Date of Adoption: January 30, 2004.

     Purpose: This rule will provide specific details on the continuing education requirements currently in place by chapter 246-809 WAC. These details include distance learning, industry recognized institutions and relevancy to the profession.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-809-610, 246-809-620, and 246-809-630.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.225.040.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 03-19-132 on September 17, 2003.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: All comments were included in rule.

     Throughout the rule, individual professions are spelled out instead of using the term "licensed counselors."

     The term "supervision" in WAC 246-809-610 was changed to "consultation."

     In WAC 246-809-620(8), American Mental Health Counselors Association was changed to "Washington Mental Health Counselors Association."

     In WAC 246-809-620, subsection (10) was deleted removing the reference to American Psychological Association.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.
     Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

February 20, 2004

Mary C. Selecky

Secretary

OTS-6539.4

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 02-11-108, filed 5/20/02, effective 6/20/02)

WAC 246-809-610   What courses are acceptable?   The continuing education (CE) program or course ((shall)) must be relevant to licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed mental health counselors and licensed social workers and must contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the licensed ((counselor)) marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor and/or licensed social worker. Courses or workshops primarily designed to increase practice income or office efficiency are ((specifically)) not eligible for CE credit. ((Counselors are encouraged to take CE relating to the various phases of their professional career.))

     (1) Acceptable CE courses (including distance learning), seminars, workshops and postgraduate institutes are those which are:

     (a) Programs having a featured instructor, speaker(s) or panel approved by an industry-recognized local, state, national, international organization or institution of higher learning; or

     (b) Distance learning programs, approved by an industry-recognized local, state, national or international organization or institution of higher learning. These programs must require tests of comprehension upon completion. Distance learning programs are limited to twenty-six hours per reporting period.

     (2) Training programs sponsored by the agency where a counselor is employed are acceptable if:

     (a) The experience can be shown to contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the licensed ((counselor)) marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor and/or the licensed social worker; and

     (b) The training programs are limited to twenty-six hours per reporting period.

     (3) Other learning experience, such as serving on a panel, board or council, community service, research, peer consultation, or publishing articles for professional publications are acceptable if:

     (a) The experience can be shown to contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the licensed ((counselor)) marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor and/or the licensed social worker; and

     (b) The experience is limited to six hours per reporting period.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.19 RCW. 02-11-108, § 246-809-610, filed 5/20/02, effective 6/20/02.]

     (1) Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;

     (2) Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work;

     (3) Washington Chapter of the National Association of Social Work;

     (4) American Mental Health Counselors Association;

     (5) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;

     (((2))) (6) Clinical Social Work Federation;

     (((3))) (7) National Association of Social Workers;

     (((4) American)) (8) Washington Mental Health Counselors Association;

     (((5))) (9) National Board for Certified Counselors; ((or

     (6))) (10) Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care; or

     (11) Institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.19 RCW. 02-11-108, § 246-809-620, filed 5/20/02, effective 6/20/02.]

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.19 RCW. 02-11-108, § 246-809-630, filed 5/20/02, effective 6/20/02.]

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