WashingtonNursing board may issue practice permits while applicants await exam results
Washington’s nursing board may let people who finish nursing school or training practice under a permit while they wait for exam results.
What it does
After an applicant finishes nursing school or training, the nursing board may let them practice while they wait for exam results. A permit ends if they fail and cannot be renewed.
Argument forApplicants who have finished nursing school could begin practice while waiting for exam results, which may help employers fill nursing roles sooner.
Argument againstApplicants could care for patients before exam results arrive, which may concern people who worry about a permit holder later failing.
More detail
The nursing board may issue an interim permit to let an applicant practice while waiting for exam results. The permit may cover registered nursing, advanced registered nursing, or licensed practical nursing, as appropriate. The applicant must have completed the school or training program, and the board must issue the permit. If the applicant fails the exam, the permit ends when the applicant is notified and cannot be renewed. Permit holders are subject to state health-professional discipline law. The permit may run from verification that the applicant completed the school or training program until the applicant is notified of exam results. The text sets out a second version starting June 30, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Effective date 6/11/2026*.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 139, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 9President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 6Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 5Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#10). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 5Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 25Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 24Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 24HLTC - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 24Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 18First reading, referred to Health & Long-Term Care.Minor
- Feb 16Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 3; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#16). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 161st substitute bill substituted (HCW 26).Major
- Feb 14Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Jan 27Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 23HCW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 23Executive action taken in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 14Public hearing in the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Health Care & Wellness.Minor
- Jan 8Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Healthcare