As nurses across the country battle against staffing shortages, burnout, and an all-time high of demands and strains on the overall healthcare system, little time is left for sifting through new rules and requirements for license renewal!
Licenses are set to expire during a chaotic, 2024 season for Washington nurses, and a lapse in licensure not only means a big headache dealing with the Washington Board of Nursing, but also the inability to continue working.
That’s why our Nursing CE Central team has a full breakdown of top questions, deadlines, requirements, and consequences of missing your renewal deadline for the 2024 Washington state nursing license renewal period.
According to the Washington Board of Nursing, nurses are required to renew annually by their birthday to keep an active license.
All active LPNs and RNs are required to complete 8 hours of continuing education yearly for the Washington state nursing license renewal.
Nurses are also required to complete a mandatory one-time Suicide Prevention Training Requirement. Those nurses working in telehealth setting must also complete a nursing telemedicine training requirement. These hours can count toward your CE hours.
Effective December 22nd, 2023, Nurses will be required to complete 2 hours on health equity every year when renewing.
(Nursing CE Central’s 2024 Washington State Renewal Bundle includes all of these required courses. The telemedicine training is also available in a separate course.)  Â
Yes! Courses from Nursing CE Central are approved and accepted by the Washington State Board of Nursing.
While you are not required to send in documentation to renew your nursing license, the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission does recommend keeping these documents for at least two years. They may ask for documentation of continuing education hours during a disciplinary investigation.
No, you must complete CEUs within the year before you renew your license. However, you do not need to send a certificate of CE completion to the Board unless the Board requests it. If you are selected for an audit or are involved in a disciplinary investigation, you may be required to send documentation of CE completion.
No. We’ve made it as easy as possible to complete your Washington state nursing license requirements. You can easily complete your CE requirements with just one click.
No. Nurses cannot carry over any hours to the next renewal period.
Yes, nurses can count training in suicide prevention and telehealth training as continuing education.
You check the status of your pending license on the Department of Health’s Provider Credential Search. Please note, the provider credential search will not detail what is missing from your application. If you are missing anything from your application, the board will email you directly.
If you do not renew your license before the expiration date, you will not be able to renew online. A delay in processing time may affect your active licensure status. All nurses who miss their renewal deadline will have to pay a $50 late fee.*fees subject to change.
You are required to renew annually by your birthday to remain in active status.
All nurses who miss their renewal deadline will have to pay a $50 late fee and must still meet all continuing education requirements when renewing.Â
Visit our Washington nursing license renewal page for more information or to start your required CEUs.
Love what you read?
Share our insider knowledge and tips!
Read More
Licensing Info | Nursing Certifications Nurse Continuing Education for Nursing Do’s and Don’ts Nursing is a demanding profession; it takes time to learn the ropes and start feeling confident. Some behaviors can bring you closer to your professional goals,...
Licensing Info | Nursing Certifications You Know You’re an RN When You Take These Nursing Continuing Education Courses You’re a nurse everywhere you go, not just at work. In fact, you know you’re an RN when you don’t have a gag reflex anymore...
Licensing Info | Nursing Certifications Nursing CEUs: Bundles VS Individual Courses Nursing CEUs can be completed individually or as a bundle. Each continuing education approach has different advantages and disadvantages to consider before making a purchase. In this...