Washington State and EKU's online nursing programs
EKU is not enrolling Washington residents in any online nursing program right now. One line on its state page covers everything, so unlike Oregon the closure reaches the DNP as well as the FNP, PMHNP, post-MSN certificates and RN to BSN. This guide explains what EKU says, how Washington regulates distance programs, and where a planned move fits.
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EKU's one-line answer for Washington
Washington sits among the SARA states that EKU marks with special restrictions, and the entry reads in full: "EKU is not accepting nursing students into online programs." EKU uses the same wording for Colorado and Louisiana. Its MSN and RN to BSN licensure tables agree, filing Washington under Does Not Meet Requirements.
| Program | EKU status for Washington | Licensure table |
|---|---|---|
| MSN Family Nurse Practitioner | Not accepting Washington students | Does Not Meet Requirements |
| MSN Psychiatric Mental Health NP | Not accepting Washington students | Does Not Meet Requirements |
| Post-MSN FNP and PMHNP certificates | Not accepting (MSN table applies) | Does Not Meet Requirements |
| Post-master's DNP | Not accepting; the note covers every online nursing program | No DNP table |
| RN to BSN | Not accepting Washington students | Does Not Meet Requirements |
Washington is one of just four states where EKU's notes close the DNP, with Colorado, Louisiana and Tennessee. The full comparison of closed and conditional states is on the state authorization page.
How WABON regulates distance programs
Washington sets a high bar for nursing schools based elsewhere. An out-of-state distance program, under WAC 246-840-571, needs the Washington State Board of Nursing's approval, WABON for short, before it places even one student in any clinical or practice experience in Washington. To qualify, the school must demonstrate that its program is equivalent to Washington's standards, supervise and evaluate its students inside the state, hold national accreditation and file a report each year.
WABON's approved list does include some out-of-state RN to BSN, MSN and NP tracks, yet it restricts those placements to students who are Washington residents, and it treats any exception individually. For NP students, the rule adds two more layers: faculty teaching ARNP practice in the state need a Washington ARNP license, and an ARNP student's preceptor needs an ARNP, MD or DO license that is active and unencumbered, and cannot be a relative or a personal friend. AANP classifies Washington as full practice.
Washington also funds a preceptorship grant for ARNP, RN and LPN preceptors through WABON, though WABON says programs based outside the state do not qualify, even for hours completed in Washington.
Rules that may change, and whose change counts
On December 5, 2025, WABON opened rulemaking with a CR-101 filing that covers WAC 246-840-500 through 571; easing barriers around clinical placements is one stated aim. A CR-101 is the first formal step, so nothing has changed yet. Even if Washington eases its rules later, EKU still decides whether to enroll Washington residents, so the page to watch is EKU's, not only WABON's.
Planning a move in either direction
Moving in is the risky direction. A move after you apply or enroll can cost you your place, EKU warns, and its catalog expects you to report each new location. An EKU student in Idaho who takes a job in Spokane or Kennewick-Richland would be moving into a closed state, so the conversation with your advisor comes before the lease, not after.
Moving out works the other way. If you are already relocating from the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area or elsewhere in Washington to a state where EKU enrolls, EKU's status for your new state is what counts; confirm it before applying. Washington's compact membership took effect January 31, 2024. Elsewhere in the West, Idaho and Arizona are compact members too, while California, Nevada, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii each require their own license. Vancouver residents should note that the Oregon half of their metro is closed as well.
Where our help fits
We work with Washington nurses at the point EKU can enroll them, most often after a move to an open state. From there, your placement advisor searches your new community for a preceptor who fits NSC 800 and the internship that follows, then readies the preceptor and site paperwork for EKU's review. Kentucky's rule leaves securing preceptors with EKU and protects your input, as set out on the Kentucky rule page; your advisor makes that input specific. Contact the placement desk once your move is settled.
Questions EKU students ask
Can I enroll in EKU's online DNP from Washington?
No. EKU's Washington note says it is not accepting nursing students into online programs, which takes in the post-master's DNP even though the doctorate has no licensure table. Washington, Colorado, Louisiana and Tennessee are the four states where EKU's page closes the DNP.
Could I live in Idaho and do my EKU clinicals in Spokane?
Plan to keep your site in Idaho. Washington requires an out-of-state school to hold WABON approval before any clinical placement there, WABON limits approved placements to Washington residents, and EKU lists Washington as Does Not Meet. Any exception would have to come from EKU and WABON together, so raise it with your faculty before approaching a Spokane practice.
Will WABON's rulemaking reopen Washington to EKU?
Nobody can say yet. WABON's December 2025 filing started a review of its education rules, clinical placement barriers included, but a CR-101 is only the opening step. Even looser Washington rules would leave the enrollment decision with EKU, so keep checking EKU's state page.
Does EKU accept RN to BSN students living in Washington?
No. EKU's RN to BSN licensure table lists Washington under Does Not Meet Requirements, and the state note bars all online nursing programs for Washington residents. If a move to an open state is already planned, confirm that state's status with EKU; the RN to BSN guide covers the program.
Related pages
Last checked 2026-09-25
We check these pages against EKU's own catalog, program pages and handbooks, and Kentucky's regulations. The current MSN Student Handbook, your course and your faculty have the final word.
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