Do Washington NPs need separate CE from RNs?
Yes. Washington ARNPs maintain two CE obligations that must be satisfied independently. For the annual RN license renewal: 8 CE hours per year (2 must be health equity CE) plus 96 practice hours. For the biennial ARNP renewal: 30 CE hours per two-year period, plus 15 additional pharmacology CE hours if the ARNP holds prescriptive authority. These are separate credentials with separate renewal cycles — the ARNP biennial CE does not satisfy the annual RN CE requirement, and vice versa.
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.
Does Washington require opioid-prescribing CE for NPs?
Yes, but only for ARNPs who prescribe opioids. Per WAC 246-840-4655, an ARNP licensed to prescribe opioids must complete a one-time, at-least-4-hour CE course on best practices in opioid prescribing, by the end of the first full CE reporting period after January 1, 2019, or after initial licensure, whichever is later. This is a conditional (not universal) requirement, and it is completed once — not each renewal cycle. The course may count toward other NCQAC-required CE. This figure is specific to ARNPs: Washington's physician and PA opioid-prescribing analogs each require only 1 hour, so ARNPs should not assume the lower physician figure applies to them.
Does Washington require suicide prevention training for NPs?
Yes. Per RCW 43.70.442(5)(a)(iii), Washington ARNPs must complete a one-time, 6-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management by the end of their first full licensure year. The statute names "advanced registered nurse practitioner, other than a certified registered nurse anesthetist" directly — the requirement binds the ARNP credential itself, alongside LPN and RN, not only the underlying RN license. This mirrors the identical requirement for Washington RNs (same statute, same 6-hour figure). Hours count toward NCQAC-required CE. CRNAs are expressly excluded by the statute's own text.
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.