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Washington · Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner CE requirements in Washington

High confidenceLast verified June 4, 2026

Requirements at a glance

Licensing board
Renewal cycle
Every 2 years (every year practice-hour reporting)
Total CE hours
30 CE hours per cycle
Pharmacology hours
+15 additional CE hours in pharmacology for Rx authority
Accepts AANP or ANCC in lieu
Must maintain RN license + active national certification (in addition)

State-mandated CE topics

  • Suicide prevention: 6 hrs — One-time.
  • Health equity (incl. implicit bias): 2 hrs — Per renewal, effective 2023-12-22, full phase-in by 2026.
  • Opioid prescribing: — One-time best-practices training (hour count unverified).

Sources

Every figure on this page is compiled from the primary board and national certification sources below, cross-checked against reputable aggregators. Requirements change often and some boards publish only in PDFs or login-walled portals — confirm current rules directly before relying on them for renewal.

Washington licensing boardWashington State Board of Nursing
AANP certification (national)aanpcert.org/recert
ANCC certification (national)nursingworld.org/globalassets/certification/renewals/ancc-certrenewalrequirements.pdf
DEA MATE Act (federal)samhsa.gov/substance-use/treatment/statutes-regulations-guidelines/mate-act
DEA MATE Act (federal)dea.gov
Verify with Washington State Board of Nursing

How this fits the national picture

Independent of Washington, every NP maintains national certification through AANP (100 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacology, plus 1,000 practice hours) or ANCC (75 CE hours over 5 years including 25 pharmacotherapeutics). State CE sits on top of that.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

How many CE hours do nurse practitioners need in Washington?

30 CE hours per cycle. Renewal cycle: Every 2 years (every year practice-hour reporting).

Does Washington accept AANP or ANCC certification in lieu of state CE?

Must maintain RN license + active national certification (in addition).

What topic-specific CE does Washington require for nurse practitioners?

Suicide prevention: 6 hrs — One-time. Health equity (incl. implicit bias): 2 hrs — Per renewal, effective 2023-12-22, full phase-in by 2026. Opioid prescribing: — One-time best-practices training (hour count unverified).

How many pharmacology hours do nurse practitioners need in Washington?

+15 additional CE hours in pharmacology for Rx authority.

Informational only, not legal or compliance advice. Continuing education rules change frequently. Confirm current requirements with the Washington State Board of Nursing and your certifying body before relying on any figure here.