Licensing authority
Who actually issues a nursing licence in Washington?
Washington State Board of Nursing
Nursing licensure · NLC status table · EMS licensure
WA
Washington
Can I work a 13-week contract here on my multistate licence?
Multistate privilege is enoughWA · full record
Yes — multistate privilege alone covers a contract here
For eligible RN/LPN MSL holders; confirm privilege and any employer-specific reporting requirement.
Supporting evidence and conditions
For eligible RN/LPN MSL holders; confirm privilege and any employer-specific reporting requirement.
State Board of Nursing · nursing.wa.gov · verified 8 Oct 2026
- Law enacted
- Yes Washington SSB 5499 (2023)
- In force
- Yes since 24 Jul 2023
- Issuing multistate licences
- Yes employer can check your privilege
- Facts sourced
- 32
- No published answer
- 1
- Not yet verified
- 8
- Sources disagreeing
- 0
Requirements include source links and review dates. Expand each source quotation for the supporting text. Unverified and incomplete information is labelled alongside the relevant requirement.
Who licenses you
The board that issues the licence, and the practice act behind it.
5 of 5 answered from a source · 0 written up as absences
Authority website
Where is Washington's Board of Nursing online?
Licensing portal
Where do I actually submit a nursing application in Washington?
Contact
Who do I call or email about Washington nursing licensure?
- Address
- 111 Israel Road SE, PO Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504
- Phone
- 360-236-4703
- nursing@doh.wa.gov
Governing law
Which nurse practice act or rule governs licensure in Washington?
WAC Chapter 246-840, Nursing Care
Source quotation
WAC Sections HTML PDF 246-840-010 Definitions.
app.leg.wa.gov · State administrative code
What the licence is
RN, LPN, and APRN tiers, and which of them come multistate.
4 of 6 answered from a source · 2 written up as absences
Licence types
What licence types does Washington issue — RN, LPN, APRN — and which come multistate?
RN
- State title
- Registered Nurse
- Multistate
- Yes
LPN
- State title
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Multistate
- Yes
Source quotation
The NLC pertains to RN and LPN licenses only.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Multistate licences issued
Does Washington issue multistate licences at all?
Yes
Source quotation
A multistate license is issued in a nurse's PSOR and is recognized across state lines (like a driver's license) in participating compact states.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Licence term
How long does a Washington nursing licence last before renewal?
- Years
- 1
- Expires on
- birth_month
Source quotation
All renewals are due annually on the provider’s birthday.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
NCLEX required to get licensed
Do I need NCLEX to get licensed in Washington?
Yes
Source quotation
Pass the board-approved licensure examination as provided in WAC 246-840-050
app.leg.wa.gov · State administrative code
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Jurisprudence exam
Does Washington make me sit a jurisprudence or ethics exam?
Not established in the cited source
Evidence details
The reviewed initial and endorsement requirements did not establish a separate jurisprudence examination.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Disqualifying convictions
What criminal history bars me from nursing licensure in Washington?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Enumerated categorical disqualifying offenses were not assessed in this pass.
Compact privilege
The Nurse Licensure Compact. Enacted, in force, and multistate issuance are separate dated facts, plus what privilege covers.
10 of 10 answered from a source · 0 written up as absences
NLC law enacted
Has Washington passed the Nurse Licensure Compact into law?
- Status
- Yes
- Enacted
- 2023-04-21
- Citation
- Washington SSB 5499 (2023)
Source quotation
On April 21, 2023, Gov. Jay Inslee signed the Substitute Senate Bill (SSB) 5499 Multistate Nurse Licensure Compact into law.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
NLC law in force
Is Washington's NLC law actually in effect yet?
- Status
- Yes
- Effective
- 2023-07-24
Board gives the compact effective date; it does not establish a separate delayed-implementation clause in this source.
Source quotation
Washington state joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) on July 24, 2023.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Issuing multistate licences
Is Washington actually issuing multistate licences yet?
- Status
- Yes
- Connected
- 2024-01-31
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
Conditions for privilege
What do I have to satisfy for multistate privilege to apply in Washington?
- Hold an active multistate RN or LPN license issued by the nurse’s primary state of residence; individual NLC eligibility criteria apply.
Source quotation
A multistate license is issued in a nurse's PSOR and is recognized across state lines (like a driver's license) in participating compact states.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Home-state residence rule
How does where I legally live affect my multistate privilege in Washington?
- Keys off home-state residence
- Yes
- If your home state changes
- Apply for a new multistate license in the new party state within 60 days of changing PSOR.
- Detail
- A temporary travel assignment does not by itself change PSOR.
Source quotation
If you move to Washington, you have 60 days to update your PSOR to Washington state.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Where privilege is not enough
When do I need a Washington single-state licence instead of privilege?
- Nurses without an active multistate license who need Washington practice authority; APRN practice requires state-specific authority.
Source quotation
The NLC pertains to RN and LPN licenses only. An APRN must hold an individual state license in each state the APRN practices in.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Can I take a contract on privilege alone
Can I work a 13-week contract in Washington on my multistate licence?
Yes — multistate privilege alone covers a contract here
For eligible RN/LPN MSL holders; confirm privilege and any employer-specific reporting requirement.
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 hold only a single-state licence
I hold a single-state licence — does the NLC do anything for me in Washington?
- Single-state grants no privilege
- Yes
- Upgrading
- A Washington resident may apply to upgrade to a Washington multistate license; otherwise obtain target-state authority.
Source quotation
If you already have a Washington single-state license, it won't change automatically.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Extra state requirements
Does Washington add anything on top of the compact?
RN/LPN MSL holders working for a Washington mandatory employer must complete the MSL demographic survey at hire and annually.
Source quotation
Then you must complete the MSL demographic survey
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Verify privilege
Where does an employer verify my privilege for Washington?
Source quotation
Check Your Application Status Using the Provider Credential Search
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Getting licensed from out of state
The route in when multistate privilege does not cover you.
9 of 9 answered from a source · 0 written up as absences
Endorsement available
Will Washington licence me by endorsement at all?
Yes
Source quotation
Applying by Endorsement - Single State or Multistate License
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
What it is called
What does Washington call its out-of-state pathway?
Licensure by endorsement
Source quotation
Applying by Endorsement - Single State or Multistate License
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Where to apply
Where do I start an endorsement application for Washington?
What you must provide
What does Washington require from an out-of-state nurse?
- 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.
Source quotation
You need to have an active license in order to apply by endorsement.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Application fee
What does it cost to get licensed in Washington from out of state?
- Amount
- 138
- Per
- application
- Non-refundable
- Yes
- Also payable
- Nursys verification fee (paid separately; amount not verified here).
This is current single-state RN initial application fee; fee page states all nurse-license fees are non-refundable. Multistate application is $203.
Source quotation
RN | $138 | $203 | $138 | $158 | $188 | $208 | $258 | $278
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
How long it takes
How long will Washington take to process my application?
- Typical
- 7
- Basis
- published_by_state
Published estimate is business days for a complete application; field records 7 with unit caveat.
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
Background check
What background check does Washington require, and how do I do it from out of state?
- 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.
Source quotation
Criminal background checks are conducted on all applications
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Temporary licence
Can I start working in Washington before full approval?
- 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.
180-day duration is stated on the WABON military pathway page; eligibility conditions here are the general licensure process.
Source quotation
Temporary Practice Permit is issued once all requirements have been met pending FBI Background check
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
Nursys verification
Do I have to route verification through Nursys for Washington?
- Required
- Yes
- Verification for endorsement
- Yes
Board directs endorsement applicants to Nursys; verification fee amount not established in board page.
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
Keeping it
The renewal clock and what it costs in hours.
3 of 5 answered from a source · 2 written up as absences
Renewal cycle
How often do I renew in Washington?
1
Source quotation
All renewals are due annually on the provider’s birthday.
nursing.wa.gov · State Board of Nursing
CE hours required
How many CE hours does Washington want, and which topics are mandated?
RN
- Hours
- 8
- Mandated topics
- At least two hours must be health equity training
- Any category
- 6
Source quotation
at least two hours must be on health equity training
app.leg.wa.gov · State administrative code
State-specific requirements
What does Washington require at renewal that other states do not?
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
The rule separately requires one-time six-hour suicide training for RNs except those holding active CRNA license.
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
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Approved CE providers
Where do I find CE that Washington will accept?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Approved CE-provider directory not verified.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
If your licence lapses
My Washington licence expired — can I still get it back?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Detailed RN reactivation criteria not reviewed.
Looking a licence up
Where employers check status and discipline history.
1 of 2 answered from a source · 1 written up as absences
Licence lookup
Where do I look up a Washington licence and its discipline history?
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
What the lookup shows
What does Washington's lookup actually disclose?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Specific lookup result fields were not verified.
Military and spouse routes
Where a service record shortens the path.
0 of 4 answered from a source · 4 written up as absences
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Military pathway
Does Washington have a faster route for military training or veterans?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Military-specific licensure pathway not researched in this pass.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
How it works
What does Washington's military pathway actually get me?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Military-specific licensure pathway not researched in this pass.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Where to read it
Where does Washington document its military pathway?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Military-specific licensure pathway not researched in this pass.
No verified valueRecord date 8 Oct 2026
Unverified
Military spouses
Does Washington extend its military pathway to spouses?
Not yet verified
Evidence details
Military-spouse provisions not researched in this pass.