Nursing License from Washington to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Does Florida accept a Washington nursing license?
Yes — both Washington and Florida 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 Florida now; if you are moving your residence to Florida, apply for licensure by endorsement there and declare Florida your new primary state of residence — your multistate privilege continues.
Verify this exact pair in the checker
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 Florida are NLC members, so the real question is not "does my license transfer" but "is this a relocation or just work". Working in Florida while living in Washington — travel contract, remote monitoring, per-diem across the border — needs nothing: your multistate license already covers it. Relocating to Florida means your primary state of residence changes, and the compact requires you to endorse into Florida and declare it your new home state. You keep practicing on the old privilege the entire time.
What's different between Washington and Florida
Computed from both states' verified data rows, in both directions, and from the route every other origin gets into Florida. Exam notes are our summary of each board's published rules, with sources below.
- Route, each way
Washington to Florida (this page): Compact multistate — already covered.
Florida to Washington (the reverse move): Compact multistate — already covered.
The route is the same in both directions.
- Does coming from Washington matter?
Washington gets Florida'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 Florida are both NLC member states.
A multistate license issued by Washington covers practice in Florida, and one issued by Florida covers practice in Washington.
- Application fee
Florida lists $110 for an out-of-state applicant and Washington lists $138–$203 for the reverse move; neither may be the full cost.
- Processing time
Washington lists 1–3 weeks for the reverse move; Florida has no verified processing-time figure on file, so the two cannot be compared here.
- Exam rules on record
Florida and Washington carry different exam notes (our summaries, below); any state law or jurisprudence exam is listed with each state's requirements.
- Florida (this move): NCLEX is not retaken; endorsement requires a passing national licensure exam score (transferred from NCSBN) plus license verification from every state where you have held a license
- Washington (the reverse move): NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys
What changes, Washington → Florida
| Washington (current) | Florida (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) | $110 (application and licensing fee paid to the Board of Nursing; Livescan and license verification fees vary by provider) |
| 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) | board allows up to 10 business days for initial review; by statute the license issues within 7 days after all documentation is received (s. 456.0145(2)(e), F.S.); Livescan results reach the board within 24-72 hours of processing |
| Licensing authority | Washington State Board of Nursing | Florida Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida 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 Florida: apply for licensure by endorsement with the Florida Board of Nursing when you move.
- Declare Florida as your new primary state of residence on that application.
- Complete Florida'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 Florida?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere.
What does the move cost?
If you are only working across the border, nothing. If you are relocating your residence to Florida: $110 (application and licensing fee paid to the Board of Nursing; Livescan and license verification fees vary by provider).
How long will it take?
Practice can continue immediately on the multistate privilege; the residence-change endorsement processes in the background (board allows up to 10 business days for initial review; by statute the license issues within 7 days after all documentation is received (s. 456.0145(2)(e), F.S.); Livescan results reach the board within 24-72 hours of processing).
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-10-29.
- Florida Board of Nursing — Nursing (RN & LPN) licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Florida Statutes s. 456.0145 — licensure by endorsement (MOBILE Act) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Florida Statutes s. 464.009 — nursing licensure by endorsement ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Florida BON — Electronic Fingerprinting form (Livescan instructions, PDF) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- Nursys — participating boards (Florida) ↗ (accessed 2026-10-29)
- 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 2026-10-29
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