The Washington Department of Health (DOH) RN License Application is the form you complete through the Washington Board of Nursing (WABON) to become a licensed Registered Nurse in Washington State, and every new graduate, out-of-state nurse, and internationally educated nurse must file it before working as an RN. You submit it online through the Department of Health Online Application Portal after creating a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account, and the form you choose depends on your path: by examination, by endorsement, or as an internationally educated nurse.
Getting one box wrong can stall your start date for weeks. The Board reviews each application by hand, and a missing transcript, an unanswered personal data question, or a late document upload can push your license back a full month or more. More than 108,500 nurses held a Washington RN license in August 2025, and the Board warns that paper applications process slower than online ones and that it will close your file if you ignore its emails.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What the RN application is, who must file it, and which version applies to you
- 🗂️ Every document and number you need to gather before you open the portal
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of each field, with sample entries and the mistakes that delay licenses
- 👩⚕️ Three full filled-out examples following a new grad, an out-of-state nurse, and a foreign-educated nurse
- ❓ Clear answers to the field-level questions that confuse most applicants
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
The Washington RN License Application is the official request you send to the Washington Board of Nursing, the agency inside the DOH that licenses and disciplines nurses. The Board was called the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission until it joined the Nurse Licensure Compact on July 24, 2023, and changed its name. The form tells the Board who you are, where you trained, whether you hold a license elsewhere, and whether you have any criminal or disciplinary history. Without a granted application, it is against state law to work or call yourself a Registered Nurse in Washington.
State law in chapter 18.79 RCW and the rules in chapter 246-840 WAC require the license and set the fees, education standards, and background-check process. The plain meaning is simple: the legislature decided nursing is too risky to leave unregulated, so it built a gatekeeping form. The consequence of ignoring it is steep. If you practice without a license, the Board can refer you for criminal charges and bar you from ever getting licensed. For example, a new graduate who starts orienting on a hospital floor before her license posts puts both her future license and her employer’s standing at risk.
A common misconception is that one RN license works everywhere. It does not on its own. Washington issues a single-state license by default, and only nurses who are permanent Washington residents and meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements may pay the $65 upgrade fee for a multistate compact license. Three groups must file: graduate nurses who have never been licensed (by examination), nurses already licensed in another U.S. state (by endorsement), and nurses educated outside the United States (by exam or endorsement, depending on prior U.S. licensure).
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Open the portal only after you have gathered everything below. The Board gives you 14 days to upload supporting documents once you start, so missing items are the top cause of delay. Each piece of information feeds a specific field, and a gap on any one of them can freeze your file at the review desk.
- Legal name as it appears on your Social Security card. The Board cross-checks your identity, and a name mismatch triggers a hold while staff confirm who you are.
- Social Security number. Federal and state law tie licensing to your SSN; leaving it blank stops the application from submitting.
- Date of birth and mailing address. These verify your identity in the public record, and out-of-state addresses route you to mailed fingerprint cards instead of Live Scan.
- Your nursing program name, degree, and graduation date. The Board must verify your education, and wrong dates delay the match against your transcript.
- Current or prior RN license numbers from other states. Endorsement applicants need these to order verification through Nursys.
- Court documents and a written personal statement for any “yes” answer. Any disciplinary or criminal “yes” requires supporting papers, and without them the file goes to Nurse Discipline for extra review.
- A payment method for the $138 fee plus the $2.50 portal convenience fee. The application will not submit until you pay, and the fee is nonrefundable.
- Email address you check daily. The Board contacts you only by email, and if you do not respond it closes your application and you start over.
- Foreign credential evaluation report (foreign-educated only). Approved services like CGFNS must send it, and the Board cannot judge your education without it.
- English proficiency scores (foreign-educated only, with exceptions). TOEFL, IELTS, or OET scores are required unless you trained in an exempt English-speaking country.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
There is no single PDF you download for most applicants. The current application lives inside the DOH Online Application Portal, and you reach it through a Secure Access Washington (SAW) account. To get in, create or log into SAW, choose Add New Service, select I would like to browse a list of services by agency, pick Department of Health, then Online Application Portal, click Apply, and confirm. The portal then shows the RN application matched to your path.
Most people must apply online, but the Board requires a paper application in three cases: you previously applied in Washington and your file was closed as deficient, there is not enough public record to verify your identity, or you are reactivating a past Washington license. If one of these applies, email nursing@doh.wa.gov to request the paper form. The consequence of using the wrong channel is real delay, because the Board hand-keys paper applications and processes them slower than online ones.
A nuance trips up couples and recent movers: the portal verifies your identity against public records, so a very recent name change or address move can block online filing and force you to paper. A common misconception is that the paper form is “safer” or more official. It is not. The Board states online applications process faster, so paper should be a last resort, not a preference. For SAW login problems call Consolidated Technology Services at 855-928-3241, and for portal problems call WABON at 360-236-4703.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Washington RN License Application Line by Line
The application moves through identity, education, licensure history, personal data questions, attestation, and payment. Follow the fields in the order the portal presents them, and answer every question, because the system blocks submission on blanks. Below, each field gets its own walkthrough with a sample entry shown in italics.
Step 1: Select Your Application Type
The portal first asks which license you are applying for and by which method: RN by Examination, RN by Endorsement, or an internationally educated option. Pick the choice that matches your history. Jasmine Carter, a new graduate who has never held a license, selects RN License by Examination. If you already hold an active RN license in another state, you choose Endorsement instead.
A nuance hits internationally educated nurses: you choose by exam if you have never held a U.S. license, and by endorsement if you have. The most common mistake here is an endorsement applicant picking exam, which sends the file to the wrong review desk and forces a restart. A widespread misconception is that “endorsement” means a faster, lighter review. It is not lighter, but endorsement applicants do get an automatic temporary practice permit, while exam applicants must pass the NCLEX-RN first.
Step 2: Legal Name
This field asks for your full legal name. Type it exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, including middle name and any suffix, with no nicknames. Maria Lopez enters MARIA ELENA LOPEZ. The Board cross-references your name against federal and state records, so an exact match keeps the file moving.
A nuance covers recent name changes from marriage or divorce: enter the name that matches your current SSA record, and be ready to upload a marriage certificate or court order if asked. The most common mistake is entering a married name that does not yet match the SSA, which triggers an identity hold. A misconception is that the name on your diploma controls. It does not. The Board verifies education separately, so use your current legal name here even if your transcript shows a maiden name.
Step 3: Other Names Used
This field asks whether you have ever used another name, such as a maiden name or a prior married name. List every former name so the Board can match your transcripts and license verifications. Maria Lopez lists her maiden name, MARIA ELENA GARCIA, because her nursing transcript still shows it. This connects records that would otherwise look like two different people.
A nuance applies to nurses licensed elsewhere under a former name; list that name so Nursys verification lines up. The most common mistake is leaving this blank when your transcript or out-of-state license uses an old name, which stalls verification matching. A misconception is that only “official” name changes count. They do not. List any name you trained or worked under, even informally, to prevent a mismatch.
Step 4: Date of Birth and Social Security Number
This field asks for your birth date and SSN. Enter the date as MM/DD/YYYY and the SSN with no spaces or dashes unless the field formats them for you. Jasmine Carter enters 04/12/2001 and her nine-digit SSN. These two items anchor your identity and the criminal background check.
A nuance covers applicants without an SSN, such as some foreign-educated nurses; contact WABON for guidance rather than guessing. The most common mistake is a transposed SSN digit, which can attach someone else’s background results to your file and cause a major delay. A misconception is that the SSN is optional for privacy reasons. It is not optional. Licensing is legally tied to it, and the form will not submit without it.
Step 5: Mailing and Residential Address
This field asks where you live and where you receive mail. Enter a current, valid address, and use a residential address if you can, because it affects your fingerprint path. David Nguyen enters his Seattle apartment address. The Board uses this to route fingerprint instructions and mail your paper license.
A nuance covers P.O. Boxes and out-of-state addresses: applicants with out-of-state addresses get FBI fingerprint card instructions by email instead of Live Scan. The most common mistake is an outdated address, which sends your license and notices to the wrong place. A misconception is that address does not matter for licensing. It does. An out-of-state address changes your entire fingerprinting process and timeline.
Step 6: Nursing Education
This section asks for your nursing program’s name, location, degree earned, and graduation date. Enter the official program name and the exact graduation date from your transcript. Jasmine Carter enters Seattle Central College, Associate Degree in Nursing, graduation date 06/2026. The Board matches this against the education verification it receives.
A nuance: Washington program directors send completion certificates to WABON automatically, while out-of-state and foreign grads must arrange official transcripts. The most common mistake is a graduation date that does not match the transcript, which blocks the education match and your NCLEX eligibility. A misconception is that listing the school is enough. It is not. The Board needs verified documents, so the listing must match what the school sends through services like Parchment, E-Script, or Student Clearinghouse to nursing@doh.wa.gov.
Step 7: Licensure History (Endorsement and Prior Licenses)
This field asks whether you hold or have ever held a nursing license in any state or country, and for the license numbers and states. List every license, active or expired. Robert Kim, moving from Oregon, enters his Oregon RN license number and issue date. The Board uses this to order verification of your original licensure by examination.
A nuance covers nurses with lapsed licenses: if you have no active RN license, you may need a WABON-approved nurse refresher program, and you must indicate enrollment on the application. The most common mistake is omitting an old or expired license, which the background check still surfaces and which looks like concealment. A misconception is that only your current license matters. It does not. List them all, because the Board verifies your full history.
Step 8: Personal Data Questions
This section asks a series of yes-or-no questions about criminal history, discipline, malpractice, and health conditions affecting practice. Answer each honestly, and for every “yes,” upload court documents and a written personal statement. David Nguyen answers “yes” to a years-old misdemeanor and attaches the court disposition plus a one-page explanation. These answers protect the public and determine whether your file needs discipline review.
A nuance: even dismissed or expunged matters often must be disclosed, so read each question carefully. The most common mistake is answering “no” to avoid trouble when records exist, which the FBI background check exposes and which can lead to denial for dishonesty. A misconception is that a “yes” means automatic denial. It does not. Many applicants with disclosed history get licensed, but a “yes” requires extra review and the supporting documents, and these applicants are not issued an early temporary permit.
Step 9: Attestation and Signature
This final field asks you to attest, under penalty of law, that your answers are true and complete. Read the statement, then check the box or type your name to sign electronically. Maria Lopez types MARIA ELENA LOPEZ and dates it 05/30/2026. Your signature legally binds you to everything in the application.
A nuance: signing does not let you practice yet; it only certifies the application. The most common mistake is rushing past unanswered fields before signing, since an incomplete attested form can be treated as a false statement. A misconception is that you can fix errors freely after signing. You can, but corrections after submission slow processing and may require new documents, so review every field before you attest.
Step 10: Pay the Application Fee
The portal then collects the fee. Pay the $138 application fee, which includes a $16 HEAL-WA surcharge and an $8 Washington Center for Nursing surcharge, plus the $2.50 portal convenience fee, by credit or debit card. Robert Kim pays $140.50 total by Visa. Payment is what officially submits your application.
A nuance: the fee is nonrefundable, so confirm your application type before paying. The most common mistake is assuming the application is filed before payment clears, when in fact an unpaid application sits unsubmitted. A misconception is that the fee covers fingerprinting and the NCLEX. It does not. Fingerprinting and the $200 NCLEX-RN testing fee through Pearson VUE are separate costs.
Step 11: Upload Supporting Documents
After submitting, upload all required documents within 14 days: personal statements and court records for any “yes” answers, refresher program proof, and any transcripts the Board requests. Jasmine Carter uploads nothing extra because her school sends her completion certificate directly, while David Nguyen uploads his court disposition. On-time uploads keep your file at the review desk instead of in limbo.
A nuance: if you cannot meet the 14-day window, email documents to nurselicensing@doh.wa.gov rather than abandoning the file. The most common mistake is uploading blurry or partial documents, which staff reject and which restart the clock. A misconception is that the Board will wait indefinitely. It will not. After several unanswered contact attempts, it closes the application and you must start over and pay again.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three filers represent the most common Washington RN applicants. Each table shows what the named person enters in the key sections of the application.
Example 1: Jasmine Carter, New Graduate Applying by Examination
| Application Section | What Jasmine Enters |
|---|---|
| Application Type | RN License by Examination |
| Legal Name | JASMINE NICOLE CARTER |
| Other Names Used | None |
| Date of Birth / SSN | 04/12/2001 and nine-digit SSN |
| Mailing Address | Seattle, WA residential address |
| Nursing Education | Seattle Central College, ADN, graduated 06/2026 |
| Licensure History | No prior nursing license |
| Personal Data Questions | All “No” |
| Education Verification | School sends completion certificate to WABON |
| NCLEX Registration | Registers with Pearson VUE, pays $200 |
| Fee Paid | $138 + $2.50 convenience fee |
Example 2: Robert Kim, Out-of-State RN Applying by Endorsement
| Application Section | What Robert Enters |
|---|---|
| Application Type | RN License by Endorsement |
| Legal Name | ROBERT JAMES KIM |
| Other Names Used | None |
| Date of Birth / SSN | 09/30/1988 and nine-digit SSN |
| Mailing Address | Portland, OR (out-of-state) address |
| Nursing Education | Oregon Health & Science University, BSN, 2011 |
| Licensure History | Active Oregon RN license number listed |
| License Verification | Orders Nursys verification ($30) to WABON |
| Personal Data Questions | All “No” |
| Fingerprinting | Mails FD-258 card with $34.25 (out-of-state) |
| Temporary Permit | Auto-issued after review |
Example 3: Maria Lopez, Internationally Educated Nurse Applying by Exam
| Application Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Application Type | RN License by Examination (foreign-educated) |
| Legal Name | MARIA ELENA LOPEZ |
| Other Names Used | MARIA ELENA GARCIA (maiden name) |
| Date of Birth / SSN | 07/22/1990 and SSN or WABON guidance |
| Mailing Address | Tacoma, WA residential address |
| Nursing Education | University of the Philippines, BSN, 2012 |
| Credential Evaluation | CGFNS CES Professional Report sent to WABON |
| English Proficiency | IELTS Academic 6.5, all modules 6.0+ |
| Licensure History | No prior U.S. license |
| Personal Data Questions | All “No” |
| NCLEX Registration | Registers with Pearson VUE after approval |
How to File the Completed Form
Washington offers two filing channels, and the online portal is the standard route. Online, you file through the DOH Online Application Portal using SAW, pay the $138 fee plus the $2.50 convenience fee by credit or debit card, and the system confirms submission on screen. Online files process fastest, and you should save or screenshot the confirmation as your proof of filing.
By mail, only the three excluded groups should file paper. Request the form at nursing@doh.wa.gov, then mail the completed application with a personal check or money order to Department of Health, P.O. Box 1099, Olympia, WA 98507-1099. Keep a copy of the application and a record of the check number as your proof of filing, and expect slower processing because staff hand-key paper.
Fingerprinting is a separate filing step in both channels. Inside Washington, schedule Live Scan at an IdentoGO by IDEMIA center one business day after you get your instructions, and pay $48.25. Outside Washington, mail a completed FD-258 card with your instruction letter and a $34.25 check or money order to Washington State Department of Health-Credentialing, P.O. Box 47997, Olympia, WA 98504-7997. Processing times run 4 to 10 weeks for endorsement, 4-plus weeks for examination, and 2 to 8 weeks for a temporary practice permit.
What Happens After You File
The Board moves your file through six stages: intake, background check, review at your method’s desk, final review, and license issuance, with a temporary permit possible along the way. During intake, staff verify your information and email FBI fingerprint instructions to out-of-state applicants. You can watch your progress on the DOH Provider Credential Search and check current wait times on the WABON processing times page.
Endorsement applicants get an automatic temporary practice permit once their application clears review, so they can often start work while the FBI background check finishes. Exam applicants instead receive eligibility to test, get an Authorization to Test from Pearson VUE, and must pass the NCLEX-RN before any license issues. If you pass, your permanent license posts; if you fail, the Board notifies you and you repeat the exam process.
A nuance matters here: a “yes” on any personal data question removes you from the fast temporary-permit track, because your file routes to Nurse Discipline. The most common mistake at this stage is ignoring the Board’s emails, which leads to a closed application. Once licensed, the Board mails a one-time paper license in 7 to 10 business days, and you should verify your active status online and enroll in Nursys e-Notify for free license alerts.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each field is its own chance for error, so review this list before you submit. Every mistake below has a direct, costly consequence.
- Entering a name that does not match your Social Security card, which triggers an identity hold.
- Forgetting to list a maiden or former name, which breaks the match to your transcript and license verification.
- Transposing your Social Security number, which can attach the wrong background check to your file.
- Using an outdated mailing address, which sends your license and Board emails to the wrong place.
- Entering a graduation date that does not match your transcript, which blocks education verification.
- Omitting an old or expired out-of-state license, which looks like concealment during the background check.
- Answering “no” to a personal data question when records exist, which the FBI check exposes and can cause denial.
- Submitting a “yes” answer without court documents or a personal statement, which sends your file to discipline review.
- Choosing the wrong application type, which routes your file to the wrong desk and forces a restart.
- Missing the 14-day document upload window, which stalls or closes your application.
- Assuming payment is not needed to submit, which leaves your application sitting unfiled.
- Ignoring the Board’s request emails, which leads to a closed file and a fresh start with a new fee.
Do’s and Don’ts
These quick rules keep your application clean and moving.
Do:
- Do enter your name exactly as it appears on your SSA card, because the Board cross-checks federal records.
- Do gather every document before you open the portal, because the upload window is only 14 days.
- Do disclose all criminal and disciplinary history, because honesty matters more than the underlying issue.
- Do order Nursys verification early if you are an endorsement applicant, because it must reach the Board separately.
- Do check your email daily, because the Board only contacts you that way and closes silent files.
- Do save your submission confirmation, because it is your proof of filing.
Don’t:
- Don’t guess on dates or numbers, because mismatches freeze your file at the review desk.
- Don’t leave any question blank, because the system blocks submission and incomplete attestations carry legal risk.
- Don’t use a paper application unless you are required to, because it processes slower.
- Don’t assume your out-of-state license transfers automatically, because Washington still requires a full application.
- Don’t start working before your license or permit posts, because practicing unlicensed risks criminal referral.
- Don’t ignore the English-proficiency rules if you trained abroad, because most foreign grads must pass TOEFL, IELTS, or OET.
Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most applicants file successfully without help, but some situations call for support from an attorney or a licensing service. The table below weighs the trade-offs.
Pros of Filing on Your Own:
- You save money, because you pay only the required state fees.
- You control the timeline, because no third party sits between you and the Board.
- You learn your own record, which helps with future renewals.
- The online portal is built for self-filers, so the path is clear for clean histories.
- You avoid sharing sensitive data with an outside company.
Cons of Filing on Your Own:
- You carry the full risk of a wrong answer, which can delay your start date.
- You must track Nursys, fingerprints, transcripts, and the 14-day window yourself.
- A “yes” on a personal data question is hard to document well without guidance.
- Foreign-credential and English rules are complex and easy to misread.
- A single missed email can close your file, costing time and a new fee.
FAQs
Do I have to apply online instead of using a paper form?
Yes. Most applicants must apply through the online portal. Paper is only allowed if a prior application was closed as deficient, your identity cannot be verified, or you are reactivating a license.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in the legal name field?
Yes, use the name on your current Social Security card. List the other name under “other names used” so the Board can match your transcript and verifications.
Do I need to list an expired license from another state?
Yes. List every nursing license you have ever held, active or expired, because the background check surfaces them and omissions look like concealment.
Do I have to disclose a criminal charge that was dismissed?
Yes, usually. Many personal data questions cover dismissed or expunged matters, so read each one closely and attach court documents and a statement for any “yes.”
Do I get to work right after I submit the application?
No. You must wait for a temporary practice permit or your permanent license. Practicing before then risks criminal referral and denial of your license.
Do endorsement applicants get a temporary permit automatically?
Yes. The Board auto-issues a temporary practice permit to endorsement applicants after review, unless a “yes” answer routes the file to discipline.
Do I pay the NCLEX fee inside this application?
No. The $200 NCLEX-RN fee is paid separately to Pearson VUE after the Board approves your eligibility to test.
Do I owe anything besides the $138 application fee?
Yes. Expect a $2.50 portal convenience fee, fingerprinting costs of $48.25 or $34.25, and, for exam applicants, the $200 NCLEX fee.
Do I need an English test if I trained abroad?
Yes, in most cases. You must pass TOEFL, IELTS, or OET unless you trained in an exempt country or meet a U.S. practice or education exception.
Do I have to leave a personal data question blank if I am unsure?
No. Never leave it blank. Answer every question, and contact WABON at 360-236-4703 if you are unsure how a record applies.
Do my fingerprints work if I live outside Washington?
No, not by Live Scan. Out-of-state applicants must mail a completed FD-258 fingerprint card with a $34.25 payment instead.
Do I get more than 14 days to upload my documents?
No, not within the portal. After 14 days you must email documents to nurselicensing@doh.wa.gov, and ignoring the Board’s emails closes your file.
Do I need a transcript if my Washington school reports for me?
No. Washington program directors send completion certificates directly, but out-of-state and foreign graduates must arrange official transcripts to WABON.
Do I automatically get a multistate compact license?
No. Washington issues a single-state license by default; you must be a Washington resident, meet the Uniform Licensure Requirements, and pay a $65 upgrade.
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