Washington State Board of Nursing: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about WABON

WABON requirements in detail

The rule says "official", the evaluator decides who

Washington's rule for applicants educated outside the US, amended effective January 30, 2026, puts the translation inside the evaluation: the board-approved service must include a copy of your official transcript, in English or with an official English translation, showing enrollment dates, course names, credits, graduation date and the credential conferred (WAC 246-840-045, applicants educated outside the US). It does not say who may produce the translation.

The evaluator you choose still applies its own rule.

TruMerit wants nursing transcripts translated by the school, or translates them itself for a fee (TruMerit: CES Professional Report); IEE's nursing handbook says it does not accept translations directly from applicants (IEE: nursing applicant handbook).

JS&A asks for professional, certified translations (JS&A: application for boards of nursing) and, for translations made in the US, an ATA-certified translator (JS&A: services and translations); TEC, which lists Washington among the boards that accept its Nursing Course Analysis (The Evaluation Company: nursing services), accepts an outside translator only if ATA-certified (The Evaluation Company: avoid delays).

Exam or endorsement

If Washington will be your first US license, you apply by exam and need the transcript evaluation before you apply (Educated outside the United States). If the evaluator cannot determine equivalency, the Board asks your nursing program to complete its education verification form.

If you already hold an RN license in another state, the Board accepts your nursing transcripts sent directly by your school, by an approved evaluator, or by another US board of nursing (Educated outside the United States); the RN license page sends internationally educated applicants to the same instructions first (RN license).

Documents applicants usually translate

• Nursing school transcripts, with course names, credits and dates
• Nursing diploma or degree certificate
• Course descriptions or syllabi, if the evaluator or Board asks
• Nursing license or registration from the country of education

What an eVerbary translation includes

• A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
• Grades, hours and credits exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA or equivalency.
• A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
• $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
• Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.

Submitting the translation to WABON

• The translation goes to the evaluation company with your records, following that company's instructions; the evaluation, with the transcript and its translation, then reaches the Board (WAC 246-840-045, applicants educated outside the US).

  With JS&A, your school sends its records directly and the translation goes with your application (JS&A: application for boards of nursing).

• Other documents for your Washington application are uploaded in the online portal within 14 days of submitting it (Educated outside the United States).

If you need a translator certified by ATA

Some offices accept only a translator who is personally certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). eVerbary assigns one on request, for the languages ATA certifies into English:

To order it, ask for a free quote and write in the notes that the translation is for WABON, what it is for, and that you need a translator individually certified by ATA, plus anything else the office asks for (notarization, delivery by email to the office).

We confirm the price and the translator before you pay. ATA does not certify other languages into English, so no translator anywhere holds ATA certification for them.

For those languages we provide a notarized certified translation instead, at $44.95 per page plus notarization ($34.90 per order); ask the office to confirm it accepts that, and write its answer in the quote notes.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.

Frequently asked questions