How to Transfer Your CNA License to Washington (2026)

Understanding Washington's NA-C Endorsement Process

If you are relocating to Washington State with an active Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential from another state, you cannot simply start working the day you arrive. Washington credentials nurse aides through the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). In Washington, the official title for a certified nurse aide is Nursing Assistant Certified, abbreviated as NA-C. You will apply for your Washington credential through a process called endorsement, which evaluates your existing state certification, training hours, and background history.

Washington does not use a automatic reciprocal waiver system where your license instantly flips over. Instead, the Department of Health verifies that your current home state certification is active and in good standing, checks your national criminal background, and confirms your original training program meets state standards. Because Washington is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, it is important to note that the Compact does not cover nursing assistants. CNA credentials must always be transferred individually state by state.

You can begin your application online before you physically move to Washington. Setting up your profile early gives you a head start on credential verification, allowing you to transition into a new healthcare job faster after your move.

Requirements for Out-of-State CNAs

To qualify for an endorsement into Washington as an NA-C, you must satisfy several specific criteria set by the Washington State Department of Health. If your out-of-state license is expired, revoked, or under investigation, you will not qualify for direct endorsement and must complete additional testing or retraining steps.

• Active Certification: Your current state CNA certification must be active on your state's registry without any findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property.
• State-Approved Training: You must have completed a state-approved nursing assistant training program that included both classroom instruction and clinical hours.
• Background Clearance: You must pass a federal and state background check, which includes fingerprint submission for applicants residing outside Washington or those with specific background markers.
• Identity Verification: You must provide a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or equivalent identification accepted by the Department of Health for credentialing purposes.

If you trained in a state with lower minimum clinical hour requirements, the Department of Health may request proof of recent work experience. Keep recent pay stubs or an employment verification letter from your current facility handy in case the licensing board requests evidence of active clinical practice over the past two years.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Moving your license requires interacting with Washington's online licensing infrastructure. Follow these steps to ensure your application moves smoothly through the Department of Health review process.

• Step 1: Create a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) Account: SAW is the central portal for Washington state services. Create your account online, then add the Department of Health Online Services system to your dashboard.
• Step 2: Start the NA-C Endorsement Application: Inside the DOH portal, select the Nursing Assistant Certified application and choose the Endorsement pathway. Complete the personal history questions, background declarations, and employment history sections.
• Step 3: Submit Out-of-State Verification: You must arrange for your current state's nurse aide registry to send official verification directly to the Washington DOH. Many states use third-party electronic verification systems, while others require a paper form. Check your current state registry's website to request an official verification release.
• Step 4: Complete Background Check and Fingerprinting: After submitting your application, DOH will evaluate whether you need fingerprinting. Out-of-state applicants almost always require a fingerprint card. If required, DOH will email or mail you instructions to submit prints through an approved vendor like IdentoGO or via a standard FD-258 fingerprint card.
• Step 5: Track Application Status: Monitor your SAW portal dashboard weekly for updates. If the credentialing specialist needs additional proof of clinical hours or clarification on past employment, submit those documents quickly to avoid delays.

Fees, Fingerprints, and Estimated Timelines

Budgeting for your move requires knowing the exact out-of-pocket costs for state credentialing. The Washington State Department of Health updates its fee schedule periodically, so you should always confirm current figures on the official DOH portal before submitting payment.

• Initial Application Fee: Expect an application fee range between $85 and $110 paid directly online during application submission. Confirm the exact fee on the DOH site.
• Fingerprint Processing Fee: Expect a fingerprint background check fee range between $35 and $50, paid to the fingerprinting service or the state background processing division.
• Out-of-State Registry Verification Fees: Some state registries charge a small administrative fee (ranging from $0 to $25) to process and send an official verification form to Washington.
• Processing Timeline: A straightforward NA-C endorsement typically takes between 4 and 8 weeks from the date all documents and fingerprint results arrive at the DOH. Delays usually stem from slow responses by your original state's registry.

Washington does not offer a temporary work permit for nursing assistants while an endorsement application is pending. You cannot perform hands-on care as an NA-C in a licensed facility until your credential appears as Active on the DOH provider lookup database.

Washington Taxes, Payroll Deductions, and Workplace Essentials

Understanding your paycheck is a major part of relocating. Washington is popular among healthcare workers in part due to its tax structure, but there are specific payroll deductions unique to the state that you should factor into your financial planning.

Washington has no state income tax on W-2 wages. The money you earn as an NA-C is not taxed by the state government, meaning your take-home pay per hour is often higher than in states with high income tax rates. However, Washington does impose a 7% tax on high capital gains over specific thresholds, though this rarely impacts standard W-2 hourly wages.

You will see a specific state payroll deduction on your paystub called the WA Cares Fund. This mandatory payroll tax (0.58% of gross wages) funds a state long-term care benefit program. Every W-2 employee working in Washington contributes to this fund through automatic payroll withholding unless they hold a pre-approved state exemption.

When searching for work, keep in mind that Washington does not offer statewide financial incentives or relocation grants for workers moving into the state. Compensation and sign-on bonuses are strictly determined by individual employers, hospital systems, and long-term care networks.

What People Get Wrong

• Assuming the Title is CNA: In Washington, your official title is NA-C (Nursing Assistant Certified). Using out-of-state terminology on legal forms or job applications can cause administrative confusion.
• Working Before Approval: Working as a nursing assistant in Washington without an active DOH license status is illegal. Washington does not grant provisional grace periods for out-of-state endorsements.
• Forgetting Registry Verification: DOH will not accept a copy of your home state license certificate printed from a website. They require direct verification sent from your home state registry to Washington DOH.
• Delaying Fingerprints: Fingerprint background checks take the longest to clear. Completing your fingerprint card immediately after receiving instructions prevents your application from sitting stalled for weeks.
• Ignoring Renewal Dates: Washington NA-C credentials expire on your birthday every year. Make sure to track your first renewal date closely after your endorsement is granted.

Next Steps for Your Move to Washington

Getting your Washington NA-C endorsement underway early ensures you can start working as soon as your housing is secured. Head over to the Washington page to access the state nurse aide registry link, view the current Washington tax tables, and explore live openings for healthcare workers. Creating a free profile on Workmerica connects you directly with Washington healthcare employers who actively hire certified nursing assistants relocating from out of state.