Direct answer
The responsible authority is Washington State Board of Nursing. Use the verified contact details and task-specific official links on this page.
Washington source-reviewed jurisdiction snapshot
| Item | Reviewed detail |
|---|---|
| Authority | Washington State Board of Nursing |
| Public verification | Washington Provider Credential Search |
| Renewal cycle | Annual |
| Renewal deadline | Renew annually by the credential expiration date. |
| Continuing competence | Washington requires continuing competency for nursing renewal. Current RN materials include 8 hours of continuing education annually plus an active-practice requirement defined by the Board. |
| Fees | The Board lists the annual RN single-state renewal fee at $138. Confirm credential-specific and multistate amounts on the current fee page. |
| Compact status | Compact jurisdiction |
| Credentials | LPN, RN, ARNP |
| Phone | (360) 236-4703 |
| Physical location | 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 |
| Mailing address | 111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501 |
| Primary official domains | nursing.wa.gov |
For Washington, 5 primary official source records and 9 labeled official destinations support this jurisdiction guide.
Responsible licensing authority
The Washington State Board of Nursing regulates LPN, RN, ARNP and related nursing credentials. The state’s licensing pages route renewal, applications, continuing competency and fees.
111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501Open map ↗
Confirm current service hours and walk-in availability before visiting.
Which office or system should you use?
| Goal | Route | Why and what to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Verify current license status | NCSBN License Verification Guidance | Use the reviewed Washington primary-source route to confirm legal name, credential, status, expiration and public restrictions. Search by license number when available and document the live Washington result date. |
| Renew or reactivate a license | Washington Renew or Reactivate | Washington renewal eligibility, declarations and payments belong in the official account or renewal system. Follow this published timing: Renew annually by the credential expiration date. |
| Check CE or continuing competence | Washington Continuing Competency | Washington rules can differ by credential, first renewal, practice hours, mandatory topics or national certification. Review the exact requirement before buying coursework: Washington requires continuing competency for nursing renewal. Current RN materials include 8 hours of continuing education annually plus an active-practice requirement defined by the Board. |
| Apply by endorsement | NCSBN License Verification Guidance | The Washington destination authority decides application eligibility, documents, fingerprints, fees and any temporary authority. Use Nursys verification when available or follow Washington’s alternate verification instructions. |
| Use the account or transaction portal | Washington renewal/account service | Authenticated Washington transactions and messages should occur only in the authority-named system. Confirm the browser domain is one of the reviewed official domains: nursing.wa.gov. |
| Check complaints or public discipline | official complaint and discipline resource | License status and public discipline are separate questions in Washington. For Washington, open any public order or restriction linked by the authority; do not rely on social posts or an old screenshot. |
| Contact the licensing authority | Washington State Board of Nursing | For Washington, use the responsible office for a missing document, status discrepancy, credential routing or application message. Call (360) 236-4703 with the credential, license or application number available; do not email sensitive documents unless given a secure route. |
| Use national verification or monitoring | Nursys QuickConfirm / e-Notify when accepted | Nursys can support participating-board national verification, endorsement verification and monitoring, but the Washington authority remains the source for local requirements. Washington is recorded as an operational Nurse Licensure Compact jurisdiction in this dataset. Verify that the individual public record is actually designated multistate and that the nurse maintains Washington or another qualifying compact state as the primary state of residence. |
Complete official task destinations
Washington Provider Credential Search ↗
Official Washington provider credential search and discipline record route.
Current primary official source · reviewed July 28, 2026Washington Renew or Reactivate ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Washington Continuing Competency ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Washington RN License Requirements ↗
Official RN licensing information
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Washington Nurse License Fees ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Washington State Board of Nursing ↗
Primary official source reviewed for this jurisdiction.
Exact primary-source record · reviewed July 27, 2026Nurse Licensure Compact ↗
National compact resource used with the Washington status recorded as Compact jurisdiction; individual eligibility depends on the actual license designation and primary state of residence.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026NCLEX Official Website ↗
Official NCLEX information for examination candidates applying through Washington State Board of Nursing; passing the exam does not itself create a Washington license.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026NCSBN License Verification Guidance ↗
National licensing guidance used to interpret verification categories; the local Washington source remains Washington Provider Credential Search.
National official source · reviewed July 28, 2026Nursys QuickConfirm and e-Notify ↗
National participating-board service used alongside Washington Provider Credential Search for Washington; follow Washington State Board of Nursing instructions for endorsement or monitoring.
National official service · reviewed July 28, 2026Before contacting the authority
- Confirm which credential and authority apply, especially in split-board jurisdictions.
- Have the application type, license number or transaction reference available.
- Ask a specific question about a missing item, renewal eligibility, status or credential assignment.
- Do not email Social Security numbers, payment-card details or background documents unless the authority explicitly instructs a secure method.
- Record the date, office or unit contacted and the response.
- Verify final license status in the public lookup system.
Frequently asked questions
Which office handles nursing licenses in Washington?
Washington State Board of Nursing.
What is the published phone number?
(360) 236-4703
Is there a separate mailing address?
111 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
What should I prepare before contacting the authority?
Have the credential, application type, license number or transaction reference ready, but do not send sensitive records to an unverified address.
Is phone guidance proof of licensure?
No. Verify the final license status in the official public lookup system.
Should I visit the office without checking first?
No. Confirm office hours, walk-in availability and the correct unit before traveling.