Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)
To become an ARNP you must have an active Washington state RN license and meet all ARNP requirements.
If you already have an active Washington state ARNP license and want to add prescriptive authority to your license see Prescriptive Authority below.
Before you apply
- Request a copy of your national certification (your certifying body needs to send it directly to us)
- Apply for a Washington state RN license (you can apply for it at the same time as your ARNP)
- If this is your initial ARNP license, take your national certification exam
- Request official transcripts
- If applying for Prescriptive Authority
- include 30 hours of pharmacology
- or proof of official transcripts of an advanced pharmacology course completed within the last 2 years
Steps to apply
- Make sure you meet all requirements
- Request supporting documentation be sent to nurselicensing@doh.wa.gov
- Get your forms signed and ready to upload
- Complete an online application
- Pay application fee online
- Attach required forms and documents
- Any “yes” responses to personal data questions must have supporting documents, such as court documents and written statements.
- Submit your application
We will email you if we need anything or have issues with your application.
Submitting forms and documents
- You have 14 days after you submit your application to upload your documents online.
- After 14 days you won’t be able to access your application though SAW.
- If you have more documents to submit after 14 days, please email them to nurselicensing@doh.wa.gov
Requirements
To become an ARNP you must meet all requirements and provide proof.
Proof of Active National Certification
You must request to have your national certification sent directly from your certifying body to us.
NP designation:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- National Certification Corporation
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
CNM designation:
- American Midwifery Certification Board
CRNA designation:
- National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
CNS designation:
- American Nurses Credentialing Center;
- American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation
See WAC 246-840-302 for more information.
Supervised Clinical Practice Hours Under an Interim Permit
If you graduated more than one year ago AND this is your first ARNP license (you have not practiced as an ARNP in another state), you must complete the following:
- Apply for a license and indicate that you have not yet practiced as an ARNP.
- Complete the Supervised Clinical Practice Agreement
- Obtain an ARNP interim permit with the Washington State Nursing Commission to complete 125 hours of supervised clinical practice for each year following graduation, not to exceed 1,000 hours. For more information, please see WAC 246-840-340.
Prescriptive Authority
Graduated less than two years from date of application
If you have graduated less than two years from the time of your application date and are applying for prescriptive authority, your transcripts must include a course in advanced pharmacology.
Graduated more than two years from date of application
If you have graduated more than two years from the date you applying for prescriptive authority, you must submit proof of 30 hours of pharmacology continuing education completed within the last two years. Please document your hours using the Pharmacology Continuing Education Report Form.
ARNP adding prescriptive authority
If you already have an active Washington state ARNP license and want to add prescriptive authority submit the following form:
There is no fee to add prescriptive authority to an already active Washington state ARNP license.
Mail prescriptive authority forms to:
NCQAC Licensing
111 Israel Road SE
Mail Stop 47864
Olympia, WA 98504
Other Forms
These forms may or may not apply to your situation. We will contact you if we need any of these forms.
- Supervised Practice Agreement (PDF)
- Pharmacology Continuing Education Report Form (PDF)
- No Social Security Number Document (PDF)
- Fingerprint-based Federal Background Check (PDF)
More Information
Questions?
We're available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Phone: 360-236-4703
- Email: nursing@doh.wa.gov