Nursing License from Illinois to Washington: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-07-21 · source: Washington State Board of Nursing ↗
A nursing license transfers from Illinois to Washington by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Washington State Board of Nursing, verify your Illinois license, and meet Washington's endorsement requirements. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
This direction has a silver lining. Illinois is outside the compact, so you have been carrying a single-state license — but Washington is a member. Endorse into Washington, establish it as your primary residence, meet the uniform licensure requirements, and the license you receive is multistate: one application turns into practice privileges across the whole compact.
What changes, Illinois → Washington
| Illinois (current) | Washington (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| NLC status | Licensure by endorsement | NLC member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $50–$75 ($50 non-refundable endorsement fee, or $75 with the optional 6-month temporary permit (+$25); fingerprint fee paid separately to a licensed livescan vendor) | $138–$203 ($138 single-state / $203 multistate initial application; FBI fingerprint fee paid separately) |
| Processing time | no processing range stated in IDFPR application materials | 1–3 weeks (about 7 business days for a complete application; multistate-license review 2-3 weeks; temporary practice permit issued once requirements are met pending the FBI background check) |
| Licensing authority | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Board of Nursing) | Washington State Board of Nursing |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Washington sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Washington's current requirements on the Washington State Board of Nursing website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Washington State Board of Nursing (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Hold an active RN license in another U.S. state (or an expired U.S. license plus an active Canadian license).
- Request Nursys verification of your initial U.S. license from the original state of licensure.
- FBI fingerprint-based background check for applicants with out-of-state addresses and all multistate-license applicants.
- Declare Washington as your primary state of residence if applying for a multistate license.
- Pay the fees ($138–$203 ($138 single-state / $203 multistate initial application; FBI fingerprint fee paid separately)) and allow 1–3 weeks (about 7 business days for a complete application; multistate-license review 2-3 weeks; temporary practice permit issued once requirements are met pending the FBI background check).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Washington accept a Illinois nursing license?
A nursing license transfers from Illinois to Washington by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Washington State Board of Nursing, verify your Illinois license, and meet Washington's endorsement requirements. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
Do I retake the NCLEX moving from Illinois to Washington?
No — the NCLEX transfers everywhere. NCLEX is not retaken; your license is verified through Nursys.
What does the move cost?
$138–$203 ($138 single-state / $203 multistate initial application; FBI fingerprint fee paid separately) ($138 single-state / $203 multistate initial application; FBI fingerprint fee paid separately).
How long will it take?
1–3 weeks (about 7 business days for a complete application; multistate-license review 2-3 weeks; temporary practice permit issued once requirements are met pending the FBI background check) — about 7 business days for a complete application; multistate-license review 2-3 weeks; temporary practice permit issued once requirements are met pending the FBI background check.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- WABON — RN License requirements (licensed in another US state) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WABON — Nurse license fees ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- WABON — RN and LPN Multistate License information ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Registered Nurse Instruction Sheet (Examination/Endorsement/Restoration), rev. 4/24 ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- IDFPR — Nurses profession page ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]