NCLEX in Washington State: applying to WABON, fees and the new four-attempt rule
Written and reviewed by Rachel Goldberg, MSN, RN, CEN · 3 min read · Updated November 2026
Checked against official sources: November 2026
Rules, fees and deadlines differ by state and change without notice. Check with your state board of nursing before you rely on them.
Short answer
To take the NCLEX in Washington, apply by exam to the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) in the HELMS portal, pay $138 for a single-state RN license or $203 multistate ($93 or $158 for LPN), send transcripts, and register with Pearson VUE for $200. Pearson VUE emails your Authorization to Test once WABON makes you eligible.
When to apply and what WABON needs
WABON asks you to apply only when you are ready to schedule. If you will test right after finishing school, submit the online application about two weeks before your completion date. Applications with 30 days of inactivity get a closure warning letter, so do not file months early.
If you finished a Washington program, your program director sends an electronic certificate of completion; you still request official transcripts once your degree and graduation date post. Graduates of programs in other states must have transcripts with the degree posted reach WABON before it can make you eligible in Pearson VUE. WABON runs a criminal background check on every application.
Washington fees as of November 2026
| License | Single-state | Multistate |
|---|---|---|
| RN | $138 | $203 |
| LPN | $93 | $158 |
Both include a $16 surcharge for the HEALWA library and $8 for the Washington Center for Nursing, and WABON fees are non-refundable. Add $200 for Pearson VUE NCLEX registration, which NCSBN says rises to $350 on February 1, 2027. WABON also notes that renewals are due every year on your birthday, so budget for the renewal fee annually.
Because this is your first US license, Washington becomes your initial state of licensure. If Washington is your primary state of residence you can apply for a multistate license (MSL) now; a single-state license does not convert later on its own, you must apply for an upgrade.
The retake rule that changed in 2026
Effective January 30, 2026, WAC 246-840-060(3) says an applicant who fails after four attempts cannot retest until they show completion of a board-approved NCLEX prep course. WABON's RN license page also answers the edge cases.
| Situation | Prep course required? |
|---|---|
| Three fails in another state plus one in Washington | Yes, failures in other states count |
| Fourth fail on January 29, 2026, before the rule date | Yes, before testing again |
| No-show to the exam | No, a no-show is not a failed attempt |
| Four more fails after a first prep course | Yes, another course |
After the course, send WABON a signed Declaration of Prep Course Completion. Plan the timing: WABON closes an application 60 days after the last document it received, so check with WABON before a long course leaves your file to lapse.
Booking, accommodations and results
Pearson VUE emails the ATT. WABON lists five Pearson Professional Centers in the state: Renton, Seattle (Northgate), Seattle, Yakima and Spokane. For testing accommodations, submit letters from your diagnosing physician, your school and yourself with the application.
NCSBN says official results come from the board within six weeks. WABON's licensing pages do not publish a separate results timeline.
Sources
Registered Nurse (RN) License, Washington State Board of Nursing. Apply two weeks before completion, 30-day closure warning, transcripts and certificate of completion, WAC 246-840-060(3) four-attempt rule and FAQ, 60-day closure, test centers, ADA letters, MSL rules
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) License, WABON. Same exam process and four-attempt prep course rule for LPN applicants
Nurse License Fees, WABON. RN $138/$203, LPN $93/$158, $16 and $8 surcharges, non-refundable, annual renewal on birthday
Applying for a License with a Positive Background Check, WABON. Criminal background check on all applications
NCLEX Results (NCSBN). Official results come only from the board, within six weeks; unofficial Quick Results two business days after the exam where the board participates
Common questions
How much does the NCLEX cost in Washington State?
As of November 2026, WABON charges $138 for a single-state RN application or $203 multistate; LPN is $93 or $158. Pearson VUE charges $200 to register (rising to $350 on February 1, 2027). WABON's fees are non-refundable, and NCSBN refunds no registration fees.
How long does Washington take to issue the ATT?
WABON does not publish a set time. It makes you eligible once transcripts or your certificate of completion and the background check are in, then Pearson VUE emails the ATT. Applying two weeks before completion helps.
Is there a limit on NCLEX attempts in Washington?
No hard cap, but since January 30, 2026 you must complete a board-approved NCLEX prep course after four failed attempts, counting failures in any state or country, before WABON will let you test again.