Washington Registered Nurse license renewal and CE requirements
Washington registered nurses must complete 8 contact hours of continuing education every year to renew their license with the Washington State Board of Nursing.
Licenses renew every year on the licensee's birthday. Renewal is completed in the HELMS portal with an attestation that the continuing competency requirements were met.
Summary
Washington registered nurses must complete 8 contact hours of continuing education every year to renew their license with the Washington State Board of Nursing. Licenses renew every year on the licensee's birthday. Renewal is completed in the HELMS portal with an attestation that the continuing competency requirements were met. Washington also mandates specific subjects. Health equity training: 2 contact hours every renewal cycle. Suicide assessment, treatment, and management: a one-time requirement of 6 contact hours (All RNs except certified registered nurse anesthetists; due by the end of the first full year of licensure). Telemedicine training: a one-time requirement (RNs who provide clinical services through telemedicine).
Washington Registered Nurse renewal and continuing education rules
"Not stated" means the board's pages and rules we read do not address it. We do not fill in typical values.
| Renewal cycle | Annual (12 months) |
|---|---|
| Renewal deadline | Tied to the licensee's birth date |
| Continuing education required | Yes |
| Hours per cycle | 8 contact hours |
| Self-study or online cap | No cap stated |
| Carryover to next cycle | Not stated |
| First renewal exempt | Not stated |
WAC 246-840-220 requires a minimum of eight hours of continuing nursing education and a minimum of 96 hours of active nursing practice in the 12 months before renewal. At least two of the eight hours must be health equity training. Nurses enrolled in, or who have completed prerequisites for, an advanced nursing education program are exempt for that review period. The requirement moved from a two-year to a yearly cycle effective June 12, 2021 (WSR 21-11-032).
Required CE topics for Washington registered nurses
State-specific subject mandates. Where a mandate applies only to some licensees, the scope is listed.
| Topic | Hours | Frequency | Applies to | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health equity trainingCounts toward the eight required hours. | 2 contact hours | Every renewal | All licensees | WAC 246-840-220 |
| Suicide assessment, treatment, and managementMust be a course on the Department of Health model list. The hours count toward continuing competency. | 6 contact hours | One time | All RNs except certified registered nurse anesthetists; due by the end of the first full year of licensure | RCW 43.70.442; WAC 246-840-220 |
| Telemedicine trainingThe board names the Washington State Healthcare Professional Telemedicine Training (NRTRC) as the compliant course. Hours are not stated on the board page. | Not stated | One time | RNs who provide clinical services through telemedicine | RCW 43.70.495 |
Documentation and audit
| Proof submitted at renewal | No, attestation only |
|---|---|
| Keep records for | Not stated |
| Board audits compliance | Not stated |
Common questions
- How many CE hours does a Washington RN need to renew?
- Washington registered nurses must complete 8 contact hours of continuing education every year to renew their license with the Washington State Board of Nursing. WAC 246-840-220 requires a minimum of eight hours of continuing nursing education and a minimum of 96 hours of active nursing practice in the 12 months before renewal. At least two of the eight hours must be health equity training. Nurses enrolled in, or who have completed prerequisites for, an advanced nursing education program are exempt for that review period. The requirement moved from a two-year to a yearly cycle effective June 12, 2021 (WSR 21-11-032).
- How often does a Washington RN license need to be renewed?
- Registered Nurse licenses in Washington renew every year. Licenses renew every year on the licensee's birthday. Renewal is completed in the HELMS portal with an attestation that the continuing competency requirements were met.
- What specific CE topics are required for Washington registered nurses?
- Health equity training: 2 contact hours every renewal cycle. Suicide assessment, treatment, and management: a one-time requirement of 6 contact hours (All RNs except certified registered nurse anesthetists; due by the end of the first full year of licensure). Telemedicine training: a one-time requirement (RNs who provide clinical services through telemedicine). Citations: health equity training (WAC 246-840-220), suicide assessment, treatment, and management (RCW 43.70.442; WAC 246-840-220), and telemedicine training (RCW 43.70.495).
- Do Washington registered nurses have to submit CE certificates at renewal?
- Licensees attest to completion at renewal rather than submitting certificates.
Sources
Last verified September 7, 2026. Every value above was read from one of these.
- Renew or Reactivate a License, Washington State Board of NursingState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- WAC 246-840-220 Continuing competency requirementsStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
- Continuing Education Requirements and Active Nursing Practice Hours ChangeState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- Required Training for Nurses: Suicide Prevention and TelemedicineState board page, accessed September 7, 2026
- RCW 43.70.442 Suicide assessment, treatment, and management trainingStatute or administrative rule, accessed September 7, 2026
Hours and cycle confirmed against WAC 246-840-220 and the board's renewal page. The board page does not use the phrase contact hours; the rule says hours of continuing nursing education. Record retention and audit practice were not stated on the pages read, so those fields are null. The 30 contact hour figure still quoted by some third-party sites is the pre-2021 biennial requirement.
Provided for general reference. Requirements change through legislative sessions and rulemaking, so confirm with the Washington State Board of Nursing before relying on them for a renewal. Spot something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.