Could a Washington LPN license be multistate?
Only if it was issued or upgraded on or after January 31, 2024 — the day the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) began issuing multistate licenses to Washington residents. A license granted before that date was single-state at the time, and it does not become multistate by age or renewal alone. A nurse licensed here for twenty years who has never upgraded will still verify as single-state.
The act that defines LPN practice in Washington
The compact decides whether you may practice in Washington. What LPN practice actually means here — scope, titles, what you may do and delegate — is set by Washington’s own nurse practice act, RCW ch. 18.79 (Nursing Care), and interpreted by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). Two states can both recognize your license and still differ on what you may do with it.
How the compact treats LPN licenses
The compact covers LPN/LVN licenses on the same terms as RN licenses — a multistate LPN license carries compact privilege across compact states, while a single-state LPN license is valid only where it was issued. Washington issues both types, so which one you hold matters.
LPN and LVN are the same credential
Most states, including Washington, use "licensed practical nurse (LPN)." Texas and California call the same credential an LVN (licensed vocational nurse). The compact covers LPN and LVN identically.
Verifying your Washington LPN license
Nursys QuickConfirm shows whether a LPN license is single-state or multistate, plus its status and expiration. For official requirements, go to the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON), or see our Washington verification guide.