DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Board of Psychology)

[Filed April 12, 2021, 5:27 p.m., effective May 13, 2021]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: WAC 246-924-110 and 246-924-255, the examining board of psychology (board) is amending WAC 246-924-255 and repealing WAC 246-924-110 to align the rules with statutory changes made by ESHB 2411 (chapter 229, Laws of 2020) requiring additional suicide prevention training and ESHB 1551 (chapter 76, Laws of 2020) repealing AIDS education and training requirements.

Amendments made in response to ESHB 2411 include: (1) Clarifying a licensed psychologist must take a six-hour suicide prevention training every six years; (2) adding that the requirement for a second training will begin July 1, 2021; (3) adding that qualified trainings will be listed on the department of health's model list; (4) adding that qualifying trainings must focus on either suicide management, care, and treatment or a treatment modality shown to be effective in working with people who are suicidal; (5) clarifying that if a psychologist has already completed their second training prior to July 1, 2021, the psychologist's next training must comply with the new statutory requirements; (6) adding that the requirement to complete the new, second training will not apply if the psychologist demonstrates that a qualifying training is not reasonably available; and (7) incorporating gender-neutral language.

To align with statutory changes made by ESHB 1551, WAC 246-924-110 is repealed, eliminating requirements for AIDS training and education.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 246-924-110; and amending WAC 246-924-255.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.83.050.

Other Authority: ESHB 2411 (chapter 229, Laws of 2020), and ESHB 1551 (chapter 76, Laws of 2020).

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 21-04-081 on January 29, 2021.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 1.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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 1, Repealed 1.

Date Adopted: March 12, 2021.

Rachaud Smith, PsyD, Chair

Examining Board of Psychology

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-06-056, filed 2/28/17, effective 3/31/17)

WAC 246-924-255Suicide intervention training standards.

(1) Each licensed psychologist must, at least once every six years, complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.

(2) An approved training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management must:

(a) Cover training in suicide assessment, including screening and referral, suicide treatment, and suicide management;

(b) Be provided by a single provider and must be at least six hours in length, which may be provided in one or more sessions; and

(c) Be on the department's model list developed in accordance with RCW 43.70.442. Nothing in this section invalidates trainings completed according to this chapter before July 1, 2017.

(((2)))(3) A licensed psychologist who is a state or local government employee is exempt from the requirements of subsection (2) of this section if ((he or she))the psychologist receives a total of at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from ((his or her))their employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the training may be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among shorter training sessions at the employer's discretion.

(((3)))(4) A licensed psychologist who is an employee of a community mental health agency licensed under chapter 71.24 RCW or a chemical dependency program certified under chapter 70.96A RCW is exempt from the requirements of subsection (2) of this section if ((he or she))the psychologist receives a total of at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from ((his or her))an employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the training may be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among shorter training sessions at the employer's discretion.

(((4)))(5) A licensed psychologist who obtained training under subsection (((2)))(3) or (((3)))(4) of this section may obtain continuing education credit for that training subject to documentation as defined in WAC 246-924-300.

(6) Beginning July 1, 2021, a licensed psychologist's second training must be a qualifying advanced training or training in treatment modalities shown to be effective in working with people who are suicidal, developed under RCW 43.70.442 and listed on the department's model list.

(7) If a licensed psychologist has already completed the psychologist's second training prior to July 1, 2021, the psychologist's next training must comply with subsection (6) of this section.

(8) The requirements listed in subsection (6) of this section do not apply if the licensee demonstrates that the training required is not reasonably available.

The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:

AIDS education and training.