If you hold a Washington RN license, the Washington State Board of Nursing requires 8 continuing education hours and 96 nursing practice hours in the 12 months before each annual renewal. Of the 8 CE hours, 2 must be health equity CE. Washington also requires a one-time 6-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management by the end of your first full year of licensure. Below is the full breakdown of what you need, what counts, and when it is due.
8 CE hours / renewal
Eight continuing education hours each renewal period.
96 practice hours
96 nursing practice hours in the 12 months before renewal.
Health equity (2 hrs)
2 of the 8 CE hours must be health equity CE.
Suicide prevention (one-time)
A one-time 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment, and management training.
How Washington RN continuing competency works
Washington requires RNs in active status to complete 8 continuing education hours and 96 nursing practice hours in the 12 months before each renewal. Of the 8 CE hours, 2 must be health equity CE.
Mandated subject requirements
- Health equity: 2 of the 8 CE hours each renewal (mandatory after the 2026 renewal date).
- Suicide assessment, treatment, and management: a one-time 6-hour training by the end of the first full year of licensure.
Renewal cycle and deadlines
Washington RN licenses renew annually on the nurse's birthday. Complete your CE and practice hours in the 12 months before renewal — they do not carry over.
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View pricingWashington Registered Nurses (RN) CME at a glance
- Health Equity2 hrs · every renewal
2 of the 8 continuing education hours must be health equity CE. This becomes mandatory at every renewal after each nurse's 2026 renewal date (counts toward the 8-hour total).
- Suicide Assessment, Treatment & Management6 hrs · one time
A one-time 6-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from a DOH model-list program, completed by the end of the first full year of licensure (counts toward the CE total in the year completed).
Always confirm with your licensing board
Washington RN licenses renew annually on the nurse's birthday. RNs in active status must complete 8 continuing education hours and 96 nursing practice hours in the 12 months before renewal. Of the 8 CE hours, 2 must be health equity CE (mandatory at every renewal after the 2026 renewal date). RNs must also complete a one-time 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment, and management training (from the DOH model list) by the end of their first full year of licensure.
CE requirements change. Confirm current rules with the Washington State Board of Nursing before relying on these figures.
Source: Washington State Board of Nursing. Board website · Researched as of 2026-06-01 · CME rules change; this is administrative guidance, not legal or CME-accreditation advice.
Licensed in more than one state?
Nurse Licensure Compact: active. Active. One multistate RN/LPN license from the home state authorizes practice in member states; practice-state requirements (including CE) may still overlay.
Each state license carries its own CME requirement and renewal date — if you hold more than one, you need a plan for each.
Also licensing in Washington or beyond?
Our sister teams handle the licensing side with the same concierge service.
Washington RN Continuing Education Requirements — Frequently Asked Questions
How many CE hours do Washington RNs need?
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8 continuing education hours plus 96 practice hours each renewal.
Does Washington require health equity training?
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Yes — 2 of the 8 CE hours must be health equity CE, mandatory at every renewal after the 2026 renewal date.
Does Washington require suicide prevention training?
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Yes — a one-time 6-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management is required by the end of your first full year of licensure.
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