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Registered Nurse (RN) License

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Before You Apply

Whether you are applying for a single-state or multi-state license in Washington, the following situations each have their specific requirements and application instructions.

Note: If you currently hold an active Single-State Washington license and want to upgrade to a multistate license, please review the Upgrade to an MSL instructions.

Application Requirements and Instructions Based on Method

Applying By Exam (NCLEX)

Read This First

If you are applying by exam, this is your first nurse license in the United States, Washington state will be your Initial US state of licensure. Knowing this is key if you ever wish to practice in another state.

If you are a recent graduate or applying for your first-ever RN license, you need to apply by exam. For a step-by-step guidance on the application process, please review this PowerPoint.

The Washington State Board of Nursing recently implemented a change to WAC 246-840-060 impacting NCLEX retesting rules. If you have failed the NCLEX four times, you will be required to complete a board-approved NCLEX prep course prior to being made eligible to retest.

Register and Pay for the NCLEX

Register and Pay for the NCLEX with Pearson Vue
  • Please only apply when you are ready to schedule and take the NCLEX exam. If you will be ready to sit for the NCLEX immediately upon completion of your nursing education program, please submit your online application about two weeks before your completion date.
  • After 30 days of inactivity, all applications receive a 30–day closure warning letter
  • If you received your initial nursing education outside of the United States, first go to the Educated Outside the United States page

Verify Education

Nursing Education Program Graduate in Washington State
  • If you graduated from a nursing education program in the state of Washington, the program director will send an electronic certificate of completion (COC) to our office after you complete the program
  • You don't need to request the COC, but you will need to request official transcripts after your degree and graduation date are posted by your school
Nursing Education Program Graduate in Another U.S. State or Jurisdiction
  • If you graduated from a nursing education program in another U.S. state or jurisdiction, we will need your official transcripts, with your degree and graduation date posted
  • This needs to be received by the WA Board of Nursing before we can grant eligibility to test in Pearson Vue
  • If we can’t determine equivalency, then you must submit the education verification form (PDF) completed by your nursing education program
Applicants Educated Internationally

If you were educated outside of the United States and you are applying for your first license in the United States, please visit the Educated Outside the United States page.

Register for the NCLEX

You may register to take the national exam online through Pearson VUE. They will email the “authorization to test” (ATT) to you.

See the Pearson VUE registration guide NCLEX Candidate Bulletin (PDF) for more information.

Washington State Pearson VUE Test Locations
ADA Accommodations for the NCLEX

To request ADA accommodations for the NCLEX, you will need to submit the following documentation with your application:

  • A letter from the diagnosing physician stating the diagnosis and recommended accommodations
  • A letter from the school stating the diagnosis and accommodations granted while enrolled in the nursing education program
  • A letter from yourself stating the diagnosis and requested accommodations

Washington State NCLEX Re-Take Requirements

Effective January 30, 2026, WAC 246-840-060(3) requires, “An applicant who fails to pass the examination after four attempts will not be eligible to retest until the applicant provides evidence of completing a relevant board-approved National Council Licensure Examination prep course.”

If you have already failed the NCLEX exam for any state or country four times, then you will be required to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course.

WABON-Approved List of NCLEX Prep Courses

After you have completed your WABON-approved NCLEX prep course, you will need to submit a copy of your certificate verifying completion issued by the institution above to the Washington State Board of Nursing to WABONlicensing@doh.wa.gov.

Send Official Transcripts

Have your official transcripts sent to us electronically or by mail.

Please do not have official transcripts sent until you have completed your nursing education program and your degree has been posted.

Electronic Transcripts

If your school uses one of the approved electronic transcript services below, please have them send your official transcripts to WABONlicensing@doh.wa.gov.

  • Parchment
  • Student Clearing House
Paper Transcripts

If your school doesn't use an electronic transcript service, please request transcripts be mailed to the address below. Make sure your transcripts have your degree and graduation date posted.

Mail transcripts to:

Attn: Licensing Unit
Washington State Board of Nursing
PO Box 47864
Olympia, WA 98504–7864

NCLEX Frequently Asked Questions

I failed the NCLEX three times in another state or country and once in Washington state. Am I now required to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course?
Yes. If you intend to sit for the NCLEX in Washington state again after your fourth failed attempt, you will need to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course before we can make you eligible to test again in Pearson Vue.
I have failed the NCLEX ten times in Washington State. Am I now required to complete the WABON-approved NCLEX prep course?
Yes. If you intend to sit for the NCLEX in Washington state again, you will need to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course before we can make you eligible to test again in Pearson Vue.
I have failed the NCLEX four times in another state or country and now want to test in Washington State. Am I now required to complete the WABON-approved NCLEX prep course?
Yes. If you intend to sit for the NCLEX in Washington state again, you will need to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course before we can make you eligible to test again in Pearson Vue.
I failed for the fourth time on January 29, 2026, am I still required to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course prior to sitting for the NCLEX again?
Yes. If you intend to sit for the NCLEX in Washington state again, you will need to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX Prep course before we can make you eligible to test again in Pearson Vue.
After taking the NCLEX prep course and failing four times, completing a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course, and failing another four times, do I need to complete a second NCLEX prep course?
Yes. If you intend to sit for the NCLEX in Washington state again, you will need to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course before we can make you eligible to test again in Pearson Vue.
I had to cancel my NCLEX or was a “no show” to the NCLEX, does this count towards the requirement to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course after four attempts?
No. The rule requirement is specific to completing an NCLEX prep course after “four failed” attempts.
Will my application stay open while I complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course or will I need to submit a new application and fee?
The application closure process allows a total of 60 days from the last document received before an application is closed via automation. If you require more than 60 days to complete a WABON-approved NCLEX prep course, then your application may be closed as incomplete, and you will need to reapply online with a new application and fee once you have completed your WABON-approved NCLEX prep course and are ready to sit for the NCLEX.
Why was the rule changed which allowed unlimited NCLEX attempts?
The Washington State Board of Nursing completed several rules workshops in 2025 prior to amending the requirements for NCLEX retakes. The rule was revised to promote applicant success on the NCLEX. Requiring remediation recognizes that repeated testing without targeted intervention is unlikely to address underlying knowledge gaps and increases the applicant’s financial burden. Requiring completion of an NCLEX prep course after four unsuccessful NCLEX attempts supports focused remediation aligned with identified areas of deficiency on the NCLEX. The goal is to support the candidate achieving successful NCLEX passage.

Applying by Endorsement

An Active RN License in Another State or an Expired U.S. License and an Active License in Canada

You need to have an active license in order to apply by endorsement.

If you don't have an active license in another state or Canada, you must complete a board-approved refresher program. Please indicate on the application if you are enrolled in a refresher program. If your U.S. license has expired and you have an active license in Canada, you will need to have verification of the active Canadian license sent to the WABON.

Verify Your Initial License in the United States

To apply by endorsement, we need to verify your initial license in the United States (the state where you got your first U.S. license).

Nursys Verification

Please use Nursys to request verification of your initial US license from your original state of licensure.

  1. Go to  Nursys.com
  2. Look for the Nurse License Verification for Endorsement section and click Request Verification
  3. Read the terms and conditions and click Agree
  4. Search for your name or license number
  5. Request to have your verification sent to Washington state
  6. Pay the online verification fee

Verify Active Practice Employment Hours

Note: this applies to non-traditional nursing education programs only

If you have completed a non-traditional nursing education program, you must submit work verification of at least 1,000 hours of active nursing practice in another state.

The work verification must come directly from your current or previous employer on company letterhead and include:

  • Dates Employed
  • Verification of Hours
  • Verification that you practiced in the profession in which you are applying

If You’re Educated Outside the USA

If you received your initial nursing education outside of the United States, go to Educated Outside the United States page first.

MSL Information

If Washington is Your Primary State of Residence (PSOR)

Nurses whose primary state of residence (PSOR) is Washington can apply for a Washington MSL.
  • 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

*If you already have a Washington single-state license, it won’t change automatically. If you want a multistate license, you must apply for an MSL upgrade.

Do You Have and Active RN MSL from Another State?

If you have an active RN MSL from another state, you don't need to apply for a Washington state license unless you change your primary state of residence (PSOR) to Washington state.

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.

Compare a Single-State License VS. MSL

Next Steps

Apply Online

To apply for a license or upgrade your single-state Washington RN license to an MSL, complete an online application through the HELMS Portal.

Submitting Forms and Documents

  • You have 14 days after you submit your application to upload your documents online
  • After 14 days, you won’t be able to access your application through SAW
  • If you have more documents to submit after 14 days, please email them to WABONlicensing@doh.wa.gov

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