The Office of the Governor is recruiting the following members for the Washington State Board of Nursing:
- One Public Member,
- One Licensed Practical Nurse or Registered Nurse who is a program director or educator in a Certified Nursing Assistant Program,
- Two Certified Nursing Assistants currently in practice and with two years of experience as a CNA,
- One Registered Nurse in a direct care role, and
- Two Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
If you are interested in protecting the public’s health and safety by regulating the competency and quality of licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, advanced registered nurse practitioners and nursing technicians, you are encouraged to apply for a board seat.
The Board of Nursing needs candidates with diverse backgrounds and geographic representation. As a member on the Board of Nursing, you can serve an integral role in ensuring consistent standards of practice, continuing competency mechanisms and discipline, along with monitoring and enforcement of education and licensing of practicing nurses in Washington state. The Board of Nursing’s legislative mandate is to protect the health and safety of the public and the Governor looks for people to study these issues and make decisions in the best interest of the public.
The Board of Nursing meets six times a year, usually on the second Friday in January, March, May, July, September, and November. Board members are required at board meetings and participate on a variety of subcommittees. The estimated time commitment of approximately 18 hours per month.
Nursing members must have been licensed to practice nursing in Washington with at least three years of experience and all prospective board members must be a resident of Washington State RCW 18.79.070: Commission established—Membership—Qualifications. (wa.gov). Certified Nursing Assistants must have two years of experience (5051.SL.pdf).
Applicants who plan to advance their credentials, should only apply if they will remain in the appropriate role for most of the appointment term. For example, those who are Licensed Practical Nurses or Certified Nursing Assistants are requested to remain working in an LPN/CNA role for the majority of their appointment before attaining a higher degree. Similarly, Registered Nurses planning to complete an Advanced Nurse Practitioner degree program, would ideally be working as a RN if appointed to a RN board seat.
Public member representatives may not:
- Be a member of any other healthcare licensing board or commission.
- Have a fiduciary obligation to a facility rendering health care services.
- Have a financial interest in the rendering of health services.
Please visit the Governor’s website and complete the application no later than January 15, 2026. For more information about serving as a member with the Board of Nursing, listen to our Board of Nursing Podcast, known as the BONcast, and visit the WABON website to review the qualifications, total time commitment, board participation expectations and guidelines.
If you have previously submitted your application for an appointment, those applications are still pending appointment from the Office of the Governor, you are welcome to also apply to current positions. Please email questions to WABONBoardApplication@doh.wa.gov.