how long does the WA state RN license take to process?

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Hello,

Can anyone tell me how long does the WA state RN license take to process if you're having it endorse? I'm from Hawaii and I was wondering how long will it take for me to recieve it. And I know i have to complete a course in AIDS I notice there were several DVDs & online courses I can take but some were 7 hours long which was more expensive, others were 2 hours long which was cheap. Is there a difference between the hours?

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In WA the RN licensing paperwork should show that the 7-hour HIV class is required. There is a link of online programs from the WA state page that range from in class training to online training.

v/r

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Specializes in SRNA.

WA requires the 7 hour course. If you have employment lined up, ask the education office if they have the course. I was able to complete it at my hospital and get my certificate of completion for $30 since they were authorized to provide the course.

I endorsed my license from NV to WA and it didn't take too long. The longest part was that the NV BON took forever to fill out my license verification form and send it up to WA. All in all, it was about a 3 week process.

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Hey, I just went through this, literally! I got my Hawaii license endorsed by Washington. Overall it took 2 months plus a couple days for me to get my license.

I sent in all of my paper work on Feb. 4, 2009. A couple days later I got back the fingerprinting packet. I got my fingerprints done and sent them out a couple days after. I just checked their website and my RN license in Washington has been activated as of today.

The longest part is waiting to hear back from the FBI about the fingerprint background check. Washington told me to go to a local police station to get my fingerprints done, but Hawaii doesn't do that. I called HPD and they directed me to some government office. Their first appointment was March 4, I called them on like Feb. 10. It's ridiculous because fingerprinting takes all of 5 minutes. I asked them if there was any way around this long waiting period or if there was any other option to just walk in or whatever, they said no but if you go in the yellowpages under fingerprint, there are 2 private compaines that can do it but ou have to pay so much for it. (Which was fine with me because I needed my license ASAP to get hired.) I ended up express mailing my fingerprints to Olympia because I wanted to get it there faster, so that also cost me more money.

Don't bother calling the nursing board like I did. Each time I got a different answer about how long it would take for me to get my license. --- "we don't give time estimates", "between 3-4 weeks", "after we get your fingerprints it can take about 12 weeks", "2-3 months from start to finish" "only about a month". From my friends that went through it I heard 2-3 months, but the did this before the fingerprinting. It was really frustrating, so I just started checking their website. They were helpful when I had questions about filling out the application.

I did not have to take an HIV/AIDS 7 hour course. I specifically called about that because I didn't want to have to pay to take it online. Since I graduated in 2008 and have taken Blood Born Pathogens in nursing school that counted as my HIV/AIDS training. She explained that it is pretty much for nurses who have not worked in a while, or got their license in like the 1980s. I would call and get a confirmation from them first though. Save you a lot of money and time.

The great thing is, I got a letter in the beginning of March stating that I have a temporary work permit to work as a RN in Washington state while they wait for my FBI background check to process. My employer said that it was okay to work under that permit (it's only good for 6 months) until I got my license - so I'm assuming all employers are doing this. I guess it's a new thing because before WA didn't require FBI background checks on RN applicants from out of state.

Good luck getting your license! I hope this helps.

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Specializes in SRNA.

I guess if you have to do fingerprints, that could extend the process. I didn't have to submit fingerprints to WA, but I did come from NV which did require fingerprinting for my initial license. They must have some criteria for requiring fingerprints or not.

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.

It took less than 1 month for WA to endorse my TX LVN license. I was a new grad though and did not require the HIV course or fingerprints because I had already done it for my TX license. The only thing I had to do was print out the application online and send them it along with a copy of my license and a check. It was really easy and fast for me.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-Surg, IMCU/Tele, HH/CM.

It took 6 weeks last summer for my license to process. I was already licensed in MN. Apparently it was busy time for applications.

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It took over 3 months for me to get a new RN license from Hawaii. I applied for the license about two months after I took the NCLEX. So filled out the paperwork, paids fees etc in Oct. and got the license in the mail at the end of Jan.

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@Benessie did you move to WA yet? Hows the job situation? Did you get one before moving once you had your WA license?

I am in MD, I will take the NCLEX Feb 3, then I want to endorse right away.

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I applied for WA llicense in Jan, got the temp. Had to redo fingerprints, that was 3 months ago and I am still waiting for my permanent. Have called twice and have been told that FBI is slow ... temp expires mid-July: the Board have said that they will extend my temp.

I sent them my original application together with the AIDS Course Certificate.

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