Nursing CE requirements are changing all the time.
A good example of that is in Washington.
As of June 2021, the State’s Department of Health released NEW CE requirements
So if you’re about to renew your nursing license, you should take heed of these changes.
Here, we’re going to simplify it for you in this complete 2023 guide on nursing CE requirements in Washington.
You’ll get everything you need to know here.
So let’s begin!
Washington Nursing CE Requirements
If you’re in a hurry, check the table overview below. It gives you the essential information regarding your renewal requirements.
| Type | Requirement |
| CNA / RNA(Certified Nursing Assistant / Registered Nursing Assistant) | No CE Required! Must complete 8 practice hours every 24 months Must renew their certification on or before their birthday each year. |
| LPN(Licensed Practical Nurse) | 8 CE hours annually One-time Requirement Only — 6 hours on suicide assessment, treatment, and management 96 practice hours annually (for active nursing practice) 24 practice hours in 90 days annually (for retired active nursing practice) |
| RN(Registered Nurse) | 8 CE hours annually One-time Requirement Only — 6 hours on suicide assessment, treatment, and management 96 practice hours annually (for active nursing practice) 24 practice hours in 90 days annually (for retired active nursing practice) |
| APRN(Advanced Practical Registered Nurse) | Maintain active RN license Maintain national certification 30 CE hours every 2 years One-time Requirement Only — 6 hours on suicide assessment, treatment, and management If with prescriptive authority — additional 15 hours on pharmacotherapeutics * 4 hours must be on prescribing opioids if this is what you prescribe (one-time requirement) * 18 hours on pain management if you are a pain management specialist |
Let’s explore these requirements at length.
Washington CNA and RNA Continuing Education Requirements
CNAs and RNAs need to renew their certifications on or before their birthday each year.
There are no continuing education requirements.
You need to have worked as a nursing assistant for at least 8 hours in the 2 years before your renewal date.
Also, you need to maintain a clean record — the Department of Health will check for drug or criminal charges.
If you meet all these and submit your renewal request before the deadline, you can complete the entire process online.
Washington LPN Continuing Education Requirements
Before, LPNs needed to complete 45 hours of continuing education and at least 531 hours of practice every 3 years.
Today, they only need to complete 8 hours of continuing education and earn at least 96 hours of practice. However, this must be completed annually instead of 3 years.
Now, out of the 8 CE hours, 6 should be on suicide assessment, treatment, and management. But keep in mind that this is only a one-time requirement. This means you don’t need to take it again during subsequent renewal cycles.
What if your license status is under retired active?
You still need to complete 8 CE hours. As for practice, it goes down to only 24 hours of work as an LPN.
Again, these requirements need to be completed every year.
Washington RN Continuing Education Requirements
Registered Nurses in Washington also need to renew their licenses annually.
To qualify for license renewal, they must complete 8 hours of continuing education. PLUS, they should earn at least 96 hours of practice.
The practice hours are less if your license is under ‘retired active’. If so, you only need to get 24 hours of work.
Now, there is a one-time requirement to study 6 hours of suicide assessment, treatment, and management. This can count as part of your 8 CE hours.
But remember, you just need to study it once.
If you have already completed that, the 8 CE hours become all electives.
Washington APRN Continuing Education Requirements
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in Washington are the only ones with biennial CE requirements.
So if you hold this license type, you must study 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years.
And, just like LPNs and RNs, you have a one-time requirement to complete 6 hours on suicide prevention.
If you prescribe medication, then you have an additional 15 hours on pharmacotherapeutics. In total, APRNs that have prescription authority need 45 CE hours every renewal cycle.
Are all these CE courses electives?
No.
Those that prescribe opioids are required to take 4 CE hours on best practices in the prescription of opioids. Take note that this is a one-time requirement only.
For those that specialize in pain management for prescribing opioid therapy, 18 of the 45 CE hours should be on pain management.
And just in case you were wondering, no. APRNs DON’T need to complete any practice hours for license renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still got some questions? Then check out the answers to some of these frequently asked questions.
What does “Retired Active” status mean?
You can choose to place your nursing license in a “retired active” state in Washington. It means that you can only practice nursing intermittently or during emergent scenarios.
Washington’s Department of Health defines intermittent as “LPNS and RNs limiting their practice to 90 days in a year”. Scenarios that fall under “emergent circumstances” are earthquakes, floods, or if the president puts the nation under a state of emergency.
Do I have to pay a fee when renewing my nursing license in Washington?
Yes, all nurses in Washington pay a fee as part of the renewal process. However, the amount varies, depending on the type of license you carry.
LPNs pay $85
RNs $120
APRNs pay $125
How often do nurses in Washington renew their licenses?
If you hold an LPN or RN license, you need to renew your nursing license annually to keep its status active.
As for CNAs, RNAs, and APRNs, renewal comes every 2 years.
What is the difference between an RNA and a CNA?
An RNA is an advanced CNA. They have a higher specialization level since they undergo additional training in therapeutic techniques.
Besides the typical tasks for nursing assistants, they may also help patients going through rehabilitation.
For example, an RNA may assist a patient in completing a physical therapy exercise as long as a licensed physical therapist oversees the session. They may also teach self-grooming strategies to patients working with an occupational therapist.
Conclusion
So those were the new changes to the nursing CE requirements in Washington.
Make sure to keep in mind that, for LPNs and RNs, license renewal is now every year. Don’t worry, though, the CE and practice hours requirements are much less also.
Keeping renewal requirements straight in your head can be challenging enough. We can imagine the added difficulty of getting used to new regulations.
But now, you have a go-to resource for all things related to nursing CE requirements in Washington and other pre-requisites for license renewal.
So if you need to renew your license soon, then get started with your requirements.
Good luck!