Washington State Nurse License Fees
Fees pay for licensing and regulating nursing in Washington state.
All nurse license fees are non-refundable.
Recent Updates:
- WCN surcharge increased on July 24, 2023.
- New nurse license fees went into effect December 1, 2022
Fees increased to cover the cost of:
- New licensing system.
- Staffing to process applications within the 7-day timeline required by the legislature.
- Staffing to address the long-term care crisis.
More information:
- License fees for professions, occupations, and businesses (RCW 43.70.250)
- CR-103, Permanent Rule, WAC 246-840-990 Fees and Renewal Cycle (PDF)
- Fee Changes Explanatory Statement (PDF)
Fees by Profession
| Nursing Profession | Fee Type | Total Fee |
|---|---|---|
|
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) |
Applications | $130.00 |
| (ARNP renewal is every 2 Years) | Active Renewals | $130.00 |
| Inactive Renewals | $40.00 | |
| Late Renewals | $180.00 | |
| Late Inactive Renewal | $80.00 | |
| Reactivations | $180.00 | |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | Applications | $93.00 |
| Active Renewals | $93.00 | |
| Retired Active Renewals | $68.00 | |
| Inactive Renewals | $68.00 | |
| Late Renewals | $143.00 | |
| Late Inactive Renewal | $113.00 | |
| Late Retired Active Renewal | $113.00 | |
| Reactivations | $213.00 | |
| Retired Active Reactivations | $183.00 | |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | Applications | $138.00 |
| Active Renewals | $138.00 | |
| Retired Active Renewals | $68.00 | |
| Inactive Renewals | $68.00 | |
| Late Renewals | $188.00 | |
| Late Inactive Renewal | $113.00 | |
| Late Retired Active Renewal | $113.00 | |
| Reactivations | $258.00 | |
| Retired Active Reactivations | $183.00 | |
| Nursing Technician (NTEC) | Applications | $25.00 |
| Renewals | $25.00 |
Other Fees
| Nursing Profession | Type of Fee | Total Fee |
|---|---|---|
| ARNP, LPN, RN |
Duplicate License Request (Issued in rare instances, contact us first) |
$20.00 |
| NTEC |
Duplicate License Request (Issued in rare instances, contact us first) |
$15.00 |
| ARNP, LPN, RN, NTEC |
License Verification (Please see Verify a License before paying) |
$25.00 |
Fee Information
Fees and surcharges on nurse license fees are mandated by the Washington State Legislature. These fees can't be changed or removed without the legislature’s approval.
- The application fee is set by by the Washington State Legislature.
- Health Evidence Resource for Washington State (HEAL-WA) is an online evidence-based library for health professionals in Washington State provided by the University of Washington.
- All registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are charged a $16.00 HEAL-WA fee.
- Washington Center for Nursing (WCN) is the statewide nursing workforce center.
- All registered nurses and licensed practical nurses are charged a $8.00 WCN nursing surcharge.