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Washington
License Portability Summary
Washington shares 4 interstate compacts with North Dakota, providing strong mutual recognition across many professions. Shared compacts: Nurse Licensure Compact, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, Physical Therapy Compact, Counseling Compact. Growing compact participation; no universal recognition law yet.
Interstate Compact Memberships
Washington is a member of 4 compacts: Nurse Licensure Compact, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, Physical Therapy Compact, Counseling Compact. You share 4 of these with North Dakota: Nurse Licensure Compact, Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, Physical Therapy Compact, Counseling Compact.
Nursing — Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC)
Both North Dakota and Washington are members of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). If you hold a multistate nursing license from North Dakota, you can practice in Washington without obtaining a separate license.
Teaching License Reciprocity
Teaching license portability from North Dakota to Washington: NASDTEC member; reciprocal certification with endorsement review. Most states participate in the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement, but specific requirements vary by state and endorsement area.
Professional Engineer (PE) Comity
Washington supports PE license comity through NCEES. Licensed Professional Engineers from North Dakota can apply for licensure by comity, which is a streamlined process using your NCEES Record. This typically requires verifying your education, exam passage, and experience meet Washington's requirements.
Military Spouse License Portability
Expedited processing for military spouses; temporary license available. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), updated December 2024, all states are now required to recognize valid professional licenses from other states for military personnel and their spouses.
Recent Legislative Changes
Joined NLC; expanding compact participation.
Official State Licensing Board
For the most current licensing requirements and compact participation details, visit the official Washington licensing page at https://www.dol.wa.gov/. Requirements and compact memberships may change as new legislation is enacted.
Related guides
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Moving to Washington from elsewhere · Professional Licenses
North Dakota → Washington in other topics
Interstate compact memberships and universal-recognition laws are updated regularly — always confirm with the destination state's licensing board before relocating or practicing. Coverage varies by profession (nursing, psychology, PT, counseling, engineering, teaching, real estate). Data reflects laws in effect as of early 2026.