Washington Continuing Education Requirements

• Continuing education and active nursing practice hour renewals are now yearly.
• Active nursing practice continuing education hours changes to at least 8 hours a year.
• Active nursing practice hours changes to at least 96 hours a year.
• Retired active nursing practice continuing education hours changes to at least 8 hours a year.
• Retired active nursing practice hours changes to at least 24 hours a year (max of 90 days a year).  

• All licensed RNs & LPNs have until their 2026 renewal date to complete 2 hours of health equity CE.
  After 2026 renewal, nurses must complete 2 hours of health equity CE every renewal period.
  Nurses applying for a new license have until their 2nd renewal date to complete 2 hours of health equity CE.
  After 2nd renewal, nurses must complete 2 hours of health equity CE every renewal period.
• One time 6 hour suicide course.
• Effective, January 1, 2021, all licensed nurses (RN, LPN, or ARNP) in Washington State are required to take telemedicine training if the nurse provides telemedicine services.

• Continuing education and active nursing practice hour renewals are now yearly.
• Active nursing practice continuing education hours changes to at least 8 hours a year.
• Active nursing practice hours changes to at least 96 hours a year.
• Retired active nursing practice continuing education hours changes to at least 8 hours a year.
• Retired active nursing practice hours changes to at least 24 hours a year (max of 90 days a year).  

• All licensed RNs & LPNs have until their 2026 renewal date to complete 2 hours of health equity CE.
  After 2026 renewal, nurses must complete 2 hours of health equity CE every renewal period.
  Nurses applying for a new license have until their 2nd renewal date to complete 2 hours of health equity CE.
  After 2nd renewal, nurses must complete 2 hours of health equity CE every renewal period.
• One time 6 hour suicide course.
• Effective, January 1, 2021, all licensed nurses (RN, LPN, or ARNP) in Washington State are required to take telemedicine training if the nurse provides telemedicine services.

• APRNs must maintain an active RN license.
• 30 contact hours are required every two years.
• An additional 15 hours in pharmacology is required if you have prescriptive authority within the last two years.

*As of Dec. 22, 2023, the new health equity continuing education (CE) requirement is: 2 hours of health equity CE every renewal period.

• All ARNPs who prescribe opioids in Washington State must complete a one-time four-hour continuing education on best practices in the prescribing of opioids.
• One time 6-hour suicide course.
• Effective, January 1, 2021, all licensed nurses who provide telemedicine services (RN, LPN, or ARNP) in Washington State are required to complete telemedicine training.

• DSHS does not approve self-study classes (materials/workbooks/programs that you read or view without an instructor) for CE. Training programs using a self-study method for CE are not approved.