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Online Portal Instructions

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What is HELMS?

HELMS is the new online portal for submitting applications, renewals, status changes, and account updates.

I'm Ready To Do the Following:

Note: Please have your license number in hand!

Apply for a License
Renew/Reactivate a License

How to Apply or Renew Your License Online

Follow the steps below to create, connect, and use your HELMS account.

Step 1: Find Your License Number

Use Provider Credential Search to find your license number if you don’t have it available.

Step 2: Use a Desktop Computer

Use a desktop computer – mobile and tablet users have experienced error messages.

Step 3: Access Your Saw Account

SecureAccess Washington (SAW) screenshot on a computer monitor in a plant decorated office

Login to Your SAW Account

You can either print the PDF instructions or follow the instructions below on how to find your existing SAW account or creating a new one.

Check if You Already Have a SAW Account

Since so many state agencies use SAW, you may already have a SAW account. If you're not sure if you already have a SAW account, you can check.

  1. Go to secureaccess.wa.gov
  2. Click the Get Help button
  3. Enter your email address in the Username Reminder field
  4. Click to check the "I'm not a robot" button
  5. Click Send
Tips
  • If you have an account, you'll receive an email within a few minutes (You may need to check your Spam or Junk mail)
  • If you don't have an account, a message will pop up saying "Your email is not found in the system" (If you have multiple email addresses, you may want to try each one before creating a new account)

Create a New SAW Account

If you don't have a SAW account, you'll have to create one.

  1. Go to secureaccess.wa.gov
  2. Click the Sign Up! button
  3. Enter your first name, last name and email address
  4. Create a username and password
  5. Click to check the "I'm not a robot" button
  6. Click the Create my account button
  7. Go to your email and click the link to activate your account
  8. Click the Login button
  9. Enter your username and password and click Submit
Tips

Need Additional Help with SAW?

If you have issues with the SAW site, contact Consolidated Technology Services (CTS). Help is available 24 hours.

Step 4: Add HELMS to Your Portal

As a nurse or applicant for a nursing credential, you will need to manually add the HELMS Portal when renewing or applying in HELMS for the first time. If you have held, currently hold, or have ever applied for a healthcare credential in Washington state, you will need to locate your account within HELMS to link these credentials to your account. Please create a new account only if this is the first time you have applied to the state of Washington for any healthcare credential.

  1. Click My Services
  2. Add by Agency
  3. Click Department of Health
  4. Add the "Health Professional and Facility Licensing (HELMS)” service to your SAW account

Step 5: Verify and Update Your Contact Information

How to Update Your Personal Information

You are responsible for maintaining your license, including keeping your personal and contact information current.

In HELMS, you will be prompted to locate your existing DOH credential/account and required to verify and update your contact information (email, phone number, address), your legal name, or your social security number.

How to change your name

To change your name, please submit a name change request through the HELMS Portal. The following documents are acceptable proof of a name change in Washington state.

  • Marriage certificate
  • Divorce decree
  • Naturalization document
  • Legal name change document signed by a judge
If you are missing any of the information listed above, we can't complete your name change request.

Step 6: Navigating HELMS

Apply for a New Credential

If you are applying for a new credential, click "Start application."

Renew Your License

  1. Find your credential at the bottom
  2. Click the 3 dots on the right and choose "Renew"

Upgrade to a Multistate License

  1. Find the credential you want to upgrade under “All Credentials” at the bottom
  2. Click on the 3 dots
  3. Choose "Multistate Upgrade"

Reactivate an Expired Credential

  1. Go to secureaccess.wa.gov
  2. Find the expired credential you want to reactivate under “All Credentials” at the bottom
  3. Click on the 3 dots
  4. Choose "Expired Reactivation"

Step 7: Complete Your Demographic Data Survey

Workforce Data Requirements

Submit your demographic data through the HELMS online renewal Portal in compliance with state law.

Under RCW 18.130.042., all licensed health care professionals in Washington are required to provide demographic and workforce data during initial licensure and renewal.

A new tab will open to take you to the survey page. To return to the HELMS page, close the Demographic Survey Tab.

About This Data:

Out-of-state Multistate License (MSL) Requirements

If you are an RN or LPN and work for a Washington state mandatory employer and you:

  • Have a multistate license (MSL) from another NLC state
  • Don't have a Washington state nurse license

Then you must complete the MSL demographic survey:

  • When you are first hired to work in Washington
  • Every year after that
Complete the MSL demographic survey:

Step 8: Get a Copy of Your Receipt

For a copy of your payment receipt, navigate to your HELMS portal homepage.

  1. Choose "Payments"
  2. Then choose "History"
  3. Click "Download Receipt"

Step 9: Renewal Notices Are Now Digital

The Department of Health is no longer mailing courtesy renewal reminder cards out to licensees. Instead, an automated email reminder from the HELMS database will prompt an online renewal to the licensee's email on file approximately 90 days before your renewal due date (birth date).

Step 10: Verify Your License

The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) does not print credential certificates upon issuance of a nursing credential. The WABON discourages photocopying or printing of licenses due to the potential misuse of the paper copy of the license. The Department of Health’s Provider Credential Search should be used by all healthcare providers, facilities, employers, and the public to verify Washington state licensure status (active, pending, closed, suspended, denied, etc.).

You should only request a paid credential certificate if required for a specific employment need such as out of country work.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) provides primary source verification of all nurse licenses in all US jurisdictions to the public through Nursys.com. The NCSBN website also indicates whether a nursing license is a “single state” or “multistate” license.

Nursys.com should be used as primary source verification of licensure by all entities in the United States. You should only request a paid verification of licensure if required for out of country licensure or verification is required for specific employment/licensure (example: ARNP verifying licensure for some states).

Step 11: Check the Status of Your License

Return to the HELMS Portal Homepage to check the status column next to your credentials anytime.

 Need Additional Help?

Contact Us

111 Israel Road SE
PO Box 47864
Olympia, WA 98504
360-236-4703
nursing@doh.wa.gov

We Value Your Feedback

While the Board of Nursing is a regulatory board, we value a human-centered approach to our processes and continue to strive to improve our services. We appreciate hearing about your experience and any suggestions or solutions that you may have. Thank you for your time to provide input; feedback may be done anonymously, or you may request a response.

Link to Survey