2.3 Lapsed, Bridge, Older Training, OBRA, and Closed Program Routes E5-E9

Special History Routes

Not every Washington NAC candidate is starting fresh or coming from a current nursing program. WABON's route list includes several paths for candidates with older or more complicated histories. E5 is for a lapsed credential greater than 3 years with retraining. E6 is for a Washington alternative bridge program. E7 is for training before February 1, 2015. E8 is OBRA reactivation. E9 is closed training program. These labels are short, but each one points to a different kind of eligibility problem that must be handled through Washington's credentialing process.

The safest study habit is to treat E5 through E9 as document-driven routes. A lapsed credential greater than 3 years with retraining is not the same as a current student finishing an approved program. An alternative bridge program is not the same as out-of-state training. Training before February 1, 2015, may require different review than recent training. OBRA reactivation connects to registry status. A closed training program can create proof-of-training questions that a current open program does not create. The brief does not provide every document detail for each route, so do not invent them.

The correct action is to follow the complete DOH Credentialing application process and obtain Authorization to Test where required.

These routes also sit next to the current exam process. A candidate approved through one of these routes still needs to understand that Washington's NAC exam has an in-person Skills Test and an online Knowledge Test. Current WABON information says candidates should take skills first and are expected to pass skills before registering for the written test. Most training programs provide skills testing, and WABON regional scheduling is used when needed. Credentia handles the online knowledge test. Passing both parts is required to be considered for certification.

For E5 through E9 candidates, the risk is often timing. A candidate may want to schedule quickly because they previously trained, previously held a credential, or previously appeared on a registry. But the brief says candidates cannot test without Authorization to Test where required. A practical checklist should include route identification, document gathering, DOH application completion, authorization confirmation, correct NAC credential number entry in Credentia, and then exam scheduling. This approach respects the candidate's prior history without assuming that history removes current Washington requirements.

It also keeps study time from being wasted on an exam date the candidate was not yet authorized to use. When the route is unusual, confirm the route before assuming the exam sequence can begin.