Washington RN Continuing Education Requirements, Explained
Last reviewed June 2026 against the official sources linked below. Requirements change — always confirm with your board before relying on them.
Total hours
8 CE hrs + 96 practice hours per year
Renewal cycle
Every year
Mandatory topics
2 hrs health equity; one-time 6-hr suicide training
Issued by
Washington State Board of Nursing
Washington recently moved to an annual model, and it catches a lot of nurses by surprise. Each year you must complete 8 continuing education hours and 96 practice hours to keep your RN license in good standing. Two of those 8 CE hours must be health equity continuing education, a relatively new mandate.
On top of the yearly numbers, there is a one-time, 6-hour suicide prevention training that nearly every RN must complete. Here is exactly what you owe and when, in plain English.
The yearly base: 8 CE hours + 96 practice hours
The Washington State Board of Nursing requires every active RN to complete 8 continuing education hours and 96 practice hours each year as part of continuing competency. Of the 8 CE hours, 2 must be in health equity. The health equity requirement applies to all licensed RNs - you must complete it by your 2026 renewal date and then continue it each renewal period after that.
Because the cycle is annual rather than every two years, the math sneaks up on people who are used to the old multi-year standard. Treat the 8 hours and 96 practice hours as a recurring yearly target, not a one-time push.
The mandatory topics most nurses forget
- Health equity - 2 contact hours, and these count inside your 8 yearly CE hours rather than on top of them. Required by your 2026 renewal and every renewal thereafter.
- Suicide prevention - a one-time, 6-hour training in the assessment, treatment, and management of suicide from a qualified, model-list program. RNs who hold an active CRNA license are the main exception. The hours you spend on this training count toward your continuing competency CE.
- Keep documentation of each year's practice hours - clinical work, teaching, administration, research, and similar nursing activities can all qualify.
Stop tracking this in a spreadsheet
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
Start tracking — freeWhen is your deadline?
Washington RN licenses renew annually, with the expiration tied to your birthday. Your exact date is in your Washington Healthcare Enforcement and Licensing Modernization Solution (HELMS) account. Complete your 8 CE and 96 practice hours within the year before each renewal, and complete the one-time suicide prevention training by its deadline. The Board audits continuing competency, so keep your certificates.
How CredTally keeps this on autopilot
- Enter '8 CE hours + 96 practice hours' as a yearly target and add the '2 hours health equity' sub-requirement - the progress rings show what is still owed in each bucket every single year.
- Snap a photo of each certificate, including your one-time suicide prevention training, and it is stored privately with the credit it proves.
- Reminder emails at 90, 60, 30, and 7 days before your birthday renewal, with your remaining hours in the subject line - so the annual cycle never sneaks up.
- If the Board audits you, export a dated PDF packet of the year - summary plus every certificate - in one click.
Frequently asked questions
How many CE hours does a Washington RN need each year?
Eight continuing education hours plus 96 practice hours every year. Two of the 8 CE hours must be in health equity, and they count within the 8 rather than in addition to them.
Is the suicide prevention training a one-time requirement in Washington?
Yes. Most RNs complete a one-time, 6-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from a qualified program. RNs holding an active CRNA license are the main exception, and the hours count toward CE.
What is the Washington health equity CE requirement?
Two contact hours of health equity continuing education, required by your 2026 renewal and every renewal afterward. These 2 hours count inside your 8 yearly CE hours.
Did Washington change its nursing CE rules?
Yes. The current standard is 8 CE hours and 96 practice hours per year. Older guidance referencing roughly 531 practice hours and 45 CE hours over three years no longer reflects the current annual rule.
Official sources
CredTally is a record-keeping tool and is not affiliated with any licensing board. This guide is general information, not legal or compliance advice.
CredTally tracks all of this for you
Progress rings per requirement, private certificate storage, deadline reminders, and a one-click audit packet. Set up in two minutes — free for your first license.
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