Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Every CE requirement verified against official state nursing board sources. How RenewRN verifies the data →
Washington State Board of Nursing · 1-year renewal cycle · Last verified 2026-02-05
| Renewal Cycle | Every 1 years |
| Total CE Hours (RN) | 8 contact hours |
| Renewal Fee (RN) | $138 |
| Compact State (NLC) | Yes — NLC member |
| License Types | RN, APRN, LPN, CNA |
Washington requires Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses to complete 8 contact hours of continuing education per year with an annual renewal cycle — the only annually renewing state among those we track. Mandatory topics include a one-time 6-hour suicide prevention course and 2 hours of health equity training each cycle. APRNs (called ARNPs in Washington) renew every 2 years with 45 CE hours total — 30 in their specialty area plus 15 additional pharmacology hours for those with prescriptive authority. Washington joined the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) in 2023. The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission was renamed to the Washington State Board of Nursing in July 2023.
This data is verified against the Washington State Board of Nursing — last checked 2026-02-05. If anything looks off, let me know.
Read the full Washington RN License Renewal Guide
Step-by-step walkthrough, common mistakes, and tips for a smooth renewal
Visit the Washington State Board of Nursing website for the official renewal portal.
RN
8
hours / 1 years
Renewal fee: $138
APRN
45
hours / 1 years
Renewal fee: $130
LPN
8
hours / 1 years
Renewal fee: $93
CNA
0
hours / 1 years
Renewal fee: $65
| Category | Hours | Required | License Types | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General CE | 8 | Required | RNLPNCNA | 8 contact hours of continuing education per annual renewal cycle for RNs and LPNs |
| Suicide Prevention | 6 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA | One-time 6-hour suicide prevention training (included in total). Required once for initial or first renewal after the requirement. |
| Health Equity | 2 | Required | RNLPNAPRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNPCNA | 2 hours in health equity CE each renewal cycle (included in total hours). Covers cultural humility, implicit bias, and health disparities. |
| Practice Hours | 0 | Required | RNLPNCNA | 96 hours of nursing practice within the previous 3 years (or completion of a refresher course) required in addition to CE |
| APRN CE | 30 | Required | APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 30 contact hours per 2-year renewal cycle for APRNs in their specialty area |
| APRN Pharmacology | 15 | Required | APRNFNPCRNACNMPMHNP | 15 additional hours of pharmacology CE for APRNs with prescriptive authority (per WAC 246-840-451, in addition to the 30-hour specialty requirement, for 45 total) |
Approved CE Providers
Late Renewal Fees
Reinstatement Fees
CE Audit Information
State board may conduct random CE audits. Retain all CE certificates for at least 4 years.
Washington State Board of Nursing
https://nursing.wa.govAlways confirm requirements directly with the Washington State Board of Nursing before making decisions about your license renewal.
CE hours, mandatory topics, renewal reminders — everything you need to stay compliant in Washington. Setup takes 60 seconds.