Nursing education programs

AN ACT Relating to nursing education program standards; and 1
adding a new section to chapter 18.79 RCW. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.79 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
(1) The board shall not require a nursing education program to 6
meet standards beyond those required for national accreditation.7
(2) The board shall not require a nursing education program 8
accredited by a national nursing education accreditation body to 9
produce a study aligning its policies and procedures with those of 10
the board. An accreditation self-study and all documentation 11
submitted to a national nursing education accreditation body shall be 12
deemed to meet the board requirements. 13
(3) The board may require a nursing education program required to 14
produce findings, recommendations, or a corrective action plan to a 15
national nursing education accreditation body to also provide such 16
findings, recommendations, or corrective action plan to the board. 17
The board shall not require additional corrective action or 18
documentation showing corrective action response beyond those 19
determined by a national nursing education accreditation body.20
S-4150.1
SENATE BILL 6267
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Bateman, Nobles, and Saldaña
Read first time 01/21/26. Referred to Committee on Health & Long-
Term Care.
p. 1 SB 6267
(4) The board shall provide technical assistance for a corrective 1
action plan to nursing education programs with a national council 2
licensure examination pass rate below 80 percent. 3
(5) The board shall expedite approval of new nursing education 4
program applications for institutions of higher education with 5
approved and national accredited nursing programs. 6
(6) The board may require only the simulation director and the 7
lead nurse educator to be certified in clinical simulation.8
(7) The board may require continued professional development for 9
nurse educators subject to appropriation or availability of adequate 10
resources. 11
(8) For purposes of this section: 12
(a) "National nursing education accreditation body" means an 13
independent nonprofit entity approved by the United States department 14
of education as a body that evaluates and approves the quality of 15
nursing education programs within the United States and territories.16
(b) "Nursing education program" means a division or department 17
within a state supported educational institution or other public 18
institution of higher education, charged with the responsibility of 19
preparing nursing students and nurses to qualify for initial 20
licensing or higher levels of nursing practice. 21
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p. 2 SB 6267