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

8 hours. Every year. 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

For RNs, 8 hours is the total CME requirement. Washington also requires a set of one-time topics that count toward the 8-hour total.

Cultural competency[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 246-840-220See source [1] in Primary Sources
Suicide prevention[1]
6 hrs
Custom
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
“Complete a One-time, 6-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management”
RCW 43.70.442 / WAC 246-840-220See source [1] 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 CME[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 CME[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

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
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
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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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 · Effective 2021-06-12
    “Complete a One-time, 6-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management”RCW 43.70.442 / WAC 246-840-220 · Effective 2021-06-12
  2. WAC 246-840-220 — Continuing Competency Requirements — Active Status
    Primary sourceAccessed 2026-04-23
    Show verbatim text
    “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. 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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