Washington
PMHNP Practice Requirements In Washington: Scope, Prescribing & Collaboration
Short answer: AANP lists Washington as full practice, so a PMHNP licensed as an ARNP evaluates, diagnoses, treats and prescribes under the Washington State Board of Nursing with no physician agreement. With prescriptive authority and a DEA registration you can prescribe Schedules II through V, and Schedule I is the only schedule that’s off limits.
Washington PMHNP Rules At A Glance
| Topic | Washington Rule |
|---|---|
| Practice authority | Full practice on the AANP map. Board rules call an ARNP a licensed independent practitioner (WAC 246-840-300). |
| Physician agreement | Not required by Washington law. |
| Prescriptive authority | A separate grant from the board. Apply with 30 contact hours of pharmacology education, then declare 15 hours of pharmacotherapeutics CE each renewal (WAC 246-840-410, 246-840-450). |
| Controlled substances | Schedules II through V within your scope, with your own DEA registration. No Schedule I (RCW 18.79.250, WAC 246-840-420). |
| PDMP | Register for the Washington PMP if you prescribe opioids (WAC 246-840-4990). Groups with 10 or more prescribers on a certified EHR must show it integrates with the PMP (RCW 70.225.090). |
| Regulator | Washington State Board of Nursing, formerly the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (RCW 18.79.070). |
| Title change | ARNP becomes advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) on June 30, 2027, under House Bill 2416. |
Updated September 26, 2026
Practice Authority
Washington Practice-Authority Category (Full Practice)
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) currently classifies Washington as a full practice state. That means a PMHNP can evaluate and diagnose patients, order and interpret tests, and start and manage treatment, including prescribing, under the exclusive licensure authority of the Washington State Board of Nursing, the former Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission, without a mandated physician agreement. The board’s rules describe an ARNP as a licensed independent practitioner who assumes primary responsibility for patient care (WAC 246-840-300).
Collaboration
Do You Need A Collaborating Physician In Washington?
No. Washington doesn’t mandate a collaborative or supervisory physician agreement for nurse practitioner practice. That doesn’t stop an employer, facility or payer from requesting specific documentation, so read those contracts before you sign.
Prescriptive Authority
Can A Washington PMHNP Prescribe Schedules II Through V?
Yes, once the board grants you prescriptive authority. RCW 18.79.250 lets an ARNP prescribe legend drugs and Schedule V controlled substances, and RCW 18.79.240(1)(s) allows Schedules II through IV to the extent your scope of practice permits. Schedule I is prohibited (WAC 246-840-420), and you need your own federal DEA registration to prescribe any controlled substance, with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration covering the federal side.
Prescriptive authority is its own application. You need an active Washington ARNP license and 30 contact hours of pharmacology education, completed within the two years before you apply unless you graduated in the last two years (WAC 246-840-410). Each license renewal, you declare 15 contact hours of pharmacotherapeutics continuing education on top of the 30 hours the ARNP license itself needs (WAC 246-840-450).
Washington’s Prescription Monitoring Program rules follow opioid prescribing. If you prescribe opioids, you register to access the PMP and query it at set points, starting with the first opioid prescription for acute pain (WAC 246-840-4990). A practice or provider group with 10 or more prescribers on a federally certified EHR has to show that the EHR integrates with the PMP (RCW 70.225.090).
Next Step
Credentialing Is A Separate Track
Scope of practice is only half of it. Getting paid by insurance in Washington means credentialing, and that track has its own payer rules, Medicaid program and enrollment timelines. Our Washington credentialing and payer enrollment page walks through it, and the PMHNP credentialing guide covers the national side.
Planning to open on your own? Our guide on how to start a PMHNP practice lays out licensure, collaboration and enrollment step by step.
Before you sign a lease or a payer contract, see what PMHNP credentialing costs and what it costs to start a PMHNP practice. If you’re opening your own practice, First Practice Launch sets up the payers, EHR, portals and billing together for $6,000, or four monthly payments of $1,500.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Washington A Full Practice Authority State For PMHNPs?
Yes. AANP classifies Washington as full practice, so a PMHNP licensed as an ARNP can evaluate and diagnose patients, order and interpret tests, and start and manage treatment, including prescribing, under the Washington State Board of Nursing with no physician agreement. The board’s rules call an ARNP a licensed independent practitioner. Prescribing still needs a separate grant of prescriptive authority from the board.
Do I Need A Collaborating Or Supervising Physician In Washington?
No. Washington doesn’t mandate a collaborating or supervising physician agreement for nurse practitioner practice. Employers, facilities and payers can still set their own requirements and ask for specific documentation, which is worth knowing before you sign an employment or payer contract. Your license and prescriptive authority come from the Washington State Board of Nursing, formerly the Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission.
Can A PMHNP Prescribe Controlled Substances In Washington?
Yes. With prescriptive authority from the board you can prescribe Schedules II through V within your scope of practice, and Schedule I is prohibited. You need your own federal DEA registration, 30 contact hours of pharmacology education to apply and 15 hours of pharmacotherapeutics continuing education each renewal. If you prescribe opioids, you also register for the Washington Prescription Monitoring Program.
When Does The ARNP Title Change To APRN In Washington?
On June 30, 2027, under House Bill 2416. After that date, licensed ARNPs hold the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) title and license. Until then, the Washington State Board of Nursing says you can use either title on business cards and marketing materials, but ARNP stays on official legal documents and prescriptions.
References
Official Washington Sources
Every rule on this page comes from the official sources below, which we checked on October 4, 2026.
- RCW 18.79.250, RCW 18.79.240 and RCW 18.79.050 (ARNP prescribing, Schedules II through V) (checked October 4, 2026).
- RCW 18.79.070 and RCW 18.79.020 (the Washington State Board of Nursing) (checked October 4, 2026).
- WAC 246-840-300, WAC 246-840-410, WAC 246-840-420 and WAC 246-840-450 (ARNP scope, prescriptive authority, DEA registration and renewal CE) (checked October 4, 2026).
- WAC 246-840-4990 and RCW 70.225.090 (PMP registration, queries and EHR integration) (checked October 4, 2026).
- Washington State Board of Nursing, ARNP title change (House Bill 2416, effective June 30, 2027) (checked October 4, 2026).
- AANP Washington state fact sheet (the full practice category is AANP’s own classification) (checked October 4, 2026).
This is general information, not legal advice. It applies the general nurse practitioner rules in Washington to PMHNPs. Rules change, so check with the Washington State Board of Nursing and the AANP State Practice Environment map before you act on it. Last reviewed: September 26, 2026.
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