Registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical nurse (LPN) applicants educated outside United States (U.S.) jurisdictions and applying for licensure by interstate endorsement shall:
(1) Have graduated and hold a degree from a nursing education program outside U.S. jurisdictions preparing candidates for licensure as a nurse. The nursing education program must substantially meet requirements for nursing education approved in Washington state at the time of graduation, as determined by the board. The board retains authority to evaluate and determine the sufficiency of academic preparation for all applicants. The board may request a copy of official transcripts and a completed education verification from the applicant's nursing education program.
(2) Hold one of the following:
(a) A current active nursing license in another U.S. jurisdiction;
(b) An inactive or expired license in another U.S. jurisdiction and successfully complete a board-approved refresher course;
(i) An applicant whose license is inactive or expired in another U.S. jurisdiction may be issued a limited education authorization by the board to enroll in the clinical portion of the refresher course;
(ii) The limited education authorization is valid only while working under the direct supervision of a preceptor and is not valid for employment as a nurse; or
(c) An inactive or expired license in another U.S. jurisdiction, and an active license in a Canadian jurisdiction, where the applicant has been actively practicing within the last three years. The applicant must submit verification of an active license and active nursing practice in a Canadian jurisdiction within the last three years.
(3) Provide verification that the applicant was originally licensed to practice as a nurse in another U.S. jurisdiction after passing the relevant board-approved licensure examination as described in WAC 246-840-050.
(4) Have an official transcript sent directly from the applicant's nursing education program to the board if the education cannot be verified from the original board of nursing, regulatory authority, or board-approved evaluation service.
(a) The transcript must:
(i) Be in English or accompanied by an official English translation;
(ii) Include the 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; and
(iii) Document that the applicant has graduated from a nursing education program or that the applicant has completed the prelicensure portion of an approved graduate-entry RN program. The nursing education program must substantially meet the requirements of board-approved nursing education in Washington state at the time of graduation as determined by the board.
(b) An education verification, course descriptions, or syllabi may be requested from the applicant's nursing education program and must include clinical hours in specific content areas of direct care and simulation.
(5) 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 proficiency by one of the following:
(a) Provide evidence of passing a board-approved English proficiency examination with the minimum 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.
(6) Complete and submit a licensure application with the required fee as specified in WAC 246-840-990.