Use of nursing titles

AN ACT Relating to the use of nursing titles; amending RCW 1
18.79.030 and 18.79.030; providing an effective date; and providing 2
an expiration date. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 18.79.030 and 2023 c 123 s 19 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to 7
practice as a registered nurse in this state unless that human person 8
has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid multistate 9
license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a license to 10
practice as a registered nurse in this state may use the titles 11
"registered nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No other 12
person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use the 13
abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to 14
indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is a 15
registered nurse. 16
(2) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to 17
practice as an advanced registered nurse practitioner or as a nurse 18
practitioner in this state unless that human person has been licensed 19
under this chapter. A person who holds a license to practice as an 20
advanced registered nurse practitioner in this state may use the 21
S-3625.1
SENATE BILL 5904
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Bateman, Holy, Chapman, Nobles, Riccelli, Saldaña, and
Shewmake
Prefiled 12/16/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Health & Long-Term Care.
p. 1 SB 5904
titles "advanced registered nurse practitioner," "nurse 1
practitioner," and "nurse" and the abbreviations "A.R.N.P." and 2
"N.P." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles 3
or use those abbreviations or any other words, letters, signs, or 4
figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them 5
is an advanced registered nurse practitioner or nurse practitioner.6
(3) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to 7
practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state unless that 8
human person has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid 9
multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a 10
license to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state may 11
use the titles "licensed practical nurse" and "nurse" and the 12
abbreviation "L.P.N." No other person or any nonhuman entity may 13
assume those titles or use that abbreviation or any other words, 14
letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any 15
nonhuman entity using them is a licensed practical nurse.16
(4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person listed as a 17
Christian Science nurse in the Christian Science Journal published by 18
the Christian Science Publishing Society, Boston, Massachusetts, from 19
using the title "Christian Science nurse," so long as such person 20
does not hold himself or herself out as a registered nurse, advanced 21
registered nurse practitioner, nurse practitioner, or licensed 22
practical nurse, unless otherwise authorized by law to do so.23
Sec. 2. RCW 18.79.030 and 2024 c 239 s 1 are each amended to 24
read as follows: 25
(1) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to 26
practice as a registered nurse in this state unless that human person 27
has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid multistate 28
license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a license to 29
practice as a registered nurse in this state may use the titles 30
"registered nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No other 31
person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use the 32
abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to 33
indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is a 34
registered nurse. 35
(2) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to 36
practice as an advanced practice registered nurse or as a nurse 37
practitioner in this state unless that human person has been licensed 38
under this chapter. A person who holds a license to practice as an 39
p. 2 SB 5904
advanced practice registered nurse in this state may use the titles 1
"advanced practice registered nurse," "nurse practitioner," and 2
"nurse" and the abbreviations "A.P.R.N." and "N.P." No other person 3
or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use those 4
abbreviations or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to 5
indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is an 6
advanced practice registered nurse or nurse practitioner.7
(3) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to 8
practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state unless that 9
human person has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid 10
multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a 11
license to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state may 12
use the titles "licensed practical nurse" and "nurse" and the 13
abbreviation "L.P.N." No other person or any nonhuman entity may 14
assume those titles or use that abbreviation or any other words, 15
letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any 16
nonhuman entity using them is a licensed practical nurse.17
(4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person listed as a 18
Christian Science nurse in the Christian Science Journal published by 19
the Christian Science Publishing Society, Boston, Massachusetts, from 20
using the title "Christian Science nurse," so long as such person 21
does not hold himself or herself out as a registered nurse, advanced 22
practice registered nurse, nurse practitioner, or licensed practical 23
nurse, unless otherwise authorized by law to do so.24
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Section 1 of this act expires June 30, 25
2027.26
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Section 2 of this act takes effect June 27
30, 2027.28
--- END ---
p. 3 SB 5904