WABON is pleased to announce the passage of Senate Bill 5051, consolidating regulatory authority for nursing assistants!
This bill was unanimously passed by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Ferguson on April 4, 2025.
This is a huge step forward in ensuring a more unified, streamlined, and efficient regulatory system for nursing assistants in Washington state.
Effective July 1, 2026, credentialing and disciplinary authority for nursing assistants will be transferred from the Secretary of Health to the Board of Nursing. This legislation also adds two new nursing assistant-certified members to the board and expands a current member position to include a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse with experience as a nursing assistant educator. Nursing assistants will now have a well-deserved seat at the table, allowing their frontline expertise to shape policies and practices.
More updates will follow in the coming months as WABON begins to implement this transition. For now, we celebrate this huge win for both hardworking nursing assistants and public health!