How to get a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license in Washington

Washington registered nurse licenses

Washington issues 2 registered nurse credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Washington registered nurse license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

What it covers

Registered nursing practice: acts needing substantial specialized knowledge, judgment and skill — observation, assessment, diagnosis, care, counsel and health teaching; added acts authorized by board rule; administration, supervision, delegation and evaluation of nursing practice; teaching nursing; carrying out medical regimens ordered by authorized prescribers.⁴

Requirements

Education or training

Graduation from a board-approved Washington nursing program, or a program approved by another U.S. jurisdiction that substantially meets Washington standards (including the prelicensure portion of a graduate-entry RN program); official transcript sent by the school.¹
Who may teach it: Transcripts must reach the board no later than 90 days after the first NCLEX attempt; Washington programs also send an electronic certificate of completion.¹
Alternative: Internationally educated applicants: transcript evaluation by a board-approved service (The Evaluation Company, ERES, IEE, Josef Silny & Associates or TruMerit) and, if the program was not taught in English, English proficiency proof (passing TOEFL iBT/IELTS/OET/MET/CELBAN, a U.S. diploma or degree, or 1,000 hours licensed practice in an English-speaking country).¹

Exam

NCLEX-RN¹
Given by: Pearson VUE (applicant registers and pays the testing service directly)¹
When you can take it: Only after completing the education and application requirements; WABON makes eligible applicants able to test in Pearson VUE. Apply about two weeks before program completion if ready to test.¹
Retakes: Retake no sooner than 45 days after the last attempt; after four failed attempts (any state or country) a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course must be completed before retesting (rule effective January 30, 2026).¹

Fees

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Create or log in to a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account and add the HELMS service.⁵ wahelms.my.site.com³
2. Submit the online application and fee in HELMS (by exam for a first license, by endorsement if licensed in another state); upload documents within 14 days.³
3. Exam applicants: have the school send official transcripts with degree posted, then register and pay for the NCLEX with Pearson VUE.³
4. Endorsement applicants: request verification of the initial U.S. license through Nursys.³

Apply online

wahelms.my.site.com³

Temporary or provisional license

A temporary practice permit can be issued when everything but the fingerprint-based national background check is complete; it lasts 60 days (180 for military spouses) and can be renewed once for 30 days. RCW 18.79.180 also allows interim permits from program completion until exam results.¹

Renewal

How often

Every year¹

When it expires

Renew every year by your birthday; online renewal opens 85-90 days before expiry; late renewal allowed up to one year, after that reactivation through HELMS.¹

Continuing education

At least 8 hours each renewal period¹

Required topics

2 hours health equity CE (implicit bias) each year, counted within the 8 hours; existing licensees must have it by their 2026 renewal, new licensees by their second renewal.⁶
One-time 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment and management training from a DOH model-list program by the end of the first full year of licensure (counts toward CE).¹
96 hours of active nursing practice in the 12 months before renewal.¹

Exemptions

Nurses enrolled in, or who have completed prerequisites for, an advanced nursing program are exempt for that review period.¹

Late renewal

Late renewal fee: $50¹
Reinstatement fee: $70¹
Renewal fee: $44¹ (inactive status ($68 with surcharges))
Renewal fee: $44¹ (retired active status ($68 with surcharges; up to 90 days/year intermittent practice))

Renew online

nursing.wa.gov³

From another state

Who needs a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Unpaid nursing care of the sick by someone not claiming to be an RN, LPN practice, and nursing assistants doing delegated tasks are not RN practice.⁴

Requirements for a single-state Registered Nurse (RN) license

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Background check

Background check required²
WABON runs a criminal background check on every application and publishes its procedure on criteria for license applications (with an algorithm) for applicants with a positive background check.²

Residency or citizenship

No residency requirement stated for the single-state license; it allows practice only in Washington and can be upgraded to an MSL later.⁷

How to apply

1. Complete the background check; WABON contacts you if an FBI fingerprint check is needed.²

Renewal and continuing education

Renewal fee

$138¹

If it expires

Expired three years or less: meet WAC 246-12-040 to return to active. Over three years: show active practice in another U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction, or complete a board-approved refresher course.¹
No practice in Washington while expired.¹
Late renewal possible up to one year after expiry; after that submit a reactivation application in HELMS.⁸

Multistate Registered Nurse license (MSL)

Requirements

Background check

Background check required²
Fingerprints required⁹
WABON runs a criminal background check on every application and publishes its procedure on criteria for license applications (with an algorithm) for applicants with a positive background check.²

Residency or citizenship

Washington must be the primary state of residence (PSOR), proven by driver's license, state ID or voter card with home address, federal tax return, military Form 2058 or federal W2.¹⁰

Social Security number

Valid U.S. Social Security number required.¹⁰

Also required

Uniform licensure requirements: no felony conviction or agreed disposition, no nursing-related misdemeanor (case by case), not enrolled in an alternative-to-discipline program, all licenses active and unencumbered.¹

Fees

How to apply

1. Upload proof that Washington is your primary state of residence.⁹
2. Complete the FBI fingerprint background check using the instructions WABON emails after you apply.⁹

Processing time

WABON expects MSL applications to take 2 to 3 weeks to review (stated for MSL upgrades).⁹

Renewal

Renewal fee

$158¹

If it expires

Expired three years or less: meet WAC 246-12-040 to return to active. Over three years: show active practice in another U.S. or Canadian jurisdiction, or complete a board-approved refresher course.¹
No practice in Washington while expired.¹
Late renewal possible up to one year after expiry; after that submit a reactivation application in HELMS.⁸
MSL holders whose PSOR moves to another compact state must apply there within 60 days.³

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a registered nurse in Washington, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Washington is on the Washington license lookup page.

Look up a license

fortress.wa.gov¹¹

File a complaint

nursing.wa.gov³

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• RCW 18.79 Nursing care (RN practice 18.79.040, applicants 18.79.160, interim permits 18.79.180, endorsement 18.79.190)
• RCW 18.80 Nurse licensure compact
• WAC 246-840 Practical and registered nursing (licensure 246-840-020 to -120; continuing competency 246-840-200 to -260)
• WAC 246-840-990 Fees and renewal cycle (WSR 24-21-150, eff. 11/22/24)
• WAC 246-12 (credential administration; expired/inactive status)

Rule changes since January 2024

• January 30, 2026: NCLEX retake rule: after four failed attempts a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course is required before retesting (WAC 246-840-060(3)).³
• November 22, 2024: Current RN fee table in WAC 246-840-990 (WSR 24-21-150) took effect.¹

Common questions

Registered nurse (RN) licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming