Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) · NP

30 hours. Every two years. Tied to your birth month.

Below is exactly what Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) requires: mandatory topics, exemptions, accepted credit types, and documentation rules.

Updated April 2026Sourced from WSNCQAC(~6 min read

Reviewed by Doug Doehrman, MD · Last reviewed April 25, 2026

Mandatory topics

Washington has no state-mandated topic requirements beyond the 30-hour total.

Atlas CME tracks each of these mandatory topics against your Washington cycle automatically. Start tracking free →
Conditional requirements

These rules apply only when the trigger described under each card is met (for example, holding a state-issued controlled substance registration or treating a specific patient population). Each cites the underlying statute or rule directly.

ConditionalPharmacology[1]
15 hrs
Biennial

ARNPs with prescriptive authority must complete 15 additional CE hours in pharmacology per biennial ARNP renewal period

View sourceVerbatim from source
“An additional 15 hours in pharmacology is required if you have prescriptive authority within the last two years.”
NCQAC ARNP Renewal PageSee source [1] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Credit must come from an organization accredited by the ACCME, AMA, Washington Medical Association, or AAFP. ACGME residency or fellowship time accrues toward the requirement. Teaching or presenting accredited CME can satisfy a portion of required hours.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
ANCC-accredited CE accepted for base ARNP CE hours and pharmacology CE. National certification from ANCC and other recognized bodies required for ARNP licensure maintenance.SourceNCQAC Continuing Competency Page / WAC 246-840
Board-approved credit
CE from NCQAC-recognized providers accepted. Recertification documentation must be submitted via email to nursing@doh.wa.gov.SourceNCQAC Continuing Competency Page
Documentation & audit

Washington ARNP renewal is biennial (by birthday), distinct from the RN annual renewal cycle. ARNPs renew every two years; RNs renew every year.

Waivers & exemptions

No formal waivers or exemptions are published for Washington.

FAQ
Does Washington require pharmacology CE for NPs with prescriptive authority?
Yes. Washington's NCQAC continuing competency page and renewal page require ARNPs with prescriptive authority within the last two years to complete 15 CE hours relating to pharmacology per biennial ARNP renewal period, in addition to the base 30-hour CE requirement. This makes Washington one of the states with the highest pharmacology CE obligations for NPs — 45 total CE hours per biennium for prescriptive authority holders. Washington ARNPs have independent prescriptive authority without a physician collaborative agreement, and the pharmacology CE reflects the professional responsibility that comes with that independence.
Is Washington in the APRN Compact?
No. Washington is a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC), which governs the underlying RN license, but Washington is not a member of the APRN Compact as of 2026. Washington ARNPs who wish to practice as ARNPs in other states must obtain individual ARNP licensure in each additional state. The NLC membership facilitates RN license portability in Washington but does not extend to ARNP practice privileges.
Does Washington require NPs to maintain national certification for ARNP renewal?
Yes. The NCQAC continuing competency page states that ARNPs must hold "an active certification in each area of advanced practice" as a renewal requirement. Recertification documentation must be submitted by email to nursing@doh.wa.gov. Certifications from ANCC, AANPCB, NCC, PNCB, and other bodies recognized for specific ARNP specialties are accepted. ARNPs should track their national certification renewal timelines separately from the NCQAC biennial cycle to ensure both are current at renewal time.
Where can I check my Washington NP/ARNP license renewal date?
Washington ARNPs can verify their license status and access renewal information through the NCQAC portal at https://nursing.wa.gov. The renewal page at https://nursing.wa.gov/node/117 provides ARNP-specific renewal requirements and portal access. ARNPs renew every two years by their birthday. NCQAC can also be contacted by phone at 360-236-4700 or by email at Nursing@doh.wa.gov for questions about renewal documentation and deadlines.

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Sources & Citations

Every mandatory topic and conditional requirement above cites the underlying statute or rule. Numbered references below correspond to the bracketed citations next to each requirement.

  1. Washington State NCQAC — Renew or Reactivate a License
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “An additional 15 hours in pharmacology is required if you have prescriptive authority within the last two years.”NCQAC ARNP Renewal Page

This page is provided for general educational purposes and reflects the best available information as of the last reviewed date above. CME requirements change. Atlas CME is not affiliated with the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC), or any other state medical board, licensing authority, or professional organization. Physicians are solely responsible for verifying their own current CME requirements directly with their state's medical board before relying on any information presented here.

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