Nearly half of Washington state’s health care workers can now renew their licenses online.

More than 82,000 registered nurses and nearly 25,000 physicians can start using the state Department of Health’s new online renewal system, rather than renewing their licenses by mail or in person.

Health officials said that 54 of the 83 types of licensed health care professions in the state can now use the Web-based system. By March 2013, online renewal will be available to all professionals.

Starting next June, the department will begin accepting new applications online for several categories of health care providers.

Visit the health department’s website for more information.