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Washington

Clinician license renewal in Washington

Renewal cycles, fees, CE requirements, and compact membership for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians in Washington. Sourced from state boards and the official compact registries; we surface the citation next to every claim and never invent a rule we can’t verify.

Last reviewed 05/08/2026.

Compact membership

Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)

Full member

Source: nursecompact.com, as of 05/05/2026

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)

Member

Source: imlcc.com, as of 05/05/2026

APRN / nurse practitioner license

Renewal cycle
Biennial. ARNP credentials renew every two years on the licensee's birthday. The underlying RN license renews ANNUALLY (Washington's RN cycle is 1 year, distinct from the ARNP biennial cycle).
doh.wa.gov, as of 05/08/2026
Renewal fee
$130 ARNP renewal per specialty every two years (as of 2026-05-08; WABON Nurse License Fees, WAC 246-840-990). The underlying WA RN license renews annually at $138 (includes $16 HEAL-WA and $8 WCN surcharges), so a single-specialty ARNP with an active WA RN pays $138 × 2 + $130 = $406 over a two-year cycle. Multi-specialty ARNPs add $130 per additional specialty designation. Late ARNP renewal totals $180.
nursing.wa.gov, as of 05/08/2026
Continuing education
30 contact hours of continuing education during each biennial renewal period. ARNPs with prescriptive authority complete an additional 15 hours in pharmacology within the last two years (concurrent with the ARNP renewal cycle).
doh.wa.gov, as of 05/08/2026
Online renewal available
Confirm with Washington State Board of Nursing

Track this credential automatically with Larch’s License tracking.

Physician assistant license

Renewal cycle
Biennial. WA PA licenses renew on a two-year cycle per WMC fee schedule + WAC 246-918-180.
wmc.wa.gov, as of 05/08/2026
Renewal fee
$419 two-year PA license renewal fee per the Washington Medical Commission fee schedule (as of 2026-05-08). A $124 late-renewal penalty applies if not paid by the expiration date.
wmc.wa.gov, as of 05/08/2026
Continuing education
100 hours of continuing medical education every 2 years per WAC 246-918-180, with at least 40 hours in Category I (accredited sponsorship). PAs may alternatively satisfy the requirement through current NCCPA certification or by participating in AAPA/NCCPA maintenance of competency programs.
app.leg.wa.gov, as of 05/08/2026
Online renewal available
Confirm with Washington Medical Commission

Track this credential automatically with Larch’s License tracking.

MD / DO license

Renewal cycle
Confirm with Washington Medical Commission
Renewal fee
Confirm with Washington Medical Commission
Continuing education
Confirm with Washington Medical Commission
Online renewal available
Confirm with Washington Medical Commission

We’re still verifying Washington Medical Commission’s MD/DO- specific renewal details. The most accurate source is the board itself — visit Washington Medical Commission.

Track this credential automatically with Larch’s License tracking.

State controlled-substance registration

Some states layer a state-level controlled-substance registration (CSR or CDS) on top of the federal DEA; others rely on the DEA alone. Where Washingtonrequires one, it carries its own number, fee, and renewal clock — independent of the DEA cycle.

Required in this state
Confirm with Washington controlled-substances regulator

We’re still verifying Washington’s state CSR rules. Confirm with the Washingtoncontrolled-substances regulator (often the Board of Pharmacy or a Department of Health office) before assuming you do or don’t need a state CSR alongside your DEA.

Track DEA + state CSR together with Larch’s DEA + CSR tracker.

Federal DEA registration

DEA registration is federal, not state-issued. DEA practitioner registrations renew on a three-year cycle and are tied to a specific practice address — multi-site clinicians typically hold one DEA per practice location, each with its own number and clock. The first renewal on or after June 27, 2023 also required a one-time MATE Act 8-hour training attestation; once attested, the credit carries forward.

See Larch’s DEA tracking page for details on the federal cycle, multi-site rules, and the MATE Act attestation requirements.

Common questions about Washington renewals

Is Washington a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state?
Yes — Washington is a full NLC member. Nurses who hold an active multistate license issued by another compact state may practice in Washington without applying separately, and Washington residents may apply for a multistate license through the Washington Board of Nursing if they meet the NCSBN's Uniform Licensure Requirements. Note that nurses changing their primary state of residence to or from a compact state generally must apply in the new home state within 60 days. Source: NCSBN compact map.
Does the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC) work for physicians in Washington?
Yes — Washington participates in the IMLC. Eligible physicians can use the compact's expedited pathway to obtain medical licenses in additional member states. Whether Washington serves as a physician's State of Principal License or only as a license-issuing state varies; check the IMLCC for current specifics. Source: IMLCC.
Does the federal DEA renewal cycle differ in Washington?
No. DEA practitioner registrations are federal and renew on a three-year cycle regardless of state. Registrations are tied to a specific practice address — not to the holder personally — so multi-site clinicians typically hold one DEA per practice location. Washington's state-level controlled-substance registration, if it requires one, is separate from the federal DEA.
How does Larch keep Washington's rules current?
A drift-detection job re-fetches each cited source on a weekly cadence and flags pages where the source content has changed since our last review. Where we don't have a verified detail, we surface "Confirm with [Board]" with a link to the issuing board — never a guess.

Track every WA credential on one calendar.

Larch keeps a clean clock on every license, DEA, state CSR, board cert, and CE hour. Smart renewal alerts on the schedule you set. Encrypted document vault. License tracker is $5/month or $49/year — bundle with Collaboration + CE for $119/year.

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Sources for Washington

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