Temporary Practice Permit Applications for RNs

The Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission completes the licensing for all nurses in our state, including RNs, LPNs, ARNPs and Nursing Technicians.         

The Nursing Commission is giving top priority to the temporary practice permit applications for nurses to assist with the urgent and critical care needs in King County during this COVID-19 crisis. Nurses may volunteer as an Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners. Complete the Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Application (Word) Applications will be screened to ensure the potential volunteer’s health license is in good standing in each state of licensure. The volunteer’s name will be entered into a database of approved emergency volunteer health practitioners. The Washington State Department of Health will activate approved volunteers as needs arise while an emergency proclamation is in effect. This process allows out of state nurses without a Washington State license to work in Washington for the duration of the emergency.

If your facility is in need of emergency staffing and is planning on hiring nurses from out of state, the nurses may apply and be licensed in Washington. Please send an email to nurselicensing@doh.wa.gov with a list of applicant names. Please indicate the urgency of this request based on one or more of the following criteria:

·         intensity of patient care

·         lack of current staffing to provide patient care

·         staff unable to continue to provide patient care due to illness

·         existing nursing vacancies that are currently unfilled due to the COVID 19 situation

Our office will expedite the applications and issue temporary practice permits if the applicants meet all the licensure requirements. Once we receive the application, our office will send a fingerprint card packet. Applicants must complete an FBI criminal background check and submit their fingerprints as soon as possible. The temporary practice permit allows the nurse to practice in Washington while awaiting the results of the criminal background check.

For the application and directions to the online nursing application, please go to https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/6000/669419.pdf

Our office needs a list of nurses from your facility who are applying for positions in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties to expedite the process.

Thank you.

Paula R. Meyer MSN, RN, FRE

Executive Director

Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission Washington State Department of Health