Washington Medical Commission
Medical doctors and physician assistants
MD means medical doctor. PA stands for physician assistant. This health professional practises medicine.
As checked September 30, 2026, Washington’s Medical Commission licenses medical doctors and physician assistants.
Washington law checked September 30, 2026 says a PA needs a written work agreement naming a doctor they work with before starting practice.
Open the Medical Commission’s roleSeparate doctor board
Doctors with DO after their name
A DO is a doctor, with a different title from an MD. DO is short for doctor of osteopathic medicine.
Like doctors with an MD title, DO doctors can order prescription medicines under Washington law.
Washington’s Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery handles DO licences, as checked September 30, 2026.
Open the osteopathic boardWashington nursing rules
Nurse practitioners
Nurse practitioners are nurses whose advanced training prepares them to assess and treat health conditions.
As of September 30, 2026, Washington nurse practitioners may work without doctor supervision, within their permitted practice.
Permission to prescribe needs separate Board of Nursing approval; the advanced nursing licence by itself does not prove that permission.
Read the nurse practitioner ruleAsk about the work, too
A title is a starting point for a conversation.
- Do you assess the condition I want help with?
- How do you decide whether medicine fits my needs?
- If I need an examination in person, how will that be arranged?