Nursing Program Disqualifying Factors

As part of the admission requirement, an applicant must successfully pass a criminal background check.

Immediate disqualifiers are as follows:

  • Major misdemeanor conviction for crimes involving weapons, violence, embezzlement, dishonesty, misappropriation, fraud or sex crimes.
  • Any felony conviction
  • More than one drunk driving or related conviction in the past three years.
  • Registered sex offender
  • Sex offender match

You can also check the DSHS Secretary's List of Crimes and Negative Actions.

This is intended to be used only as guidance for students. Please be aware that individual clinical sites may have additional disqualifying crimes that would prevent a student from fulfilling their clinical rotation requirement.

The Washington State Nursing Commission also provides guidance on criminal disqualifying factors for licensure.