Washington LPN License: Lookup, Renewal, CE, and Fees

Washington joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on January 31, 2024, which means an LPN who holds a multistate license issued by another compact member state may practice in Washington under that multistate privilege without applying for a separate Washington license. An LPN whose home-state license is not a multistate compact license, or whose home state does not belong to the compact, must apply for a Washington license by endorsement instead.

To apply by endorsement, an LPN with an active license from another state pays a $93 or $158 fee, submits license verification, and completes a fingerprint-based state and FBI background check starting within 30 days of applying. Washington offers a temporary permit during processing, and endorsement applicants take no separate state jurisprudence exam. Graduates of non-traditional programs must document 1,000 hours of active practice elsewhere, and those educated outside the United States complete a separate process that includes an English proficiency exam unless exempt.

Washington requires completion of an approved practical nursing education program before licensure. Graduates of Washington programs are certified electronically by their program director, while graduates of out-of-state programs submit official transcripts showing their degree and graduation date. All applicants must pass the NCLEX-PN exam, administered through Pearson VUE at test sites in Renton, Seattle, Yakima, and Spokane. An applicant who fails the exam four times must complete a board-approved NCLEX preparation course before testing again. The board does not state a required program length.