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California vs Washington for RN Licensing

Total Fees
$549
CA
vs
$388
WA
Timeline
10-12 wks
CA
vs
2-3 wks
WA
Renewal Fee
$190
CA
vs
$138
WA

Side-by-Side Comparison

Category California Washington
Total Fees $549 $388
Application Fee $300 $138
Exam Fee $200 $200
Processing Time 10-12 weeks 2-3 weeks
Renewal Cycle 2 years 1 years
Renewal Fee $190 $138
CE Hours 30 hrs 8 hrs
NLC Compact Member No Yes

Key Differences

Cost

Washington is $161 cheaper for initial licensing fees.

Winner: Washington

Processing Speed

Washington processes applications in 2-3 weeks.

Winner: Washington

NLC Compact

Washington is an NLC compact state, allowing practice in 40+ states with one license.

Winner: Washington

Renewal Cost

Washington has lower renewal fees at $138 per cycle.

Winner: Washington

Category Winners

Lower Cost
Washington $388
vs California ($549)
Faster Processing
Washington 2-3 wks
vs California (10-12 wks)
Cheaper Renewal
Washington $138
vs California ($190)

California Board

California Board of Registered Nursing

Official Website →

Washington Board

Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission

Official Website →

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