Washington care terms
The letters after a name describe different roles.
Get the person’s full name as well as the title on the offer.
Each title points to a board.
These Washington roles were checked September 30, 2026.
- MD
MD means medical doctor.
The state’s Medical Commission grants this licence.
- DO
A DO is a medical doctor; the letters stand for doctor of osteopathic medicine.
This type of doctor has a separate Washington board.
- Nurse practitioner
The state’s nursing board licenses nurse practitioners.
Their work includes assessing and managing health conditions.
- Physician assistant
PA means physician assistant.
This licence comes from the Medical Commission too.
The title helps locate the record. The person’s name lets you match that record to the offer. Ask who will meet with you, who will write the plan and who will respond after the visit. Keep each name in your notes.
Who has the right to prescribe?
In Washington, a nurse practitioner may work without a doctor overseeing the care.
The nursing board must also grant the right to prescribe.
To prescribe is to order a drug for a person. Ask whether the person’s record shows that right. A title in an advert leaves this to be checked.
The nurse record and prescribing
The nurse record and prescribing
A nurse’s state record can show whether they have permission to prescribe.
Nurse prescribing rules checked September 30, 2026.
How does a PA work with a doctor?
A Washington PA needs a written collaboration agreement before starting work.
It must identify a participating doctor, under the rule checked September 30, 2026.
Collaboration means working together. Ask who handles each part of the care and who responds to a message. The answer helps you know whom to approach after the visit.
Move from a title to the state recordKeep reading
Reading a licence record