Do I renew my multistate license in Washington or in the state where I practice?

You renew your multistate license in your primary state of residence — the state that issued it. If Washington is your home state, you renew here, and that single renewal keeps your compact privilege active in every compact state. Practicing elsewhere on privilege does not create a separate renewal there.

How many continuing-education hours does Washington require to renew?

Continuing-education hours, fees, and attestations are set by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) and change over time. We deliberately do not list them here to avoid publishing stale figures — confirm current requirements on the official board site before you renew.

CompactStates

How to renew a nursing license in Washington

Renewing a nursing license in Washington goes through the state board. Here is how it works, where to check your expiration, and what it means for compact privilege.

How do I renew a nursing license in Washington?

You renew through the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON), and Nursys shows your expiration date. Because Washington is a compact state, what matters is whether your license is single-state or multistate: renewing a multistate Washington license keeps your compact privilege active across every compact state, while a single-state Washington license renews for Washington only. You renew where you hold the license — your primary state of residence.

Last reviewed 2026-06-17

Renewing through the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON)

Renewal applications, fees, and continuing-education requirements are handled by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). These are board-set and change over time, so we point you to the official source rather than list figures that could go stale. See the general compact license renewal guide for how the compact fits in.

Finding your expiration date

Nursys QuickConfirm shows your license type, status, and expiration date — the fastest way to confirm when you need to renew and whether you hold a single-state or multistate license.

Renewal and your compact privilege

If you hold a multistate Washington license, keeping it renewed and in good standing is what keeps your compact privilege active in other states. Let it lapse and the privilege lapses with it. You renew only in your primary state of residence, not in every state you practice.

Next-step checklist

Check your expiration date and license type on Nursys (nursys.com).
Open the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) renewal page for current requirements and fees.
Complete any continuing education the board requires (verify hours on the board site).
If your license is multistate, renew it in your home state to keep compact privilege active.

Frequently asked questions

Renewal cycles are set by the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) (many boards use a two-year cycle, but it varies). Nursys QuickConfirm shows your exact expiration date. We do not store or look up individual records.