DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

[Filed January 23, 2024, 1:04 p.m., effective February 23, 2024]

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

Purpose: Substance use disorder professional certification, reducing barriers for pharmacists and applicants with a national certification.

The department of health (department) is adopting amendments to 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, to reduce barriers to certification. Changes include: (1) Removing the requirement to verify educational coursework for applicants with a national certification in WAC 246-811-070; (2) making pharmacists eligible for the alternative training pathway in WAC 246-811-076 and removing osteopathic physician assistants pursuant to SHB 2378 (chapter 80, Laws of 2020); and (3) removing the obsolete AIDS training from the list of probationary license requirements in WAC 246-811-300 pursuant to ESHB 1551 (chapter 76, Laws of 2020).

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-811-070, 246-811-076, and 246-811-300.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.205.060.

Other Authority: ESHB 1551 (chapter 76, Laws of 2020), SHB 2378 (chapter 80, Laws of 2020).

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 23-20-120 on October 3, 2023.

A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Ted Dale, Office of Health Professions, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-2991, TTY 711, email ted.dale@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: January 23, 2024.

Kristin Peterson, JD

for Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-14-052, filed 6/29/16, effective 7/30/16)

WAC 246-811-070National certification.

(1) A person who is certified through the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) or the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC) as an alcohol and drug counselor (ADC) or advanced alcohol and drug counselor (AADC), is considered to meet the experience requirements of WAC 246-811-046.

(2) A person who is certified through NAADAC or ICRC as an ADC or AADC is considered to have met the education requirements of WAC 246-811-030(2). ((Verification of the additional forty-five quarter or thirty semester credits as required in WAC 246-811-030(1) will be required upon application to the department.))

(3) Verification of certification must be sent directly to the department from NAADAC or ICRC.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-12-074, filed 6/1/20, effective 7/2/20)

WAC 246-811-076Eligibility for certification through alternative training.

A practitioner listed in subsections (1) through (7) of this section who holds an active license in good standing may apply for certification as a substance use disorder professional using alternative training under WAC 246-811-077 or 246-811-078:

(1) Advanced registered nurse practitioner under chapter 18.79 RCW;

(2) Marriage and family therapists, mental health counselor, advanced social worker, or independent clinical social worker under chapter 18.225 RCW;

(3) Psychologist under chapter 18.83 RCW;

(4) Osteopathic physician under chapter 18.57 RCW;

(5) ((Osteopathic physician assistant under chapter 18.57A RCW;

(6))) Physician under chapter 18.71 RCW; ((or

(7)))(6) Physician assistant under chapter 18.71A RCW; or

(7) Pharmacist under chapter 18.64 RCW.

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-12-074, filed 6/1/20, effective 7/2/20)

WAC 246-811-300Probationary license.

(1) The department shall issue a probationary license to out-of-state applicants seeking licensure in Washington state for substance use disorder professional according to the conditions and restrictions of the reciprocity program established RCW 18.205.140 and this chapter.

(2) The out-of-state license must be from a state or territory identified on a list published by the department as eligible for reciprocity for the purposes of a probationary license for the particular behavioral health profession.

(3) An initial probationary license is valid for one year. To receive an initial probationary license, the applicant must submit to the department a completed application to include:

(a) Verification of their out-of-state license; and

(b) The fee according to WAC 246-811-990.

(4) A probationary license may be renewed a single time and is valid for one year after the date of renewal. To renew a probationary license, the applicant must submit to the department a completed application to include:

(a) Completion of suicide assessment, treatment, and management training according to WAC 246-811-280(1); and

(b) ((AIDS education according to WAC 246-811-075; and

(c))) The fee according to WAC 246-811-990.

(5) Continuing education. With the exception of the requirements in subsection (4) of this section, continuing education requirements will apply once a probationary licensee transitions to a full license.

(6) Approved supervision. If the department determines a probationary licensee must complete supervised hours of experience as a condition for full licensure, the licensee must complete the stated hours under an approved supervisor according to the conditions of this chapter.