Washington Employment Agency
Licensing requirements for Washington employment, staffing and talent agencies.
This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in Washington for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.
Companies that provide employment services in Washington must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.
Company Licenses
Washington Employment and Business Support Services Company Licenses
Washington Nursing Pool License
Agency: | Washington State Department of Health |
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite: | Yes |
Initial Registration
Form: | |
Filing Method: | |
Agency Fee: | $175 |
Registration Renewal
Filing Method: | Renewal notices are sent prior to the registration's expiration date. |
Agency Fee: | $280 |
Due: | Annually by the date of issuance. |
Washington Professional Employer Organization License
Agency: | Washington Employment Security Department |
Law: |
Initial Registration
Instructions: | |
Notes: | There is not a unique application form to register with the Employment Security Department. Simply apply for a state business license and check the boxes to indicate you have or plan to hire employees. |
Required Attachments: |
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Renewal Not Required
Not required
Employment Security Department business registrations do not need to be renewed, however, reporting requirements apply to registered businesses.
Financial Reporting
Quarterly Tax and Wage Report
Instructions: | Pay online using EAMS Pay by mailing a check
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Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Quarterly by the end of the month following each quarter. When a due date falls on a weekend or state holiday, your report may be postmarked the following business day. |
Law: | |
Penalties: |
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Notes: |
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Supplemental Reporting
Client Company Registration
Form: | |
Instructions: | Instructions for Submitting Client Data Electronically to Washington |
Agency Fee: | $0 |
Due: | Within 30 days for any client employer registering with the department for the first time and within 30 days of the effective date whenever the professional employer organization and a client employer enter a professional employer agreement. |
Required Attachments: | PEOs that have client companies in Washington must provide the department with all of the following information for each client company:
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Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.
Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.
Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)
American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.
National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
(NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment
industry.