Apply for a Washington nursing license by endorsement in the correct order
Endorsement is Washington’s licensing route for an RN or LPN who was originally licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction after passing an approved national nursing examination.
Start here: determine whether you need a Washington single-state license, qualify for a Washington multistate license, or may already practise under an active multistate license issued by another compact home state.
Then submit the correct application through HELMS, order original exam-state verification, supply education evidence when required and follow the Board’s fingerprint instructions.
Do you need endorsement, a compact privilege or another application?
Apply for Washington licensure
Use endorsement when Washington licensure is required and you were originally licensed as an RN or LPN in another U.S. jurisdiction after passing NCLEX or an accepted predecessor examination.
Your home state is elsewhere
If your primary state of residence remains another compact state and you hold an active multistate license there, that home-state license may provide a privilege to practise in Washington.
Verify the multistate designationEndorsement may be the wrong route
Use examination if Washington will be the initial licensing jurisdiction. A previous Washington credential may require renewal, reactivation or another status-change transaction.
Review renewal and reactivation routesEndorsement does not transfer your existing license. It creates separate Washington authority. Do not begin practice solely because an application was submitted or a payment was accepted. Confirm an issued license, valid compact privilege or temporary practice permit.
Washington RN and LPN endorsement requirements in 2026
WAC 246-840-090, effective January 30, 2026, controls endorsement for applicants educated in a U.S. jurisdiction. WABON retains authority to determine whether an applicant’s nursing education is sufficient.
| Requirement | What Washington expects | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing education | Graduation from a program approved by a U.S. nursing board or regulatory authority and sufficient for the requested license level. | Identify the exact school, campus, dates, program and credential. |
| Existing license | A current active U.S. nursing license, or an applicable inactive or expired-license route under the rule. | Check the live status before applying and disclose every requested license. |
| Original licensure | Verification that the applicant was originally licensed after passing the applicable approved examination. | Order endorsement verification from the exam state through Nursys or the issuing authority. |
| Education verification | An official transcript sent directly by the nursing program when education cannot be verified through another accepted source. | Do not substitute a student copy when WABON requires a source-issued transcript. |
| Application and fee | A completed application for the correct RN or LPN license type. | Select single-state or multistate authority carefully before payment. |
| Background review | Complete personal-data answers and any applicable state or federal background check. | Upload the supporting explanation and records requested for every yes answer. |
Washington nursing endorsement fees for 2026
Washington publishes different initial fees for single-state and multistate RN/LPN licenses. Verification and fingerprint processing are separate transactions.
| Cost item | Published amount | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| RN single-state initial license | $138 | Provides Washington-only authority. |
| LPN single-state initial license | $93 | Provides Washington-only authority. |
| RN multistate initial license | $203 | Requires Washington primary residence and all uniform multistate requirements. |
| LPN multistate initial license | $158 | Requires Washington primary residence and all uniform multistate requirements. |
| Nursys endorsement verification | $30 | Paid to Nursys when the original licensing jurisdiction participates. |
| Federal fingerprint processing |
$33 through September 30, 2026; $36 beginning October 1, 2026 |
Applies when WABON requires the FBI check. Fingerprint-taking providers may charge separately. |
| Transcript or credential evaluation | Varies | Controlled by the school or approved evaluation provider. |
Do not add the HEAL-WA charge twice. WABON’s fee materials state that RN and LPN charges include a $16 HEAL-WA fee. Use the total displayed for the selected application and review the itemized HELMS checkout before paying. Licensing fees are nonrefundable.
How to apply for Washington nursing licensure by endorsement
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Confirm that endorsement is the correct transaction
Endorsement generally applies when you already hold or previously held an RN or LPN license in another U.S. jurisdiction after passing the approved national examination.
Review WABON licensing terminology -
Choose single-state or multistate authority
Choose a Washington single-state license when Washington-only authority fits your situation. Choose the multistate application only if Washington is your primary state of residence and you meet every compact requirement.
Check Washington multistate eligibility -
Create or access your Secure Access Washington account
Sign in through SAW and add the Health Professional and Facility Licensing HELMS service. Locate an existing healthcare credential record before creating another person profile.
Follow the official HELMS setup instructions -
Complete the RN or LPN endorsement application
Use your full legal identity, complete education and licensing history, choose the correct license type and answer personal-data questions accurately. Save the application confirmation and pending credential number.
Open Washington DOH Apply Online -
Order original exam-state license verification
Use Nursys Nurse License Verification for Endorsement when the original licensing jurisdiction participates. If it does not, follow that board’s direct verification procedure.
Order Nursys endorsement verification -
Arrange education verification
If WABON cannot confirm your education through the original board, regulatory authority or accepted evaluation service, have the school send an official transcript directly to WABON.
Read the official transcript rule -
Upload applicant-supplied documents promptly
WABON’s portal guidance gives applicants 14 days after submission to upload documents through the online application. After that window, follow the Board’s stated email or submission route for additional materials.
Review current RN submission instructions -
Complete fingerprints when instructed
Wait for WABON’s application-specific directions. A single-state applicant with an out-of-state address may need an FBI check; every multistate applicant must complete the fingerprint requirement.
Read current fingerprint information -
Track the pending credential and answer deficiencies
Use Washington’s Provider Credential Search and HELMS information to monitor the record. Respond to the exact missing requirement rather than starting a duplicate application.
Check application and license status -
Verify final issuance before practice
Confirm the exact RN or LPN credential, status, expiration and single-state or multistate designation. A pending credential or submitted payment is not a license.
Open Washington Provider Credential Search
Who should send each endorsement document?
Washington may reject or disregard an applicant-uploaded copy when the controlling requirement calls for a school, licensing authority, Nursys or credential evaluator to send the record directly.
| Document | Correct sender | Matching check |
|---|---|---|
| HELMS application | Applicant through the secure portal. | Legal name, birth date, address and license level are accurate. |
| Exam-state verification | Nursys or the original licensing authority. | Destination is Washington State Board of Nursing. |
| Official transcript | Nursing school or accepted official transcript service. | Enrollment dates, courses, credits, graduation and credential are shown. |
| Credential evaluation | WABON-approved evaluation service. | The report matches the requested RN or LPN route. |
| Fingerprint card and fee | Applicant using the application-specific WABON instructions. | Name and credential number match the pending application. |
| Positive-response records | Applicant, court, licensing board or other source as directed. | Each yes answer has a clear explanation and complete supporting record. |
| Primary-state-of-residence proof | Applicant requesting multistate authority. | Accepted document shows Washington as the legal home state. |
Personal preparation checklist
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Washington fingerprint and temporary practice permit rules
Out-of-state address
WABON’s current comparison guidance lists an FBI fingerprint check for a single-state RN or LPN applicant who uses an out-of-state address.
Fingerprinting is required
Every Washington multistate-license applicant must complete an FBI fingerprint background check along with the other uniform requirements.
Permit may be available
A temporary practice permit may be issued to an otherwise eligible applicant whose only outstanding item is completion of the FBI fingerprint check. Issuance is not automatic.
Use the Board’s card and sequence. Washington does not accept fingerprinting completed for a different agency as a substitute. Keep the card flat, do not staple it, and make sure the application name and credential identifiers match.
A temporary practice permit is not the permanent Washington license and does not replace separate multistate eligibility. Confirm the permit’s live status and conditions through official verification before working.
Washington single-state and multistate licenses are different
| Feature | Washington single-state license | Washington multistate license |
|---|---|---|
| Practice reach | Washington only. | Washington and other participating compact jurisdictions, subject to compact rules. |
| Primary residence | Washington primary residence is not required merely to hold the license. | Washington must be the applicant’s primary state of residence. |
| Social Security number | Follow the application’s identity requirements and applicable form. | A valid U.S. Social Security number is required. |
| Fingerprinting | Listed for applicants with an out-of-state address. | FBI fingerprint background check required. |
| Discipline and criminal history | Application disclosures and Washington licensing review apply. | Must also satisfy the uniform compact criminal-history, discipline and alternative-program standards. |
Temporary Washington assignment
A nurse whose legal home remains another compact state may use an active home-state multistate privilege in Washington. Verify that the credential is actually designated multistate.
Permanent move to Washington
A nurse moving legal residence from one compact state to Washington should follow the compact change-of-residence rule and apply for Washington multistate authority through endorsement.
An active license issued by a compact state is not automatically a multistate license. Check the official Nursys record for the credential designation and privileges before accepting a Washington assignment.
Expired licenses, nontraditional programs and international education
Inactive or expired U.S. license
Current Washington rules allow an endorsement route involving successful completion of a Board-approved refresher course. A limited education authorization may support the clinical portion, but it is not employment authority.
RN program without a clinical component
An RN graduate of a nontraditional program without a clinical component must provide evidence of 1,000 hours of RN practice in a U.S. jurisdiction without regulatory discipline.
Education outside the United States
Internationally educated applicants follow WAC 246-840-091 and may need an approved credentials evaluation, English-proficiency evidence and other education or practice documentation.
Review international applicant requirementsAdvanced registered nurse practitioners
RN endorsement does not automatically grant Washington ARNP authority. An advanced-practice applicant must meet the separate ARNP education, certification and licensing requirements. Depending on the situation, the applicant needs an active Washington RN license or an eligible multistate RN license from another compact home state.
Open Washington ARNP RequirementsTrack your Washington application and prevent automatic closure
Application processing depends on receipt and matching of outside-source documents. WABON does not promise one endorsement timeline for every case. Education review, fingerprints and positive-response records can extend processing.
| Status problem | Likely reason | Best next action |
|---|---|---|
| Verification incomplete | Wrong service used, incorrect destination or original board does not participate in Nursys. | Check the paid endorsement-verification receipt and the issuing board’s procedure. |
| Education incomplete | WABON cannot confirm education through the original licensing authority. | Have the nursing school send the official transcript directly. |
| Fingerprint pending | Card not received, identity mismatch or federal processing is incomplete. | Confirm delivery and matching before submitting another paid fingerprint card. |
| Exception review | Criminal, disciplinary, education or personal-data information needs individual review. | Provide the exact explanation and complete records requested by WABON. |
| Closed application | Required information was not received during the active application period. | Contact WABON to confirm whether a new application and nonrefundable fee are required. |
| Pending credential visible | Application exists but final authority has not been issued. | Continue monitoring until the official record shows an active license or permit. |
Watch inactivity dates. Current WABON RN guidance says an application receives a closure warning after 30 days of inactivity and may close after a total of 60 days from the last document received. Follow the warning’s exact instructions and current application record.
Useful application-status message
“I submitted my Washington _____ endorsement application on _____. My pending credential number is _____. The current record shows _____. The document was sent by _____ on _____ through _____. Please confirm whether it has been matched and identify the exact remaining requirement.”
Washington State Board of Nursing office and map
Include the pending credential number, application type, document name, sender and delivery date when contacting WABON about an application.
Washington State Board of Nursing
- Physical location
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111 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501 - Mailing address
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PO Box 47864
Olympia, WA 98504 - Licensing phone
- 360-236-4703
- Licensing email
- WABONlicensing@doh.wa.gov
- General nursing email
- nursing@doh.wa.gov
- Published office hours
- Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Confirm visitor arrangements and the correct mailing address before traveling or sending payment. An office visit does not guarantee immediate document matching or same-day license issuance.
Washington nursing license by endorsement FAQ
How do I apply for a Washington nursing license by endorsement?
Create or access a Secure Access Washington account, add HELMS, choose the correct RN or LPN single-state or multistate application, submit the application and fee, order original exam-state verification, arrange education evidence when required, complete fingerprints if instructed and verify final issuance.
How much is Washington RN endorsement in 2026?
WABON publishes an initial RN fee of $138 for a Washington single-state license and $203 for a Washington multistate license. Nursys, fingerprints, transcripts and credential evaluations can add separate costs.
How much is Washington LPN endorsement in 2026?
WABON publishes an initial LPN fee of $93 for a Washington single-state license and $158 for a Washington multistate license. Separate verification, fingerprint and document costs may apply.
Does Washington require Nursys verification for endorsement?
Washington requires verification of original licensure by examination. Use Nursys Nurse License Verification for Endorsement when the original licensing jurisdiction participates; otherwise use that jurisdiction’s direct verification process.
Do I need to send an official nursing transcript?
An official transcript sent directly by the nursing program is required when WABON cannot verify the applicant’s education through the original board, regulatory authority or an approved evaluation service. WABON may also request additional course or clinical information.
Are fingerprints required for Washington endorsement?
WABON lists FBI fingerprints for a single-state RN or LPN applicant with an out-of-state address. Every Washington multistate-license applicant must complete an FBI fingerprint background check. Follow the instructions sent after applying.
Can I receive a temporary practice permit?
An otherwise eligible endorsement applicant may receive a temporary practice permit when the FBI fingerprint result is the only outstanding licensing item. The permit is not automatic and must be verified before practice.
Is Washington a Nurse Licensure Compact state?
Yes. Washington issues qualifying RN and LPN multistate licenses to applicants whose primary state of residence is Washington and who meet all uniform compact and state requirements.
Can I work in Washington with another state’s multistate license?
A valid multistate RN or LPN license issued by another compact home state can provide a Washington practice privilege while that state remains the nurse’s primary state of residence. Verify the multistate designation and current privilege through Nursys.
How do I check my Washington endorsement application?
Use Washington’s official application-status and Provider Credential Search resources. A pending credential shows that an application exists; it does not establish practice authority. Confirm an active license or valid permit before working.
Official sources checked for this guide
This guide was reviewed on October 13, 2026. Application routes, fees, fingerprint amounts and portal instructions can change. The live WABON, Washington DOH and Nursys information controls.
To report a broken link or factual concern, use our contact page. Do not send Social Security numbers, fingerprint cards, transcripts, applications or private licensing records to this website. Read our editorial and source policy.