Professional Licensing.
Washington regulates a variety of businesses and professions. A business or profession may be regulated directly by an agency or under a board, commission, or other authority that may have sole or shared jurisdiction. Each regulated business and profession is governed under a separate set of laws. Generally, businesses and professions allow for some form of reciprocity for licensees from other states.
Professions Regulated in Title 18 RCW.
Title 18 RCW establishes licensing requirements for many businesses and professions. In some fields, individuals are regulated. In others, it is an entity that is regulated. Authorities that issue licenses, certificates, registrations, or permits to individuals under Title 18 RCW include the following:
Professions Regulated Outside of Title 18 RCW.
The DOL regulates a number of professions outside of Title 18 RCW. These include:
The LNI also regulates professions outside of Title 18 RCW. These include:
A number of other authorities regulate professions outside of Title 18 RCW. These include:
Expedited Professional Licensing for Military Spouses.
A licensing authority, regulating under Title 18 or certain other statutes, must establish procedures to expedite the issuance of a license, certificate, registration, or permit to perform professional services (license) to a qualified military spouse. A qualified military spouse is a person who:
The procedures must include a process for issuing the military spouse a license if, in the opinion of the authority, the requirements for licensure of the other state are substantially equivalent to Washington's requirements.
Each licensing authority must develop a method to authorize a military spouse who meets the established criteria to receive a temporary license. The temporary license allows the military spouse to perform services regulated by the authority while completing any specific requirements that may be required in Washington that are not related to training or practice standards and were not required in the other state. However, an authority is not required to issue a temporary license if the standards of the other state are substantially unequal to Washington standards.
Reporting Requirements.
The DOL and the DOH are required to report on their efforts to implement legislation modifying professional licensing procedures for military spouses:
Employment Contracts.
In general, Washington is an at-will employment state, which means either the employee or employer may terminate an employment relationship at any time without fear of liability. One exception to the at-will employment doctrine is if an employment contract exists.
Professional Licensing for Military Spouses.
The LNI is removed from the requirement that licensing authorities establish procedures to expedite the issuance of a license to a qualified military spouse. The criteria for a qualified military spouse are modified to remove the requirement that the military spouse left employment in another state to accompany the person's spouse to Washington.
A licensing authority must issue a license, or a temporary license, to a qualified military spouse within 30 days of submission of a completed application. A temporary license must be valid for a period of no less than 180 days.
The DOH, the DOL, the PESB, and the other authorities with licensing responsibilities under Title 18 RCW, except the LNI, must:
The Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) must create an internet-based training that may be used by each authority to satisfy the training requirement.
In addition, licensing authorities are encouraged to:
Military Spouse Assistance Web Page.
The DOH, the DOL, the Employment Security Department (ESD), the DVA, and the PESB are each required to establish a military spouse assistance web page, which must contain:
A direct link to the agency's military spouse assistance web page must be displayed on the agency's home page.
Military Spouse Employment Demonstration Campaign.
The DVA, the ESD, and the Department of Commerce must consult local chambers of commerce, associate development organizations, and businesses to initiate a demonstration campaign to increase military spouse employment. This campaign may include partnerships with chambers of commerce that result in business owners sharing, with the local chamber of commerce, information on the number of military spouses employed and the local chambers of commerce providing this information to the DVA.
Employment Contracts.
A military spouse may terminate an employment contract without penalty at any time after the service member receives orders for a permanent change of station if the spouse provides written notice to the employer of the termination. The military spouse also must provide written proof of the official orders showing that the service member has received orders for a permanent change of station. Termination of the employment contract is effective on the day written notice is given or on a date mutually agreed to by the parties to the employment contract.
Reporting Requirements.
The DOL, the DOH, and the PESB are required to report on their efforts to implement legislation modifying professional licensing procedures for military spouses: