Healthcare Recruiting
Washington CRNA License 2026: ARNP Requirements, Independent Practice, Salary
Washington state grants full practice authority to CRNAs under the ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner) credential. No physician supervision or collaborative agreement is required by state law. Washington has also opted out of the federal Medicare physician supervision requirement for CRNAs in certified facilities, giving CRNAs full independent operating room authority statewide.
Practice Model
- Full Practice Authority — no supervision or collaboration agreement required by state law
- Medicare opt-out: Washington has opted out of the federal supervision requirement; CRNAs may practice without anesthesiologist direction
- Both ACT (anesthesia care team) and CRNA-only models exist; hospital policy dictates which is used at each facility
- Seattle's major academic centers (UW, Virginia Mason) use ACT models; rural and community hospitals predominantly rely on CRNA-only models
- Prescribing authority included under ARNP; DEA registration required separately for controlled substance Schedule II–V
Application Requirements
- Active Washington RN license (compact or WA-issued)
- Current NBCRNA certification (NCE or CONTINUED COMPETENCY)
- Official nurse anesthesia program transcript
- Completed DOH NCQAC online application + $91 fee
- Criminal background check
Processing Timeline
Washington DOH NCQAC processes ARNP applications in approximately 6–8 weeks from complete submission. Temporary practice authorization is not issued. Washington's online application system is among the more efficient in the country; complete applications rarely encounter significant delays.
CRNA Salary in Washington (2026)
| Market | Avg CRNA Salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle / King County | $225,000–$255,000 | UW Medicine, Virginia Mason, Swedish; tech-sector COL premium |
| Tacoma / Pierce County | $210,000–$240,000 | MultiCare Health, CHI Franciscan; lower COL than Seattle |
| Spokane | $200,000–$228,000 | Providence Sacred Heart, MultiCare Deaconess |
| Bellingham / Everett | $205,000–$235,000 | PeaceHealth, Providence Regional; travel CRNA positions common |
| Rural / CAH facilities | $215,000–$250,000 | Critical Access Hospitals; CRNA-only model; signing bonuses common |
Top Employers in Washington
- UW Medicine — Seattle; academic ACT model; training programs; competitive total comp
- Virginia Mason / CHI Franciscan — Seattle/Tacoma; merged system; active CRNA hiring
- Providence Health & Services — Spokane, Eastern WA; CRNA-only model in rural facilities
- MultiCare Health System — Tacoma/Spokane; community-focused anesthesia model
- PeaceHealth — Bellingham; Northwest WA; CRNA-independent model
What We See at Ava Health
Washington is one of the top CRNA markets in the Pacific Northwest. Seattle salaries are among the highest nationally, though the cost of living — particularly housing — significantly offsets the nominal premium. Eastern Washington (Spokane, Yakima, Tri-Cities) offers strong CRNA compensation with materially lower cost of living and persistent rural demand.
Related: CRNA License California 2026, CRNA Salary by State 2026, NP License Washington 2026.
Hiring in this space?
Browse 1.4M+ verified providers across all 50 states
NPI-sourced, free, no account required. Filter by specialty + state in seconds.
Search the directory →Free tool
2026 Healthcare Salary Calculator
Estimate comp by specialty, state, experience, and practice setting. Based on MGMA, AMGA, and BLS benchmarks.
Try the salary calculator →Be on the launch list
Salary data, hiring plays, and market trends. We'll email you when issue 1 ships. Free, unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.