Washington Nursing CE Courses
Last updated May 30, 2026
Washington Nursing Continuing Education Requirements
RN Requirements
- 45 hours of continuing education every 3 years
- Suicide Assessment, Treatment & Management: 6 contact hours — One-time
- Health Equity: 2 contact hours — Every 4 years
- 531 hours of active practice are also required in the three-year period.
LPN Requirements
- 8 hrs every renewal period of continuing education each renewal period
- Every year
- Suicide prevention training: 6 hours, one time; Health equity continuing education: 2 hours every four years
APRN Requirements
- 30 hours of continuing education for advanced practice nurses
- Renewal cycle: 2 years
- Pharmacology: 15 additional Pharmacology if prescriptive authority
- Required topic: Pharmacology
Show me the course list for my licence

Washington RN required courses
8 contact hours in this list, included with your yearly pass. Always confirm with your board before you renew.
6 contact hoursBuild practical nursing skills to identify suicide risk, complete a focused assessment, protect patients from immediate harm, and coordinate evidence-based care.
2 contact hoursBuild practical skills to recognize and interrupt implicit bias in clinical decisions, communication, staffing, and systems of care.
Washington nursing CE questions
Straight from the Washington board
- Renewal period
- Every year
- RN requirement
- Current continuing-competency requirements include CE/practice; 2-hr Health Equity requirement
- LPN / LVN requirement
- Current continuing-competency requirements include CE/practice; 2-hr Health Equity requirement
- Mandatory topics
- Suicide prevention training: 6 hours, one time; Health equity continuing education: 2 hours every four years
- Required courses
- RN: 8 CE hours every renewal period, including 2 hours health equity; one-time 6-hour suicide assessment, treatment and management training. LPN: Same: 8 CE hours, including 2 hours health equity, plus one-time 6-hour suicide training. 96 practice hours are also required every year. (Nursing Commission) Source: Washington State Board of Nursing.
- Good to know
- Washington requires 8 CE hours every renewal period plus 96 practice hours every year. The 2-hour health-equity requirement counts toward the 8 CE hours. The nurse must also complete a one-time 6-hour suicide-assessment/treatment/management training. (Nursing Commission)
- Advanced practice CE
- 30 hours
- Renewal period
- 2 years
- Pharmacology
- 15 pharmacology contact hours. 15 additional Pharmacology if prescriptive authority
- Who it applies to
- ARNPs with prescriptive authority
- Controlled substances / opioids
- None identified as a separate requirement
- Pain and opioid content
- None identified as a separate pharm requirement
- Prescriptive authority
- Yes
- Who approves the course
- Washington State Board of Nursing
- Accepted providers
- Qualifying CE activities/providers under Washington continuing-competency rules
Placeholder citation: WAC 246-840-200 (admin-managed field). Reviewed May 30, 2026. User self-report; audit on request
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Ask about requirements, a course, pricing or your license. Answers come from our own course list and state notes.
Answers come from Fast CE For Less's own course list and our notes on state requirements. Always check your board's own rules before you count hours.
