license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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NCSBN defines the privilege to practise as the authority “permitting the practice of nursing as either an RN or LPN/VN in a remote state”.
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
permitting the practice of nursing as either an RN or LPN/VN in a remote state
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
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Yes — a qualifying multistate license permits RN/LPN practice here
Conditions & source context
For eligible RN/LPN MSL holders; confirm privilege and any employer-specific reporting requirement.
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Under the NLC, nurses can practice in Washington state and other NLC states and territories without getting additional licenses.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
If you move for good, not just for a contract: NCSBN says “when your PSOR changes by permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement” and “You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.”
NCSBN · nursecompact.com · checked 10 Nov 2026
Source quotation
You have 60 days from the time you move to apply for your license.
nursecompact.com · NCSBN
Route B: get a Washington licence by endorsement
For everyone else. Each step comes from Washington’s own licensing sources; tick it off as you go.
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- Hold an active RN license in another U.S. state (or meet the stated Canadian-licensure condition).
- Have the initial U.S. license verified by the originating state through Nursys or other accepted verification route.
- Submit the application, applicable fee, and required criminal-history materials.
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
You need to have an active license in order to apply by endorsement.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
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- Amount
- 138
- Per
- application
- Non-refundable
- Yes
- Also payable
- Nursys verification fee (paid separately; amount not verified here).
Conditions & source context
This is current single-state RN initial application fee; fee page states all nurse-license fees are non-refundable. Multistate application is $203.
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
RN | $138 | $203 | $138 | $158 | $188 | $208 | $258 | $278
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Required
- Yes
- State check
- Yes
- FBI check
- Yes
- Fingerprints
- Yes
- Vendor
- Washington State Patrol and FBI
- From out of state
- Applicants with out-of-state addresses or seeking a multistate license receive FBI fingerprint instructions.
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Criminal background checks are conducted on all applications
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Required
- Yes
- Verification for endorsement
- Yes
Conditions & source context
Board directs endorsement applicants to Nursys;
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Please use Nursys to request verification of your initial US license from your original state of licensure.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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- Available
- Yes
- Type
- Temporary Practice Permit
- Duration (days)
- 180
- Eligibility
- May be issued after all other requirements are met while FBI background check is pending.
Conditions & source context
180-day duration is stated on the WABON military pathway page; eligibility conditions here are the general licensure process.
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
Temporary Practice Permit is issued once all requirements have been met pending FBI Background check
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
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RN
- Hours
- 8
- Mandated topics
- At least two hours must be health equity training
- Any category
- 6
State administrative code · app.leg.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
at least two hours must be on health equity training
app.leg.wa.gov · State administrative code
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Active nursing practice
- Hours
- 96
- Period
- Within the 12 months before renewal
One-time suicide assessment, treatment, and management training
- Hours
- 6
- Deadline
- End of first full year of licensure; except specified CRNA holders
Conditions & source context
The rule separately requires one-time six-hour suicide training for RNs except those holding active CRNA license.
State administrative code · app.leg.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
A registered nurse, except for registered nurses holding an active certified registered nurse anesthetist license, and licensed practical nurses must complete a one-time, six-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from a qualified suicide prevention training program.
app.leg.wa.gov · State administrative code
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- Typical
- 7
- Basis
- published_by_state
Conditions & source context
Published estimate is business days for a complete application; field records 7 with unit caveat.
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Source quotation
If your application is complete (with all documents and fees) it should take about 7 business days for us to process.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Pick a start date to see the latest day to apply, based on the board’s typical time of 7 business days. It can take longer, so apply earlier if you can.
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Our Washington record has nothing sourced for RNs on: any jurisprudence exam. Get those from the board directly: nursing.wa.gov.
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · checked 8 Oct 2026
Built from the Washington nursing licensing record and the compact status table. A step appears only when the record has a sourced answer for it; anything else points to the board. Informational only: confirm with the board of nursing before you apply.