Living in California, working in Washington
Can a California nurse work in Washington?
Living in California generally means you cannot obtain a multistate license, because California is not a compact state. To work in Washington, you will usually need a single-state Washington license or a license by endorsement — not compact privilege.
California vs Washington at a glance
| California (home) | Washington (work) | |
|---|---|---|
| Compact status | Non-compact | Compact |
| Multistate license for residents | No | Yes |
| Compact nurses can practice here | No | Yes |
| Board of nursing | California board ↗ | Washington board ↗ |
Status shown as of 2026-06-17. Compact law changes — confirm anything that affects your license with the state board.
Recommended next step
Apply for a Washington license by endorsement through the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON).
Verify before you rely on this
Whether you can practice comes down to your actual license type, not just the two states’ status. Look your license up on Nursys to confirm it is single-state or multistate, then check Washington’s current requirements with the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON).
Things to keep in mind
- A compact (multistate) license is issued by your primary state of residence. Since California is non-compact, that option is not available through California.
- If you later make a compact state your primary residence, you may become eligible for a multistate license then.
- Always confirm your individual eligibility with the state board of nursing and check your license type in Nursys before you practice.
Frequently asked questions
Related pages
Sources & last reviewed
- NLC frequently asked questions— NCSBN / NurseCompact (nursecompact.com)
Covers multistate licenses, primary state of residence, the 60-day rule, telehealth, and license type coverage.
- NLC member states map & status— NCSBN / NurseCompact (nursecompact.com)
Identifies full members, partial implementation (Guam), and enacted/awaiting implementation (Massachusetts, U.S. Virgin Islands).
- Nursys QuickConfirm license verification— NCSBN / Nursys (nursys.com)
Recommended destination to verify whether a license is single-state or multistate.
Facts on this page were last reviewed against official sources on 2026-06-17. Compact law changes — always verify with your state board of nursing.