• For busy Washington nurses juggling incredible strains on the overall healthcare system, little time is left for sifting through new rules and requirements for their 2025 Washington nursing license renewal.
• A lapse in licensure means you are no longer legally allowed to work in the state of Washington as a nurse.
• Nursing CE Central has a full breakdown of top questions, deadlines, requirements, and consequences of missing your deadline for the 2025 Washington nursing license renewal period.

Understanding Your 2025 Washington Nursing License Renewal

As nurses across the country battle against staffing shortages, burnout, and an all-time high of demands and strains on the overall healthcare system, little time is left for sifting through new rules and requirements for license renewal!

Licenses are set to expire during a chaotic, 2025 season for Washington nurses, and a lapse in licensure not only means a big headache dealing with the Washington Board of Nursing, but also the inability to continue working.

That’s why our Nursing CE Central team has a full breakdown of top questions, deadlines, requirements, and consequences of missing your renewal deadline for the 2025 Washington nursing license renewal period.

1. What are the 2025
continuing education requirements for renewal?

All active Washington State RNs are required to complete 8 hours of continuing education yearly before you renew your license.

Nurses are also required to complete a mandatory one-time suicide prevention training requirement. Nurses who provide telehealth services must complete a nursing telemedicine training course, this is a one-time requirement. These hours can count toward your CE hours.

(Nursing CE Central’s 2024 Washington State Renewal Bundle meets all recurring license renewal requirements; we provide a link to all one-time requirements.)

2. Is Nursing CE Central a Washington State Board of Nursing-approved provider?   

Yes! Courses from Nursing CE Central are approved and accepted by the Washington State Board of Nursing.

3. How long must I keep documentation proving I completed my 2025
continuing education requirements for renewal? 

While you are not required to send in documentation to renew your nursing license, the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission does recommend keeping these documents for at least two years. They may ask for documentation of continuing education hours during a disciplinary investigation.

4. Can I renew now, and complete my continuing education units (CEUs) later? 

No, you must complete CEUs within the year before you renew your license. However, you do not need to send a certificate of CE completion to the Board unless the Board requests it. If you are selected for an audit or are involved in a disciplinary investigation, you may be required to send documentation of CE completion.

5. Am I required to complete a test or quiz for my Washington CE Requirements? 

No. We’ve made it as easy as possible to complete your Washington State requirements. You can easily complete your CE requirements with just one click.

6. Can continuing education hours be carried over if more continuing education hours are completed during the renewal period?

No. Nurses cannot carry over any hours to the next renewal period.

7. Can nurses count the required training for suicide prevention and telehealth training for continuing education?

Yes, nurses can count training in suicide prevention and telehealth training as continuing education.

8. How can I check that my renewal application is complete? 

You check the status of your pending license on the Department of Health’s Provider Credential Search. Please note, the Provider Credential Search will not detail what is missing from your application. If you are missing anything from your application, the Board will email you directly.

9. What happens if I don’t renew my license before the deadline? 

If you do not renew your license before the expiration date, you will not be able to renew online. A delay in processing time may affect your active licensure status. All nurses who miss their renewal deadline will have to pay a $50 late fee.

*fees subject to change

10. When is the last day to renew my license with the state of Washington, before my license becomes inactive?

You are required to renew annually by your birthday to remain in active status.

11. How can I get my license active again? 

All nurses who miss their renewal deadline will have to pay a $50 late fee and must still meet all continuing education requirements when renewing. 

For more information on Washington nursing license renewal requirements, or to start your Washington required CEUs, click here.

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