Washington Advanced Practice Registered Nurses CE Requirements, Accreditations & Approvals

Washington Nurses

In support of improving patient care, NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The Washington State Department of Health Nursing Commission accepts courses from any provider who is ANCC accredited.

Continuing Education Requirement

The Washington State Department of Health Nursing Commission accepts NetCE courses.

RNs and LPNs are required 8 contact hours every year. There is a one-time requirement of 6 hours of suicide prevention training at initial licensure.

ARNPs are required 30 contact hours in area of specialty every two years. Licensees authorized to prescribe are required an additional 15 hours in pharmacotherapeutics. Licensees authorized to prescribe opioids must complete a one-time requirement of 4 hours regarding best practices in the prescribing of opioids. There is a one-time requirement of 6 hours of suicide prevention training, certified registered nurse anesthetists are excluded from this requirement.

ARNP pain management specialists functioning as a consultant for the prescribing of chronic opioid therapy must complete 18 hours of continuing education in pain management.

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All Accreditations and Approvals
License Renewal Instructions

For More Information

Please contact the Washington State Department of Health, Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission at (360) 236-4703, or visit their website at https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission.

Additional information regarding your continuing education requirements may be found at:
https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/NursingCommission/NurseLicensing/ReneworReactivateaLicense - RNs, LPNs and ARNPs.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/6000/ContinuingCompetency_06112021.pdf - CE FAQs eff. June 12, 2021.