Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-811-070, 246-811-076, and 246-811-300 in chapter 246-811 WAC, Substance use disorder professionals and substance use disorder professional trainees. The department of health (department) is considering updating the chapter to amend national certification requirements, include pharmacists as a profession eligible for the alternative training program, remove AIDS training from the probationary licensure requirements, and make other housekeeping updates as appropriate.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department is considering several changes to increase the substance use disorder professional (SUDP) workforce, which is understaffed, and to remove a reference to a repealed training.

First, the department will consider amending the national certification requirements in WAC 246-811-070 to facilitate SUDPs from other states becoming certified in Washington.

Second, the department will consider amending WAC 246-811-076 based on a petition received by the department in 2018. This potential amendment would add pharmacists as a profession eligible for the alternative training path, which allows members of certain health professions to be credentialed after completing abbreviated education and experience requirements.

Finally, the department will consider removing the reference to an obsolete training from WAC 246-811-300, as the original statutory requirement for AIDS training was repealed in 2020 and subsequently removed from department rules.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Ted Dale, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98512, phone 360-236-2991, TTY 711, email ted.dale@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Rule-making notices will be delivered via GovDelivery. To receive notices, interested persons should sign up for substance use disorder professionals or substance use disorder professional trainees list. Please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next click open the box labeled "Health Professions." From there, you may check the box next to one or more of the professions listed.