Nursing License from Washington to Arizona: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Arizona accept a Washington nursing license?
Yes — both Washington and Arizona are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If Washington is your primary state of residence and you hold a multistate license, you can practice in Arizona now; if you are moving your residence to Arizona, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Arizona your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Compact multistate — already covered
This is the move the compact was built for. Both Washington and Arizona are NLC members, so the real question is not "does my license transfer" but "is this a relocation or just work". Working in Arizona while living in Washington — travel contract, remote monitoring, per-diem across the border — needs nothing: your multistate license already covers it. Relocating to Arizona means your primary state of residence changes, and the compact requires you to endorse into Arizona and declare it your new home state. You keep practicing on the old privilege the entire time.
What's different between Washington and Arizona
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Arizona. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Washington to Arizona (this page): Compact multistate — already covered.
Arizona to Washington (the reverse move): Compact multistate — already covered.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Washington matter?
Washington gets Arizona's most common result: 39 of 50 origins (the other 49 states and DC) get the same one, so for most movers the origin does not change the answer.
The others get: licensure by endorsement (11).
- NLC membership
Washington and Arizona are both NLC member states.
A multistate license issued by Washington covers practice in Arizona, and one issued by Arizona covers practice in Washington.
- Application fee
Arizona lists $150 for an out-of-state applicant and Washington lists $138–$203 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Arizona lists 4–12 weeks; Washington lists 1–3 weeks for the reverse move.
Arizona's longest listed wait is 9 weeks longer than Washington's.
- Exam rules on record
Washington and Arizona carry the same exam note for a licensee arriving from another state; any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
What changes, Washington → Arizona
| Washington (current) | Arizona (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | NLC member — multistate license honored | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $138–$203 ($138 single-state / $203 multistate initial application; FBI fingerprint fee paid separately) | $150 (RN/LPN endorsement application; + $50 background-check fee; optional $50 temporary license; card payments add a $2 or 2.2% processing fee) |
| Processing time | 1–3 weeks (multistate-license review may take 2-3 weeks; a temporary practice permit is issued once all requirements except the FBI fingerprint check are met (WAC 246-840-095), and WABON reported an average of about six days to issue one in January 2026) | 4–12 weeks (permanent license issues only after fingerprint results — approx. 30 days electronic, 8-12 weeks hard card; temporary license approx. 30 business days) |
| Licensing authority | Washington State Board of Nursing | Arizona State Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Arizona sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm your current license is an active multistate license in good standing (check it in the verification system).
- If you are moving your primary residence to Arizona: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Arizona State Board of Nursing when you move.
- Declare Arizona as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Arizona's fingerprint/background check requirement if requested.
- Keep practicing — your multistate privilege remains valid during the transition (do not let the old license lapse before the new one issues).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from Washington to Arizona?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
What does the move cost?
If you are only working across the border, nothing. If you are relocating your residence to Arizona: $150 (RN/LPN endorsement application; + $50 background-check fee; optional $50 temporary license; card payments add a $2 or 2.2% processing fee).
How long will it take?
Practice can continue immediately on the multistate privilege; the residence-change endorsement processes in the background (4–12 weeks (permanent license issues only after fingerprint results — approx. 30 days electronic, 8-12 weeks hard card; temporary license approx. 30 business days)).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified Washington 2026-10-29, Arizona 2026-07-21.
- Arizona BON — Apply for a License (RN/LPN endorsement) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Arizona BON — Agency Fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WABON — RN License requirements (licensed in another US state) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- WABON — Nurse license fees ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- WABON — RN and LPN Multistate License information ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- WAC 246-840-095 — Temporary practice permits (effective 2026-01-30) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- RCW 18.130.064 — Background checks (national fingerprint check when an applicant has recently lived out of state) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- WABON business meeting agenda, 2026-03-13 — Nurse Licensure Processing Timelines (February 2026 update) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources Washington 2026-10-29, Arizona 2026-07-21
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