Washington nursing license by endorsement
How a nurse licensed in another state gets a Washington license by endorsement: the application fee ($138 for an RN), the steps, background check, temporary license, renewal and continuing education, with the board's own sources.
| At a glance | Washington |
|---|---|
| Licensing board | Washington State Board of Nursing |
| Nurse Licensure Compact | Not in the compact |
| RN license by endorsement, application fee | $138 |
| LPN/LVN license by endorsement, application fee | $93 |
| Nursys license verification | Accepted |
| Temporary license while you wait | Temporary Practice Permit. Issued to applicants meeting all licensure requirements except completion of the FBI fingerprint background check. |
| RN renewal cycle | Every 1 year, fee $138 |
| Continuing education per renewal | 8 contact hours. 8 CE hours each annual renewal, including 2 hours of health equity CE; 96 practice hours per year also required. |
| Processing time, per the board | Multistate license review: "may take 2-3 weeks." |
How to get your Washington license, step by step
- Plan for endorsement. Washington is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026. A nurse licensed elsewhere applies to the Washington State Board of Nursing for licensure by endorsement before working here, even with a multistate license.
- Start the application on the board's site. Use the board's licensure by endorsement page.
- Verify your license through Nursys. Request verification from each state where you are or were licensed. Boards that use Nursys receive it electronically.
- Ask about the temporary license. The board offers a temporary practice permit while the application is processed. Check the conditions before you plan a start date.
- Pay the fee and send documents. The application fee is $138 for an RN. Fingerprint and vendor fees can be separate. Keep copies of everything you submit.
- Tell your recruiter your status. Employers set their own start dates around licensing, so your recruiter needs to know where your application stands.
Specific to Washington
- RN and LPN licenses renew annually by the nurse's birthday.
- One-time 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment and management training required.
- Fees shown are single-state; multistate RN initial application is $203 and renewal $158.
What RNs earn in Washington
The BLS median for registered nurses in Washington is $53.93 per hour, about $112,180 a year. See the full RN salary guide for Washington.
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $57.00 | $118,570 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $52.09 | $108,350 |
| Walla Walla, WA | $50.65 | $105,360 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $49.93 | $103,850 |
| Longview-Kelso, WA | $49.88 | $103,740 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $49.36 | $102,660 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
RN jobs in Washington · Washington state guide · Nurse Licensure Compact guide · Endorsement checklist
Sources
These facts come from the Washington State Board of Nursing web pages below. Checked 2026-10-16.
- nursing.wa.gov (board website)
- nursing.wa.gov/licensing/licensure-requirements/rn-license (endorsement application, Nursys verification)
- nursing.wa.gov/licensing/nurse-license-fees (fees, renewal fee, state notes)
- nursing.wa.gov/licensing/renew-or-reactivate-license (renewal)
- nursing.wa.gov/licensing/licensure-requirements/background-check (background check)
- nursing.wa.gov/msl/uniform-multistate-license-msl-requirements (background check)
- nursing.wa.gov/licensing/licensing-glossary-terms (temporary license)
- nursing.wa.gov/licensing/continuing-competency (continuing education, state notes)
- nursing.wa.gov/msl/rn-and-lpn-multistate-license-information (processing time)
Requirements change. Always confirm with the Washington State Board of Nursing before you apply or accept a start date. This guide is general information and not legal advice.
Common questions
How much does a Washington nursing license by endorsement cost?
The Washington State Board of Nursing lists an application fee of $138 for an RN and $93 for an LPN/LVN. Fingerprint and vendor fees can be charged separately.
Is Washington a nurse licensure compact state?
Washington is not in the Nurse Licensure Compact as of October 15, 2026. A license by endorsement is the route for nurses licensed elsewhere.
Can I work in Washington while my license is processed?
The board offers a temporary practice permit. Issued to applicants meeting all licensure requirements except completion of the FBI fingerprint background check. Confirm the conditions with the board.
How much continuing education do Washington nurses need?
RN renewal requires 8 contact hours of continuing education. 8 CE hours each annual renewal, including 2 hours of health equity CE; 96 practice hours per year also required. Licenses renew every 1 years.
How long does it take to get a Washington license?
The board says: Multistate license review: "may take 2-3 weeks."
Does Valorem Health help with Washington licensing?
Your recruiter tells you which license each role needs and what the facility requires. You apply to the board, and our credentialing team helps with documents for onboarding.
Moving to Washington? See what RNs get paid near you.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
860+ Registered Nurse roles in Washington, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your RN pay reportWashington · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Seattle Children'sSeattle, WA · 27 postings$71.45/ hr$52–$91
- MultiCareTacoma, WA · 269 postings$69.49/ hr$40–$103
- CommonSpirit HealthSILVERDALE, WA · 70 postings$69.14/ hr$43–$98
- MultiCare Health SystemFederal Way, WA · 2 wage offers$67.83/ hr$67–$68
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
425 RN postings with published pay in Washington, 404 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 425 RN roles
- Denials Management RNPermanent$49.77–$96.85/ hour
- Registered Nurse (RN) - NICUPermanent$49.77–$93.53/ hour
+ 423 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.