Washington: school, college and career rules
Washington requires 24 credits plus a High School and Beyond Plan and a graduation pathway, charges in-state tuition after one year of domicile, and guarantees the need-based Washington College Grant to eligible residents.
Linked from the State Population Totals 2020-2025 page (census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-state-total.html); population and rank copied from the POPESTIMATE2025 and NRANK_POPEST2025 columns.Census
High school diploma
WAC 180-51-210, for students who entered grade 9 on or after 1 July 2017 (the class of 2021 and later). Students are held to the requirements of their expected graduation year, set when they enter grade 9. Districts may add local requirements. WAC
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| Subject | State minimum |
|---|---|
| English | 4 credits (core) |
| Mathematics | 3 credits (core): Algebra 1 or Integrated Math I, geometry or Integrated Math II, and a third credit matched to the student's plan |
| Science | 3 credits (core), at least two in laboratory science |
| Social studies | 3 credits (core): U.S. history, ½ contemporary world history, ½ civics and 1 elective; plus Washington state history (no credit) |
| Health and fitness | ½ credit health and 1½ credits physical education (core) |
| Career and technical education | 1 credit (core) |
| Arts | 2 credits: 1 core and 1 flexible (the flexible one can be a personalized pathway course) |
| World languages | 2 credits (flexible; can be replaced by personalized pathway courses) |
| Electives | 4 credits (flexible) |
24 credits: 17 core and 7 flexible. A district may waive up to two flexible credits for a student, who can then graduate with 22.
State tests for the diploma
Credits alone are not enough: every student must also meet a graduation pathway (for example the high school Smarter Balanced scores, dual credit, AP or IB, the ASVAB, a CTE sequence or a performance-based pathway) that matches their High School and Beyond Plan. WAC
View source
Also good to know
- The pathway requirement started with the class of 2020. The ASVAB counts with an AFQT score of at least 31.
OSPI
Graduation PathwaysOffice of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
Read through the Internet Archive capture of 23 July 2026.
View source - Non-credit requirements: the High School and Beyond Plan and Washington State History.
SBE
Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2024 (and beyond)Washington State Board of Education- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
State test: Smarter Balanced and WCAS
Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) and the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS). These tests are required for federal and state accountability. Students with significant cognitive disabilities take the WA-AIM alternate assessments instead. Read through the Internet Archive capture of 18 Sept 2026 (ospi.k12.wa.us returns 403 to requests from India).OSPI
| Test | Subjects | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Smarter Balanced (SBA) | English language arts and mathematics | Grades 3–8 and 10 |
| WCAS | Science | Grades 5, 8 and 11 |
Source: Read through the Internet Archive capture of 18 Sept 2026 (ospi.k12.wa.us returns 403 to requests from India).OSPI
What the scores are used for
- The high school Smarter Balanced English language arts and math tests can also meet a student's graduation pathway requirement.
OSPI
State TestingOffice of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
Read through the Internet Archive capture of 18 Sept 2026 (ospi.k12.wa.us returns 403 to requests from India).
View source
National tests (SAT, ACT, AP, NAEP) are on the Exams hub.
Public colleges and universities
The state's public university system(s) and community colleges, from their own pages.
- Washington's public universitiesUniversity system · State law names two state universities (University of Washington and Washington State University), three regional universities (Western, Central and Eastern Washington) and one state college (The Evergreen State College).
- Washington community and technical colleges (SBCTC)Community colleges · A nine-member governor-appointed board coordinates the system of 34 public community and technical colleges: adult basic education, workforce training and academic transfer.
Sources: RCW
View sourceSBCTC
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Every school in Washington, public and private, with cost and completion: 100 colleges, community colleges and trade schools, with 8 city pages.
In-state tuition: the residency rule
Public colleges charge less to state residents. Who counts as a resident is set by state law or the college system, not by where you went to school alone.
- RCW 28B.15.012: a financially independent student is a resident after one year of domicile in Washington immediately before the term, set up mainly for reasons other than education. A dependent student qualifies if a parent or legal guardian has kept a Washington domicile for at least a year.
RCW
RCW 28B.15.012, Classification as resident or nonresident student: definitionsWashington State Legislature- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- Someone who earned a Washington high school diploma (or equivalent) and lived in the state for at least a year, mainly not for college, can also qualify, with an affidavit if they are not yet a permanent resident.
RCW
RCW 28B.15.012, Classification as resident or nonresident student: definitionsWashington State Legislature- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
- Domicile means your true, fixed and permanent home; the student carries the burden of proving it.
RCW
RCW 28B.15.012, Classification as resident or nonresident student: definitionsWashington State Legislature- Checked
- 22 Oct 2026
The college's residency office makes the final decision. More on costs: What college costs.
State financial aid
Run by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC). Federal aid (Pell Grants, loans) starts with the FAFSA: FAFSA, grants and loans.
Washington College Grant (WA Grant)
Guaranteed to eligible people and based on income, not grades; considered automatically when you file the FAFSA or WASFA. Up to $13,000 a year, usable part-time or full-time, for college, certificates, job training and apprenticeships, and open to residents of every immigration status. WSAC
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Licensing boards
Lawyers, doctors, CPAs and nurses need a Washington license from a state board, even after passing a national exam. These are the boards that grant it.
| License | Washington board | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer How bar admission works | Washington State Bar Association | NextGen UBE. MPRE required (passing score 85). NCBEWashington: bar admission informationNational Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
Bar admission agency, the NCBE exams the jurisdiction requires, MPRE passing score and NextGen UBE plans. NCBE advises checking the agency itself for the latest rules. View source |
| Physician How a medical license works | Washington Medical Commission Washington Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery | USMLE (M.D.) or COMLEX-USA (D.O.); Washington has more than one board, as listed FSMBContact a State Medical BoardFederation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)
Directory of every state's medical (and separate osteopathic) board. fsmb.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 14 Sep 2026; each board link was then opened on 22 Oct 2026, through the board's site or, where it blocks reads from India, its latest archive capture. View source |
| CPA How the CPA license works | Washington State Board of Accountancy | Uniform CPA Examination NASBAState Boards of AccountancyNational Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)
Directory of the 55 boards of accountancy. nasba.org answers automated reads with 403, so it was read from the Internet Archive capture of 15 Oct 2026; board links that had moved were replaced with the board's current page, opened on 22 Oct 2026. View source |
| Registered nurse How the RN license works | Washington State Board of Nursing | NCLEX-RN · Nurse Licensure Compact member since Jan. 31, 2024 NCSBNContact Washington State Board of NursingNational Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
NCSBN / NLCNLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF)National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact)
|
Engineering, teaching, real estate, cosmetology and the trades have their own boards: all professional licenses · trades and apprenticeships.
State and city government jobs
Federal jobs are on USAJOBS; state and city governments hire through their own systems.
careers.wa.gov
State of Washington (Department of Enterprise Services)
- Create a profile to apply for any opening, or sign in to manage applications.
- Sign up for email notices of new openings; state college and university jobs have a separate link.
Source: careers.wa.gov
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Police, fire and other public-safety routes: Public Service & Safety hub.
Registered apprenticeship
Washington has a State Apprenticeship Agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor. California is listed under both OA and SAA.Apprenticeship.gov
- Apprenticeship program, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)Washington is a State Apprenticeship Agency state. L&I explains registered apprenticeship: on-the-job training with classroom instruction, rising wages and a nationally recognized credential at the end.
- Trades and apprenticeshipsElectrician, plumber, HVAC and other trade routes on this site
Source: L&I
View source
Where these facts come from
Official and primary sources only, each checked on the date shown. Rules on testing, aid, licensing and immigration change, so confirm a detail with its source before you rely on it.
- Annual Estimates of Resident Population Change for the United States, States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and State Rankings: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (NST-EST2025-POPCHG2020-2025, CSV) · U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025) checked 2026-10-21
- Washington: bar admission information · National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact a State Medical Board · Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) checked 2026-10-22
- State Boards of Accountancy · National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) checked 2026-10-22
- Contact Washington State Board of Nursing · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) checked 2026-10-22
- NLC states and implementation dates (NLC map, PDF) · National Council of State Boards of Nursing (Nurse Licensure Compact) checked 2026-10-07
- WAC 180-51-210, High school graduation requirements: students entering ninth grade on or after July 1, 2017 · Washington State Legislature (State Board of Education rule) checked 2026-10-22
- Graduation Pathways · Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) checked 2026-10-22
- Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2024 (and beyond) · Washington State Board of Education checked 2026-10-22
- State Testing · Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) checked 2026-10-22
- RCW 28B.10.016, Definitions (state universities, regional universities, state college) · Washington State Legislature checked 2026-10-22
- About the Washington State Board for Community & Technical Colleges · Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges checked 2026-10-22
- RCW 28B.15.012, Classification as resident or nonresident student: definitions · Washington State Legislature checked 2026-10-22
- Washington College Grant (WA Grant) · Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) checked 2026-10-22
- careers.wa.gov: Find a job working for Washington state · Washington State Department of Enterprise Services checked 2026-10-22
- Become an Apprentice · Washington State Department of Labor & Industries checked 2026-10-22
- The Apprenticeship System: Office of Apprenticeship (OA) and recognized State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) states · U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship checked 2026-10-21