Registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) applicants educated outside United States (U.S.) jurisdictions and applying for initial licensure shall:
(1) Have completed a nursing education program outside U.S. jurisdictions.
(a) The nursing education program must substantially meet the requirements for nursing education approved in Washington state. The board retains authority to evaluate and determine the sufficiency of academic preparation for all applicants.
(b) Any deficiencies in the nursing education program, as described in WAC 246-840-537, 246-840-539, and 246-840-541, may be satisfactorily completed in a board-approved nursing education program or program created for internationally educated nurses identified in WAC 246-840-549, 246-840-551 or 246-840-552. Documentation demonstrating that any deficiencies have been satisfactorily completed must be submitted directly to the board from the nursing education program.
(2) Obtain a transcript evaluation from a board-approved credential evaluation service verifying that the educational program completed by the applicant substantially meets the requirements for nursing education in the state of Washington. The evaluation must include a copy of the applicant's official transcript which must:
(a) Be in English or accompanied by an official English translation;
(b) Include applicant's dates of enrollment, course names, earned credits, date of graduation, and the credential conferred, if applicable. If credits have been accepted from other programs, the transcript must identify those programs;
(c) Document that the nursing education program completed by the applicant substantially meets the requirements for nursing education in Washington state. Course descriptions or syllabi may be required to determine if the education received is substantially equivalent to Washington state standards.
(3) Provide verification to the board directly from the program indicating that the theory and clinical components were taught in English. If the theory and clinical components of the applicant's nursing education program were not taught in English, the applicant must demonstrate English language proficiency by one of the following:
(a) Provide evidence of passing a board-approved English proficiency examination with the minimum passing scores established by the board;
(b) Provide evidence of earning a diploma or degree directly from an educational institution in a U.S. jurisdiction, prior to board approval to take the board-approved licensure examination as described in WAC 246-840-050. The education acquired by the applicant must have been taught in English; or
(c) Provide evidence of completing 1,000 hours of employment as a licensed nurse in another country in which English is the primary language spoken. The 1,000 hours of employment must be in the same licensed role as the nurse is applying for licensure in Washington state.
(4) Pass the board-approved licensure examination as provided in WAC 246-840-050.
If the applicant passed the examination in a licensing jurisdiction outside the U.S., the applicant shall provide verification of having passed the examination directly from that jurisdiction to the board.
(5) Submit a completed licensure application with the required fee as specified in WAC 246-840-990.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.010, 18.79.110, and 43.07.041. WSR 26-02-031, s 246-840-045, filed 12/30/25, effective 1/30/26. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.110, 18.88A.060 and 2020 c 76. WSR 21-04-016, § 246-840-045, filed 1/22/21, effective 2/22/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.010, 18.79.110, 18.79.150, 18.79.190, and 18.79.240. WSR 16-17-082, § 246-840-045, filed 8/17/16, effective 9/17/16. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.79.110. WSR 08-11-019, § 246-840-045, filed 5/12/08, effective 6/12/08.]