Every program with clinicals, from nursing and radiography to respiratory therapy, surgical technology, medical lab, PTA and OTA, dental hygiene, EMS and medical assisting, answers to each clinical site’s own requirement list. This page collects verified Washington facts for program directors and clinical coordinators, including the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, with a link to each official source, and shows how Drug Free Schools helps.
Washington facts for program directors
- Board of Nursing. The Washington State Board of Nursing regulates ARNPs, LPNs, RNs, nursing technicians and nursing assistants in Washington. (source)
- Board of Nursing. The Board says out-of-state clinical placements it approves are authorized for Washington State residents only, citing limited clinical placement availability. (source)
- Licensure background check. The Washington State Board of Nursing runs a criminal background check on every license application. (source)
- Licensure background check. The Board recommends students talk with their nursing program about any conviction history because it can affect clinical placements. (source)
- Community and technical colleges. The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges oversees a system of 34 colleges. (source)
Checked 18 October 2026 against each official source. Rules change; confirm with the agency, your accreditor and your clinical sites.
What this means for your program
Program directors and clinical coordinators often check student documents by hand, on top of teaching. Every rejected upload has to be caught, explained and checked again. Having each upload reviewed within 24 hours, with a note that says exactly what to fix, takes that loop off your desk. Your clinical sites and affiliation agreements still decide the exact list; the free requirements checklist covers what programs most often collect.
How Drug Free Schools helps Washington programs
One clinical compliance tracking portal for every program at your school ($30 per student, one time; every upload reviewed within 24 hours), plus drug screens on campus or at any Quest location, name-based background checks and on-campus N95 fit testing. See pricing.
Drug Free Schools does not take fingerprints. Our background checks are name-based. If the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) or a clinical site requires a fingerprint check, students use the provider it names, such as Fieldprint, IdentoGO or the local police department.
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Set up in about 5 minutes with your program’s requirements. No meeting needed.
Support 7 days a week by phone, text or email, for students and school staff: call or text (901) 517-7450 · josh.smith@drugfreeschools.net
See the director dashboard (3:06)
Recorded in the live portal: the rotation check dashboard, document review, requirement rules, clinical sites and rotations, and secure links for sending records to a site.
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Frequently asked questions
Who approves nursing programs in Washington?
The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). Its list of approved nursing programs is on the board’s website.
What does Washington require on criminal history for nursing licensure?
The Washington State Board of Nursing runs a criminal background check on every license application. That licensure step is separate from the name-based background check students complete before clinicals.
What is Washington’s community and technical college system?
The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges oversees a system of 34 colleges.
Do you take fingerprints?
No. Our background checks are name-based. If the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) or a clinical site requires fingerprints, students use the provider it names, such as Fieldprint or IdentoGO, or their local police department.
Sources
- About the Washington Board of Nursing
- Approved Nursing Education Programs - WABON
- Positive Background Check Information - WABON
- Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
This page summarizes Washington agency and official pages as checked on 18 October 2026, with a link to each source. Rules change; confirm with the agency, your school, your accreditor and your clinical sites. Nothing on this page is legal advice. Quest Diagnostics, Fieldprint and IdentoGO are trademarks of their respective owners.