Washington state offers a strong and growing nursing education system anchored by the University of Washington in Seattle and a network of community colleges serving students across the state’s diverse geography — from the urban Puget Sound corridor to rural eastern Washington. The state consistently produces RNs in high demand: Magnet-designated hospital systems in Seattle and Tacoma set a high bar for BSN-prepared nurses, and the healthcare market stretching from Bellingham to Spokane continues to expand. One critical licensing fact every prospective Washington nurse must know: Washington is not a member of the Nursing Licensure Compact. A Washington RN license is valid only in Washington, and Washington nurses who move to or work in other states must obtain separate state licenses.
Types of nursing programs available in Washington
ADN programs (2 years, post-prerequisites) Community and technical colleges across Washington offer ADN programs through the state’s network of 34 community and technical colleges. Shoreline Community College, Tacoma Community College, Spokane Community College, and Clark College in Vancouver all run ACEN-accredited ADN programs. These programs typically require 1–2 semesters of prerequisites before clinical coursework begins.
BSN programs (4 years) The University of Washington School of Nursing is the state’s flagship nursing school. Washington State University’s College of Nursing, Pacific Lutheran University, and Seattle Pacific University all offer CCNE-accredited BSN programs. Because most of Washington’s major hospital systems are Magnet-designated — including UW Medical Center, Providence Swedish, and MultiCare Health System — BSN-prepared nurses face stronger hiring demand in the Seattle-Tacoma metro than ADN-only graduates.
Accelerated BSN (12–18 months) For career changers with existing bachelor’s degrees, accelerated BSN options exist at the University of Washington, Pacific Lutheran University, and Seattle Pacific University. Washington’s ABSN programs are competitive; applicants typically need a GPA of 3.0–3.5 and prerequisite sciences completed within the past five years.
LPN programs LPN programs of 12–18 months are available at community colleges and vocational schools. LPNs in Washington can bridge to RN through LPN-to-ADN programs at several community colleges.
Online and hybrid options RN-to-BSN completion programs are available online through Washington State University and Western Governors University (WGU) for working nurses seeking BSN completion.
Admission requirements
Washington nursing programs share a core prerequisite framework across both ADN and BSN tracks.
Common prerequisites:
| Prerequisite | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| Anatomy & Physiology I & II | With lab; grade of C or better (B preferred) |
| Microbiology | With lab |
| Chemistry | General or introductory chemistry with lab |
| English Composition | Writing-intensive; C or better |
| Psychology | General or developmental |
| Statistics | Required for most BSN programs |
| Nutrition | Required by many programs |
| Human Development | Required by some programs |
Science prerequisites at Washington schools often must be completed within the past five to seven years.
Entrance exams: ATI TEAS is the most widely required entrance exam for Washington nursing programs. HESI A2 is accepted at some institutions. Competitive scores vary: community college ADN programs typically look for scores at or above the 60th–70th percentile; BSN programs at the University of Washington and other universities expect 75th percentile and above. See our guide to nursing school prerequisites by state for a state-by-state comparison.
GPA requirements: Minimum GPA of 2.5–3.0 is common, with competitive applicants to BSN programs presenting 3.3 and above. If your GPA is a concern, review nursing schools that accept lower GPAs for programs with more flexible admissions.
Application timeline: Most Washington programs accept applications on a once- or twice-per-year cycle. ADN programs at community colleges are often impacted — more applicants than seats — and many use a points-based selection process. Apply to multiple programs and plan for a 12–18 month lead time.
Notable nursing schools in Washington
University of Washington School of Nursing – Seattle The UW School of Nursing is CCNE-accredited and ranked among the top nursing schools in the country by US News & World Report. It offers BSN, accelerated BSN, MN, DNP, and PhD programs. Clinical placements run through UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center (the region’s Level I trauma center), and affiliated community health sites. NCLEX first-attempt pass rates for UW graduates consistently run above 90%.
Washington State University College of Nursing – Spokane (and statewide) WSU’s nursing college operates a distributed model with campuses in Spokane, Vancouver, Yakima, and the Tri-Cities, as well as an online RN-to-BSN completion program. CCNE-accredited. WSU’s nursing programs serve eastern Washington students who would otherwise face long commutes to Seattle-area institutions.
Pacific Lutheran University Department of Nursing – Tacoma PLU is CCNE-accredited and offers BSN and accelerated BSN programs. Located in Tacoma, it has strong clinical partnerships with MultiCare Health System and CHI Franciscan. Class sizes are smaller than UW, which some students find a better fit for close faculty mentorship.
Tacoma Community College Nursing Program – Tacoma TCC’s ADN program is ACEN-accredited and well-regarded in the South Sound. Competitive admission; the program uses a points-based selection process. Strong NCLEX pass rates and clinical placements throughout the MultiCare and CHI Franciscan networks.
Shoreline Community College Nursing Program – Shoreline Shoreline’s ADN program is a common entry point for students in the North Seattle area. ACEN-accredited. ADN admission is competitive and uses a point-based system. Graduates enter RN practice and often bridge to BSN completion online.
Spokane Community College Nursing Program – Spokane SCC’s ADN program serves eastern Washington students in the Spokane area. ACEN-accredited with consistent NCLEX performance. Spokane’s growing healthcare market — anchored by Providence Sacred Heart and MultiCare Deaconess — provides strong clinical placement for students.
NCLEX pass rates and licensing
Washington’s Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) oversees RN and LPN licensure. Washington first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for US-educated graduates typically run near the national average of approximately 80–85%.
University-level programs in Washington tend to produce higher first-attempt NCLEX pass rates than community college ADN programs, though many ADN programs also perform well above national averages. Compare programs using the NCQAC’s published data and see NCLEX pass rates by nursing school for additional detail. For preparation strategies, see NCLEX first-attempt strategy.
Compact status: Washington is NOT an NLC member. As of 2026, Washington state has not joined the Nursing Licensure Compact. A Washington RN license is valid for practice only in Washington. If you want to work in another state, you must apply for that state’s license individually. If you are considering a move to Washington from a compact state, you must apply for a Washington license separately — your existing multi-state license does not cover Washington. This is a significant consideration for travel nurses and nurses who move frequently. For license portability details, see nursing license requirements by state.
To apply for RN licensure in Washington, submit through the NCQAC’s online portal at doh.wa.gov. Requirements include nursing program completion, NCLEX-RN via Pearson VUE, and a background check.
Salary and job market
BLS data places Washington mean annual RN wages at approximately $95,000–$102,000, among the highest in the country. The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro consistently ranks in the top five metros for RN compensation nationally, driven by the tech-economy-driven cost of living and strong healthcare system demand.
Major healthcare employers in Washington:
- UW Medicine – University of Washington Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, and community clinics. The premier academic medical employer in the state.
- Providence Health & Services – Large regional system operating Swedish Medical Center and Providence hospitals across western Washington and Spokane
- MultiCare Health System – Tacoma-based system with hospitals across Pierce, King, Thurston, and Yakima counties, including Tacoma General and Good Samaritan
- CHI Franciscan (now Virginia Mason Franciscan Health) – Operates St. Joseph Medical Center and other facilities in the South Sound
Washington’s Magnet hospital concentration in the Seattle-Tacoma corridor means BSN-prepared nurses are preferred in many acute care hiring decisions. New grad RN programs at these systems are competitive — strong NCLEX preparation and demonstrated clinical competency are essential.
Job growth for RNs in Washington tracks above the national average, supported by population growth in the Puget Sound region and persistent rural workforce shortages in eastern Washington.
How to choose the right program
BSN preference in Washington’s major markets: Because Magnet-designated hospital systems dominate hiring in Seattle and Tacoma, a BSN confers a meaningful hiring advantage. ADN graduates can address this through online RN-to-BSN completion, but BSN-prepared new grads enter with a competitive edge.
NCLEX pass rates: Use NCQAC-published data to compare programs. Programs with consistent first-attempt rates above 85% demonstrate strong outcomes.
Accreditation: All programs considered should carry ACEN (ADN programs) or CCNE (BSN and above) accreditation. Accreditation affects employer recognition, RN-to-BSN transfer acceptance, and financial aid eligibility.
Geographic fit: Washington’s geography matters. If you’re in eastern Washington, WSU’s Spokane or Yakima campuses and Spokane Community College serve that market. Western Washington has significantly more options in the Seattle-Tacoma-Olympia triangle.
Cost: Community college ADN programs in Washington are subsidized through the state’s community college system and are significantly less expensive than private university BSN programs. RN-to-BSN completion online is a cost-effective bridge. For a full cost-benefit analysis, see is nursing school worth the debt?.
For a full framework on choosing a program, see how to choose a nursing school.
Next steps
- Apply for RN licensure through the NCQAC at doh.wa.gov after completing your nursing program.
- Register for NCLEX-RN through Pearson VUE once you receive Authorization to Test (ATT).
- Plan your license strategy carefully — Washington is not an NLC compact state, so if you intend to work across state lines, factor in the cost and timeline of additional license applications.
- Review nursing school prerequisites by state to compare Washington program entry requirements against other states you may be considering.