What your foreign license does
A foreign license may let you drive for a short period after you arrive, but to stay legal as a Washington resident you need a Washington license. Most countries do not have a direct exchange agreement, so you go through the standard process: documents, the knowledge test, and the skills test. Check the Department of Licensing for your specific country and current rules.
The tests you take
The knowledge test covers Washington signs, signals, and rules, which differ from what you may be used to. The skills test checks that you handle the car safely on local roads. Even experienced drivers from other countries trip on small local differences, like specific right-of-way rules or how four-way stops work here.
How lessons help
If you already know how to drive, you usually do not need many hours. A lesson or two with a WMST instructor focuses on the Washington-specific habits the examiner looks for and the maneuvers on the skills test, so you are not relearning to drive, just adjusting. We also offer manual transmission lessons if you learned on a stick and want to test on an automatic, or the reverse.