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

Washington CE Requirements for Registered Nurses

8 hours. Every year. Tied to your birth month.

Updated April 2026Sourced from NCQAC

Compiled by Atlas CME from official board sources · Last updated July 4, 2026

Mandatory topics

For RNs, 8 hours is the total CE requirement. Washington also names specific topics that must be covered, and each one is listed below.

Cultural Competency & Health Equity[1]
2 hrs
Annual
2 of the 8 annual CE hours must be health equity CE. All licensed RNs and LPNs had until their 2026 renewal date to complete 2 hours of health equity CE for the first time. New license applicants have until their second renewal date. Per WAC 246-840-220.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“Complete 8 continuing education hours _(2 of these hours must be heath equity CE)_”
WAC 246-840-220 (NCQAC Continuing Competency page, RN section; captured quote includes source markdown italic markers around the parenthetical, and the source page's own typo 'heath' for 'health')See source [1] in Primary Sources
Suicide Prevention[2]
6 hrs
One-time
One-time, 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment, and management training required by the end of the first full licensure year for all RNs and LPNs. Per RCW 43.70.442 and WAC 246-840-220. Hours spent in this training count toward the annual CE requirement. Not recurring after initial completion.
View sourceVerbatim from source
“must complete a one-time, six-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from a qualified suicide prevention training program. The training must be completed by the end of the first full year of licensure.”
WAC 246-840-220(3)(a)See source [2] in Primary Sources
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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.

ConditionalGeneral[2]
Hrs vary
Annual

All active status RNs must complete 96 practice hours per year as part of renewal

View sourceVerbatim from source
“A minimum of 96 hours of active nursing practice must be completed within 12 months prior to license renewal.”
WAC 246-840-220See source [2] in Primary Sources
ConditionalGeneral[2]
0 hrs
Annual

Nurses enrolled in or who have completed prerequisites for advanced nursing education programs are exempt during their current review period

View detailsEditorial summary
Exemption from annual CE and practice hour requirements for nurses who are enrolled in or completing prerequisites for advanced nursing education programs. Per WAC 246-840-220.
WAC 246-840-220See source [2] in Primary Sources
Accepted credit

Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) accepts ANCC Contact Hour toward the CE requirement for RNs, along with other credit it approves.

Credit systemNotes
ANCC Contact Hour
Continuing nursing education from ANCC-accredited providers qualifies. CE must be from programs consistent with the WAC 246-840-210 definition of continuing nursing education: systematic professional learning related to the nurse's area of professional practice and growth.SourceWAC 246-840-210 / WAC 246-840-220
Board-approved credit
CE from NCQAC-recognized providers or programs consistent with the continuing competency definitions in WAC 246-840-210 accepted. Suicide prevention training hours from department-approved programs count toward CE.SourceWAC 246-840-210
Documentation & audit

Washington shifted RN renewal to an annual cycle effective June 12, 2021 (WSR 21-11-032). Previously biennial. RNs now renew annually by their birthday.

Waivers & exemptions

Nurses enrolled in or completing prerequisites for advanced nursing education programs are exempt from annual CE and practice hour requirements during their current review period

FAQ
How many CE hours do Washington RNs need for license renewal?
Washington RNs must complete 8 continuing education hours per year, of which at least 2 must be health equity CE, under WAC 246-840-220. These CE hours are part of the annual renewal cycle — Washington shifted from biennial to annual renewal effective June 12, 2021 (WSR 21-11-032). In addition to the 8 CE hours, RNs must complete 96 hours of active nursing practice annually. A one-time 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment, and management training is also required by the end of the first full licensure year; those hours count toward the 8-hour annual CE total.
What is the health equity CE requirement for Washington RNs?
Washington requires all licensed RNs and LPNs to complete 2 hours of health equity CE as part of their annual 8-hour CE requirement, per WAC 246-840-220. This is a topic restriction within the annual total — 2 of the 8 required hours must specifically address health equity. All licensed nurses had until their 2026 renewal date to complete this training for the first time; new applicants have until their second renewal. Health equity CE addresses topics such as health disparities, equitable care delivery, implicit bias, and culturally responsive practice.
Is Washington in the Nursing Licensure Compact (NLC)?
Yes. Washington is an NLC compact member, and eligible Washington RNs hold a multistate license authorizing nursing practice in all NLC member states. Washington's renewal cycle is annual (by birthday) rather than biennial, which is distinctive among compact states. Washington nurses residing in Washington renew annually with NCQAC under WAC 246-840-220. Information about license verification and renewal is available at https://nursing.wa.gov/node/117.
Is the suicide prevention training a recurring annual requirement for Washington RNs?
No. The 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment, and management training under RCW 43.70.442 is a one-time requirement, not an annual one. It must be completed by the end of the nurse's first full licensure year. The hours count toward the annual 8-hour CE requirement in the year of completion. After the one-time training is complete, it does not need to be repeated. The 2 annual health equity CE hours are recurring every year.
Where can I check my Washington RN license renewal date?
Washington RNs can verify their license status and renewal information through the NCQAC licensing portal at https://nursing.wa.gov. The renewal page at https://nursing.wa.gov/node/117 provides renewal instructions and portal access. Licenses renew annually on the nurse's birthday. Nurses may also contact NCQAC by phone at 360-236-4700 or by email at Nursing@doh.wa.gov.

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Other roles in Washington

CE requirements for Registered Nurses in other states

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 — Continuing Competency Requirements
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “Complete 8 continuing education hours _(2 of these hours must be heath equity CE)_”WAC 246-840-220 (NCQAC Continuing Competency page, RN section; captured quote includes source markdown italic markers around the parenthetical, and the source page's own typo 'heath' for 'health') · Effective 2021-06-12
  2. WAC 246-840-220 — Continuing Competency Requirements — Active Status
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “must complete a one-time, six-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from a qualified suicide prevention training program. The training must be completed by the end of the first full year of licensure.”WAC 246-840-220(3)(a) · Effective 2021-06-12
    “A minimum of 96 hours of active nursing practice must be completed within 12 months prior to license renewal.”WAC 246-840-220 · Effective 2021-06-12

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

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