State requirements
Washington Suicide Prevention Training for Nurses: Hours, Approved Courses, and Renewal Rules
Washington RNs must complete 45 contact hours every three years, including six hours of one-time Suicide Assessment, Treatment & Management training. RNs also need two hours of health equity training every four years and 531 hours of active practice during each three-year renewal period.
Updated 2026-10-14 · Fast CE For Less editorial team
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Quick answer
Washington suicide prevention training for nurses holding an RN license is a one-time, six-hour requirement in Suicide Assessment, Treatment & Management. RNs must also complete 45 contact hours and 531 active practice hours every three years, plus two hours of health equity training every four years. Nurses self-report compliance and must provide documentation if audited.
What Is the Washington Suicide Prevention Training Requirement for RNs?
The Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission requires RNs to complete six hours of training in Suicide Assessment, Treatment & Management. This is identified as a one-time requirement rather than a course that must be repeated during every renewal cycle.
The suicide prevention requirement is one part of Washington’s broader RN continuing education rules. RNs must complete 45 contact hours every three years and maintain 531 hours of active practice during that same three-year period.
The available requirement information specifically addresses RN licenses. Nurses with another license type or an additional credential should check the Commission’s current requirements for that license instead of assuming the RN rules apply.
How Often Do Washington RNs Renew Their Licenses?
Washington RNs complete 45 contact hours during each three-year renewal period. They must also document 531 hours of active nursing practice within that three-year period.
The six-hour suicide prevention training is a one-time requirement. Once it has been completed through an acceptable option, the nurse should retain the completion record even though the training is not listed as an every-three-year requirement.
Renewal timing and topic timing do not always match. Health equity training is required for two hours every four years, so RNs should track that deadline separately from the three-year continuing education and practice cycle.
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Which Suicide Prevention Courses Are Acceptable in Washington?
Before enrolling, confirm that the course satisfies Washington’s six-hour Suicide Assessment, Treatment & Management requirement. A general behavioral health, depression, crisis response, or suicide awareness course should not automatically be treated as meeting the mandate.
Check the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission’s current course or training guidance. Confirm the required course length, topic, provider or trainer qualifications, and any other approval conditions before paying for or beginning the training.
Course descriptions can change, and a course being available online does not by itself establish that it meets Washington’s requirement. Save a copy of the course description with your completion documentation so you can show what the training covered if requested.
Does a Nurse’s Job Role Change the Six-Hour Requirement?
The provided Washington RN requirement identifies the license type and mandatory topic but does not list different suicide prevention hours based on specialty, employer, or amount of patient contact. An RN should therefore verify any claimed role-based exception directly with the Commission.
This is especially important for RNs working in administration, education, telehealth, case management, research, or nonclinical positions. Employer training rules may also differ from state license requirements, and completing one does not automatically prove that the other has been satisfied.
Nurses holding more than one license or credential should review each applicable set of rules. The RN information here should not be used to determine requirements for LPN, APRN, or other professional credentials.
How Do Washington Nurses Report Training and Prove Completion?
Washington uses user self-reporting for RN continuing education compliance. Nurses generally report that they have met the requirements rather than submitting every course record with each renewal, but documentation must be available if the Commission requests it during an audit.
Keep the suicide prevention certificate or completion record in an accessible file. It should clearly identify the nurse, course title, completion date, provider, and six training hours; if any of those details are missing, ask the provider for complete documentation.
Because the suicide prevention requirement is one-time, retaining the record beyond a single renewal cycle is practical. Keep separate records for the 45 contact hours, 531 active practice hours, and two-hour health equity requirement so each obligation can be documented.
How Can Washington Nurses Choose Convenient Online CE?
Self-paced online education can help working nurses complete continuing education around shifts and personal obligations. For any mandatory Washington topic, verify eligibility with the Commission before relying on an online course for license compliance.
Fast CE For Less offers a $29.99 annual All-Access pass that includes every course in its catalog, self-paced online learning, and instant certificates. The pass renews yearly, so subscribers who do not want another year must cancel before renewal.
Nurses can also take the free Improving Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration course. Before selecting any course for Washington’s suicide prevention or health equity mandates, confirm that the specific course meets the state’s current requirements.