Physician supply is lagging behind patient demand in many states, including Washington. Currently, every county in Washington is designated a health professional shortage area, with low-income citizens disproportionately affected; by 2030, the state is projected to be short by over 6,000 doctors, with primary care alone projected to be short nearly 1,700 providers.
Luckily, nurse practitioners (NPs) are uniquely positioned to step in and fill these care gaps. Washington State offers NPs full practice authority, allowing them to independently evaluate patients, order and interpret diagnostic testing, diagnose, manage treatments, and prescribe medications, including controlled substances. NPs can even open private practices in this state, giving them a unique opportunity to forge their own careers.
If you’re interested in becoming an NP in Washington, consider some of the following programs available in the Evergreen State.
Washington NP Programs: Key Facts for 2026
| Accredited NP programs in WA | 5 institutions on this page (UW, WSU, Seattle U, Gonzaga, PLU) |
| NP practice authority | Full practice authority — WA grants Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) independent practice and prescriptive authority (WA Department of Health Nursing Commission) |
| NP mean annual wage (WA) | Approximately $135,000 per BLS OEWS Washington — among the top 10 states nationally |
| National NP job outlook | 46% growth 2023-2033 per BLS OOH |
| Research-tier anchor | University of Washington — one of the top NIH-funded nursing schools in the country, with UW Medicine clinical network |
| Public-system option | UW (Seattle) and WSU (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Yakima) — lowest per-credit rates for WA residents |
Washington NP Program Comparison
The 5 schools below all hold CCNE accreditation and offer NP specialty tracks at the master’s or doctoral level. See each program card further down for credit hours, clinical hours, and detailed track descriptions.
| School | NP Tracks | Delivery | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington | FNP, AGNP, PMHNP, PNP, Nurse-Midwifery — BSN-DNP and MSN-DNP | In-person + simulation labs | Seattle (Public flagship) |
| Washington State University | FNP, AGNP, PMHNP — MSN-DNP generalist (post-master’s) | Hybrid across 4 campuses | Spokane / Tri-Cities / Vancouver / Yakima (Public) |
| Seattle University | FNP, PMHNP, Health Systems Leader — DNP options | On-campus + INACSL simulation | Seattle (Private Jesuit) |
| Gonzaga University | FNP, PMHNP — MSN, second MSN, DNP | Online + 2 immersions | Spokane (Private Jesuit) |
| Pacific Lutheran University | FNP, PMHNP — MSN | Hybrid + simulation lab | Tacoma (Private Lutheran) |
Program Overview:
Gonzaga is the Spokane-based Jesuit research university and one of the longest-running distance-education nursing programs nationally (30+ years). Its School of Health Sciences offers an MSN, a second-MSN/post-master’s certificate, and a DNP. The online-first delivery fits practicing RNs across eastern WA, Idaho, and Montana without relocating.
The master’s level FNP program is for BSNs, though students with a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing will be considered and will need to take bridge classes before beginning master’s level coursework. For those with a BSN, the 47-credit program requires 660 clinical hours and takes about nine semesters to complete. Courses are online, but there are six on-campus immersions throughout the program. During these visits, students will participate in Culminating Objective Structured Clinical Evaluations or OSCEs, where they obtain a history and assess a scripted patient model, develop a differential diagnosis, identify the most likely diagnosis, and then come up with a plan of care.
The BSN to DNP FNP program is 78 credits with 1,000 practicum hours and generally takes around five years to complete. Students complete most classwork online, but there are a minimum of eight on-campus immersions throughout the program. These immersions take place toward the middle and end of the program, generally starting around the fifth semester.
The Second Degree MSN to FNP is designed for nurses who already have a master’s in another specialty. It’s a 47-credit program that can be completed in nine semesters with 660 clinical hours. Like the above programs, classes are online, but there are on-campus requirements. Students come to campus six times throughout the program to participate in OSCEs.
Program Overview:
Pacific Lutheran is a small private Lutheran university in Tacoma. The School of Nursing runs MSN-NP tracks with simulation labs that include infant, male, female, and geriatric manikins plus equipment-specific training (bladder scanners, central line care). Best fit for South Sound applicants who want a smaller-cohort program close to MultiCare and Virginia Mason Tacoma networks.
PLU offers three NP options. The Master’s level FNP track offers two entry points, one for non-nurses who have a degree in another field and one for those with a BSN. The Entry-Level Master of Science in Nursing option gives students a focused immersion in nursing before they begin graduate study.
For those with a BSN, the program takes 15 months to complete. Students advance through the program in a cohort model, and the program emphasizes underserved populations. The university arranges all clinical placements in medically underserved regions.
The DNP program offers three entry points. BSN-prepared nurses can complete the program in three years full-time or four to five years part-time. Nurses with an MSN will complete a gap analysis to determine what courses they can transfer and get a personalized plan of study but will generally complete the program in two to three years of part-time study. The third entry option is for those who are already advanced practice nurses; these students can usually complete the program in two years of part-time study.
PLU also offers a post-graduate certificate for nurses with a master’s in another specialty.
Program Overview:
Seattle University is the Jesuit research university in the city center. Its College of Nursing runs two doctorate-level NP options and holds Washington’s only Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement from INACSL. The Clinical Performance Lab supports hands-on training, with clinical placements across Seattle’s academic medical center networks.
Seattle University offers two doctorate programs for those wishing to become NPs. The DNP FNP/AGNP program offers a unique opportunity for students to dual specialize. For nurses entering the program with a BSN, it takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Other entry points are also available, including for RNs with a diploma or associate’s degree.
Seattle U also offers a doctorate program for AGNPs in acute care. Like the FNP/AGNP option, this program offers multiple entry points. Bachelor’s-prepared nurses can complete the program in three years full-time. Nurses with MSNs will have an individual program of study developed by their advisor.
Program Overview:
UW Seattle is the flagship public research university and one of the top NIH-funded nursing schools nationally. The School of Nursing traces back to 1918 (founded in response to the global flu pandemic) and was the first West Coast nursing school to offer a bachelor’s degree (1923). UW’s research-tier programs feed into UW Medicine’s clinical network across King and Pierce counties.
University of Washington Seattle offers more NP programs than any other school in the state, all of which are DNP tracks that only offer full-time study. They include a BSN to DNP FNP, BSN to DNP AGNP Acute Care, BSN to DNP AGNP Primary Care, BSN to DNP PNP Acute Care, and BSN to DNP PNP Primary Care program. This university is also the only school that offers programs for those wishing to work as PNPs, offering doctorate degrees in both acute and primary pediatric care.
Program Overview:
Washington State University runs Spokane-based College of Nursing programs across four campuses (Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, Yakima). Its Center for Experiential Learning gives students access to high-fidelity manikins and standardized patient actors. WSU is the second-largest WA public-system nursing school after UW and the public option for eastern WA applicants.
The FNP option at WSU is a doctorate-level program that can be completed in three or four years. The program has 74 credits with 1,000 clinical hours. This hybrid program offers many classes online, but there are some on-campus requirements, particularly for lab experiences. There is also an in-person skills intensive for three of the courses that require students to be on campus.
Washington NP Salary and Career Outlook
The mean annual wage for NPs in Washington is approximately $135,000 per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for WA. Seattle metro pay typically runs above the state mean given the concentration of UW Medicine, Providence, and Virginia Mason facilities. Eastern WA (Spokane) pay is lower but cost-of-living-adjusted compensation often nets out competitively. Nationally, NP employment is projected to grow 46% from 2023 to 2033 per BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Washington NP Licensure Requirements
NP licensure in Washington is administered by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission. WA uses the Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) designation rather than the more common APRN designation. Candidates must complete a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited graduate NP program, pass a national certification exam (AANP or ANCC depending on specialty), and apply for ARNP authorization. WA grants full practice authority — independent practice and prescriptive authority without physician supervision. ARNPs prescribing controlled substances need WA Controlled Substance and DEA registration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Washington NP Programs
Can Washington NPs practice independently?
Yes. Washington grants full practice authority to Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs). NPs can practice and prescribe independently without physician supervision. WA was an early adopter of the full-practice-authority model and has had this framework in place for many years, ahead of states like North Carolina (2024) and California (transitioning).
Why does Washington use ARNP instead of APRN?
Washington’s state regulation predates the national APRN Consensus Model and continues to use the Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) designation. Functionally, ARNP licensure in WA is equivalent to APRN licensure elsewhere — the same national certification (AANP or ANCC), the same scope-of-practice authority, the same DEA registration requirements. The naming difference is regulatory rather than substantive.
How much do NPs earn in Washington?
The mean annual wage for NPs in WA is approximately $135,000 per BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Seattle metro pay runs above the state mean. WA ranks among the top 10 states nationally for NP compensation.
How long does it take to become an NP in Washington?
A BSN-to-MSN NP track typically takes 2 to 3 years full-time. A BSN-to-DNP takes 3 to 4 years (UW’s in-person BSN-to-DNP runs three years). Post-master’s DNPs for already-credentialed ARNPs run 18 to 24 months. Part-time pacing adds 1-2 years across these pathways.
Which Washington NP programs are most affordable?
UW (Seattle) and WSU (Spokane and other campuses) carry the lowest per-credit tuition for WA residents under public-system rates. Gonzaga, Seattle University, and Pacific Lutheran are private institutions with higher per-credit rates but include access to specific clinical networks (Spokane regional, Seattle academic medical centers, South Sound MultiCare/Virginia Mason).
Which Washington NP programs are best for working RNs?
Gonzaga’s primarily-online MSN-to-DNP and WSU’s hybrid format across four campuses both fit working RNs without requiring relocation. Seattle University and UW require more on-campus engagement, trading flexibility for direct access to Seattle’s clinical networks. PLU’s hybrid format works for South Sound applicants who want a smaller-cohort program.
