MSL Requirements
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Nurses with an Active MSL in Another State
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Nurses with an active MSL from another state can work in Washington state since July 24, 2023.
All nurses working in Washington state must follow the Washington Nurse Practice Act when providing care to patients in Washington.
To work with an out-of-state MSL for a mandatory employer in Washington state, you must:
- Let your employer know you have an active MSL
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Work with your employer to meet employment requirements such as:
- Complete Suicide Prevention Training
- Complete WABON's MSL demographic survey
If you are moving and changing your primary state of residence (PSOR) is Washington, you can apply for a Washington state RN or LPN license.
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Apply for a Washington MSL
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Nurses whose primary state of residence (PSOR) is Washington can apply for a Washington MSL.
This Includes
- Nurses moving and changing their PSOR to Washington state
- Nurses who are getting their first Washington state license
- Nurses with a single-state Washington license
Apply Online
To apply for a WA MSL or upgrade your single-state Washington RN or LPN license to an MSL:
- Make sure you meet all Uniform Multistate License Requirements
- Review RN or LPN License application requirements and instructions on how to apply online
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ARNP Information
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The NLC is only available for RN and LPN licenses. (An ARNP Licensure Compact may be available in the future)
You can practice with a Washington state ARNP license and an active MSL RN license from another state.
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You won't need to renew your Washington state RN license, unless you change your PSOR to Washington state:
- Complete the ARNP MSL RN Declaration form (PDF)
- Email completed form to nursing@doh.wa.gov or mail in with your renewal fee payment
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You won't need to renew your Washington state RN license, unless you change your PSOR to Washington state:
MSL Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- Do I have to renew my Washington state RN or LPN license if I have an active MSL from another state?
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No. You can practice with your active MSL in Washington state.
If you work for a mandatory employer, you will need to report your MSL status to your employer and make sure you meet employment requirements.
- Do I need to apply for a Washington state RN or LPN license if I have an active MSL from another state?
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No. Nurses with an active MSL issued from another state can practice in Washington state.
If you work for a mandatory employer, you will need to report your MSL status to your employer and make sure you meet employment requirements.
- Can I apply for a Washington state RN or LPN MSL?
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Yes, as of January 31, 2024, the Washington State Board of Nursing started offering Washington multistate licenses. The multistate license is subject to the licensing process, including an FBI background check. The multistate license application review process may take 2-3 weeks.
- I am a Washington resident and want to convert from a single-state license to an MSL. When should I apply?
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If your current license is pending renewal, you are still responsible for paying your annual renewal fee consistent with WAC 246-840-990 and WAC 246-12-030 to maintain an active license in Washington state.
The multistate license is subject to the licensing and FBI background check process.
The multistate license application review process may take 2-3 weeks.
- If I apply for a Washington multistate license and it takes several weeks, can I still work?
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Depends. If you have an active MSL from another state or an active Washington single-state license, you can.
If you have an active MSL from another state, per NLC rules, you may practice under your previous PSOR MSL license while you apply for a Washington MSL license.
You must apply for a Washington MSL license within 60 days if you change your PSOR to Washington state.
You are still responsible for paying your annual renewal fee consistent with WAC 246-840-990 and WAC 246-12-030 to maintain an active license in Washington state.
- I am converting my Washington state license from a single-state to an MSL and am due for my annual renewal. Do I need to pay for the annual renewal of my Washington state license?
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Yes. Your license number will not change upon conversion to a Washington state multistate license.
The conversion fee is $65, and you are still responsible for paying your annual renewal fee consistent with WAC 246-840-990 and WAC 246-12-030 to maintain an active license in Washington state.
- Can I use my multistate license to practice as a school nurse in Washington state?
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The Professional Educator Standards Board recently filed rules allowing for the acceptance of all valid RN licenses to meet the requirements for ESA certification for school nurses, including valid Multistate Licenses (MSL). This policy is effective immediately.
Washington recently joined the Nursing Licensure Compact, meaning that holders of valid multistate licenses can practice in the state without needing to obtain an additional license.
For questions about the policy changes related to this issue, please contact Michael Nguyen, Program Manager, Educator Credentialing, at michael.nguyen@k12.wa.us.
- I hold an active MSL. Do I need to complete licensing continuing education requirements for all states in which I am practicing?
- No. You only need to meet the continuing education requirements for the state where you hold an active multistate license and primary state of residence.
ARNP Questions
- Can I apply for a Washington state ARNP MSL license?
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No. The NLC pertains to RN and LPN licenses only.
An APRN must hold an individual state license in each state of APRN practice.
Information about the APRN compact is available at aprncompact.com.
- Do I need to apply for a Washington single-state RN license if I have an active RN MSL from another state?
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No. The NLC recognizes active multistate RN licenses as a valid license to support the ARNP license in another state.
At this time, if you are applying for a Washington state ARNP license, then you will have to submit a paper application to the Washington Board of Nursing:
You will also need to indicate on your application your active RN MSL number and state.
- Do I need to renew my Washington single-state RN license if I have an active RN MSL from another state?
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No. The NLC recognizes active multistate RN licenses as a valid license to support the ARNP license in another state.
If you have a Washington state ARNP license and an active multistate RN license in another state:
- You won't need to renew your Washington state RN license unless you change your PSOR to Washington state
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You must notify us of this transition when you renew your ARNP license by:
- Completing the ARNP MSL Declaration form (PDF)
- Email completed form to nursing@doh.wa.gov, or mail in with your renewal fee payment
PSOR & Moving Questions
- What does Primary State of Residence (PSOR) mean?
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For compact purposes, PSOR is not related to property ownership in a state. It's about your legal residency status. Everyone has legal documents such as a driver’s license, voter’s card, federal income tax return, military form no. 2058 or W2 form from the PSOR. If a nurse’s PSOR is a compact state, that nurse may be eligible for a multistate (compact) license. If a nurse cannot declare a compact state as their PSOR, that nurse is not eligible for a compact license. They may apply for a single-state license in any state where they wish to practice.
- What do I need to do before I move to Washington state?
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The required steps will vary based on the moving scenario.
When moving to Washington state from another state with a multistate license, a nurse may continue to practice under the existing multistate license. If Washington is your primary state of residence, you should apply for a Washington multistate as soon as the Washington State Board of Nursing begins issuing them. The MSL is subject to the licensing process, including an FBI background check. The multistate license application review process may take 2-3 weeks.
- I'm moving to Washington state, when can I apply for a Washington MSL?
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The multistate license is subject to the licensing and FBI background check process. The multistate license application review process may take 2-3 weeks.
If moving to Washington state, please note that under the Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators rules section 403 (1), a nurse who changes his or her primary state of residence from one party state to another party state may continue to practice under the existing multistate license while the nurse's application is processed, and a multistate license is issued in the new primary state of residence.
Under section 402 (2) of the NLC rules, a multistate licensee who changes primary state of residence to another party state shall apply for a multistate license in the new party state within 60 days. Note, a change in primary state of residency does not include travelers living in a state temporarily and plan to return to another state of residence.
- My primary state of residence is a noncompact state; it is also where I am licensed. I am applying for a license in Washington state. Do I have to give up my original license?
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No, you may maintain your current license and receive a single-state license in Washington state. Residents of noncompact states can hold as many single-state licenses as they would like.
- What if I move from Washington to another compact state?
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When permanently relocating to another compact state, apply for licensure by endorsement and complete the Declaration of Primary State of Residence form within the application, which can be found on your board of nursing’s (BON's) website.
You may start the application process before or after the move. You should not delay applying once you have moved. There is no grace period. If you apply in advance of the move, you may be issued a single-state license, or your application may be held until you provide proof of legal residency. At that time, you may be issued a multistate license.
- I live in a noncompact state, but I will be changing my PSOR to Washington state in a few months for a job. Can I apply for a license in that state now so I can work immediately after moving?
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Yes, you may start the application process before the move.
- I live in a noncompact state, but own property in Washington state. Can I get an MSL?
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To be eligible for a compact license, your declared primary state of residence must be a compact state. The primary state of residency does not pertain to owning property, instead it refers to your legal status of residency. Proof of residence includes obtaining a driver’s license, voting/registering to vote, or filing federal taxes with an address in that state. These legal documents should be issued by the same state.
- I have a compact MSL and have accepted a temporary assignment in Washington state. My employer or staffing agency is telling me that I need to get a Washington single-state license.
- When hired in a remote state for a temporary position or commuting to a remote state from the primary state of residence (usually an adjacent state), employers should not require you to apply for licensure in the remote state when you have lawfully declared another state as your primary state of residence (PSOR). PSOR is based on where you pay federal income tax, vote and/or hold a driver’s license. The remote state nursing regulatory body cannot issue a license to a nurse who has declared another compact state as the PSOR, since the multistate license from the home state applies to both states. You have the privilege to practice in any remote compact state with your multistate license.