RCW 18.79.030: Licenses required—Titles. (Effective until June 30, 2027.)

(1) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as a registered nurse in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a license to practice as a registered nurse in this state may use the titles "registered nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "R.N." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use the abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is a registered nurse.

(2)(a) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as an advanced registered nurse practitioner in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter.

(b) A person who holds a license to practice as an advanced registered nurse practitioner in this state may use the title "advanced registered nurse practitioner" and the abbreviation "A.R.N.P."

(c) A person licensed to practice advanced practice registered nursing in the state as:

(i) A certified nurse practitioner may use the title "certified nurse practitioner" and the abbreviation "C.N.P.";

(ii) A certified nurse midwife may use the title "certified nurse midwife" and the abbreviation "C.N.M.";

(iii) A certified registered nurse anesthetist may use the title "certified registered nurse anesthetist" and the abbreviation "C.R.N.A."; or

(iv) A certified clinical nurse specialist may use the title "certified clinical nurse specialist" and the abbreviation "C.C.N.S."

(d) No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use those abbreviations or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is an advanced registered nurse practitioner.

(3) It is unlawful for a person to practice or to offer to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state unless that human person has been licensed under this chapter or holds a valid multistate license under chapter 18.80 RCW. A person who holds a license to practice as a licensed practical nurse in this state may use the titles "licensed practical nurse" and "nurse" and the abbreviation "L.P.N." No other person or any nonhuman entity may assume those titles or use that abbreviation or any other words, letters, signs, or figures to indicate that the person or any nonhuman entity using them is a licensed practical nurse.

(4) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a person listed as a Christian Science nurse in the Christian Science Journal published by the Christian Science Publishing Society, Boston, Massachusetts, from using the title "Christian Science nurse," so long as such person does not hold himself or herself out as a registered nurse, advanced registered nurse practitioner, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, certified clinical nurse specialist, or licensed practical nurse, unless otherwise authorized by law to do so.