WSR 25-06-068
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed March 3, 2025, 4:37 p.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 24-10-012.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, and social worker professions; reducing barriers to licensure and streamlining the credentialing process in chapter 246-809 WAC.    
The department of health (department) is proposing permanent rules to implement recent legislation. This amendment aims to reduce or remove barriers for entering and remaining in the behavioral health care workforce and streamline and shorten the credentialing process by removing renewal limits for associate-level credentials, allowing professional experience to substitute for clinical practicum experience, and by lowering continuing education requirements.
Hearing Location(s): On April 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Register in advance for this webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_24OaTwBrSDGs1LgTig5obg. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Date of Intended Adoption: April 15, 2025.
Submit Written Comments to: Lana Crawford, Office of Health Professions, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview/, beginning the date and time of this filing, by April 8, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Lana Crawford, phone 564-669-1455, TTY 711, email lana.crawford@doh.wa.gov, by March 25, 2025.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed rules implement recent legislation, including sections of 2SHB 1724 (chapter 425, Laws of 2023) and E2SHB 2247 (chapter 371, Laws of 2024).
The proposed rules aim to:
(1) Establish the application process for licensure, including provisions for foreign degrees and credential evaluations.
(2) Lower the requirement for licensure by endorsement from five years of licensure in a substantially equivalent state to one year.
(3) Reduce the clinical experience requirement for supervising marriage and family therapists from five years to two years.
(4) Allow professional experience as an alternative to the practicum or internship requirement for licensure.
(5) Reduce the number of continuing education (CE) hours required to renew a license.
(6) Mandate that two of the required CE hours be in professional roles and boundaries.
(7) Remove limitations on the number of renewals authorized for an associate level credential.
(8) Make small typographical and clarifying edits to the existing rule language.
To meet legislative deadlines, the department implemented emergency rules on June 28, 2024, under WSR 24-144-080, which allow professional experience as a practicum alternative for mental health counselors, lower the licensure by endorsement requirement to one year of licensure in a substantially equivalent state, align the definition of qualified practitioners for marriage and family therapists with other master-level professions, and remove limits on credential renewals for associate credentials. These rules will remain in effect until the permanent rule-making process is completed. The department continued these emergency rules without changes under WSR 24-22-014, filed on October 24, 2024. These emergency rules will continue to be renewed until this permanent rule making is adopted and effective.
The proposed rules include additional amendments that establish the application process for licensure, including provisions for foreign degrees and credential evaluations, reduce the number of CE hours needed to renew a license, and mandate that two of the total CE hours be in professional roles and boundaries. These changes incorporate public and professional feedback and will replace the emergency rules once finalized. The aim is to streamline the licensure process and make it more accessible while ensuring that key professional standards are maintained.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: In addition to fulfilling the intent of 2SHB 1724 and E2SHB 2247, the proposed rules aim to improve accessibility and streamline the licensure process, reduce the burden of CE requirements, enhance professional development with mandated ethics training, and improve workforce stability to meet health care needs, all while maintaining quality of care and protecting patient safety.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.225.040.
Statute Being Implemented: 2SHB 1724 (chapter 425, Laws of 2023) and E2SHB 2247 (chapter 371, Laws of 2024); RCW 18.225.090 and 18.225.145.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of health, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Lana Crawford, 111 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, 564-669-1455. 
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW 28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Lana Crawford, Office of Health Professions, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 564-669-1455, TTY 711, email lana.crawford@doh.wa.gov.
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(3) as the rules only correct typographical errors, make address or name changes, or clarify language of a rule without changing its effect; and rule content is explicitly and specifically dictated by statute.
Is exempt under RCW 19.85.025(4).
Explanation of exemptions: The rule amendments are required by statute, clarify rule language, and are applicable for individual licenses, not businesses.
Scope of exemption for rule proposal:
Is fully exempt.
March 3, 2025
Kristin Petersen, JD
Chief of Policy
for Jessica Todorovich
Acting Secretary of Health
RDS-6108.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-12-074, filed 6/1/20, effective 7/2/20)
WAC 246-809-010Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Associate" means a prelicensure candidate who is working towards full licensure in their profession, has a graduate degree in a mental health field under RCW 18.225.090 and is gaining the supervision and supervised experience necessary to become a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed advanced social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, or a licensed marriage and family therapist. Associates may not independently provide social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy for a fee, monetary or otherwise. Associates must work under the supervision of an approved supervisor.
(2) (("Independent social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy" means the practice of these disciplines without being under the supervision of an approved supervisor.
(3))) "Department" means the department of health.
(3) "Independent social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy" means the practice of these disciplines without being under the supervision of an approved supervisor.
(4) "Licensed counselor" means a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, licensed advanced social worker, or licensed independent clinical social worker regulated under chapter 18.225 RCW. Licensed counselor does not mean an associate-level credential.
(5) "Out-of-state" means any state, the District of Columbia, or territory of the United States.
(6) "Probationary license" means a temporary license issued to out-of-state applicants qualifying for licensure reciprocity in Washington state under the restrictions and conditions of RCW 18.225.140 and this chapter.
(7) "Reciprocity" means licensure of out-of-state licensed counselors based on substantial equivalence between Washington state scope of practice and the scope of practice of the other state, the District of Columbia, or territory, subject to a probationary licensure period to complete outstanding Washington state licensure requirements as determined necessary by the secretary to gain full licensure.
(8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of health.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-13-082, filed 6/16/17, effective 7/17/17)
WAC 246-809-049Sexual misconduct.
The definitions and prohibitions on sexual misconduct described in WAC 246-16-100 apply to licensed counselors and associates, except a licensed counselor or associate shall never engage, or attempt to engage, in the activities listed in WAC 246-16-100 (1) and (2) with a current or former patient, client, or key party, inside or outside the health care setting.
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-809-096Application.
(1) An applicant for licensure as a mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, or social worker, or associate licensure for one of these professions shall submit to the department:
(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;
(b) Official transcripts, sent directly to the department, to verify completion of education requirements for the applicant's practice area;
(c) Unless applying for an associate license, verification of supervised experience on forms provided by the department;
(d) Official verification, sent directly to the department, of passing the examination for the applicant's practice area; and
(e) The fee(s) required under WAC 246-809-990.
(2)(a) For degree(s) obtained outside the United States, the District of Columbia, and territories of the United States, the applicant must have the transcript translated and evaluated by:
(i) An organization that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES);
(ii) An organization that is a current member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE); or
(iii) For an applicant for licensure as a social worker or social worker associate, the Council on Social Work Education.
(b) The evaluating organization must validate the degree to determine its equivalence to an academic program approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDOE).
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-23-150, filed 11/20/23, effective 1/1/24)
WAC 246-809-110Definitions.
The ((following terms))definitions in this section apply to the licensure of marriage and family therapists and marriage and family therapist associates, in WAC 246-809-100 through 246-809-140 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Approved educational program" means:
(a) Any college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation or its successor; or
(b) A program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), at the time the applicant completed the required education.
(2) "Approved supervisor" means a licensed marriage and family therapist, or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.
(3) "Equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner" means a licensed mental health counselor, licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychologist, licensed physician practicing as a psychiatrist, or licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner((, who has completed:
(a) Three hundred clock hours in graduate or postgraduate marriage and family education, or continuing education in marriage and family therapy or supervision by an approved marriage and family therapist supervisor in marriage and family therapy or any combination of these; and
(b) Five years of clinical practice that includes the equivalent of one year of clinical practice working with couples and families)).
(4) "Group supervision" means face-to-face or virtual supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than six licensure candidates.
(5) "Licensure candidate" means an individual who is accruing supervised clinical experience required for licensure.
(6) "One-on-one supervision" means face-to-face or virtual supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than two licensure candidates.
(7) "Peer" means a coworker who is not the licensure candidate's employer or supervisor.
(8) "Supervised experience requirement" means experience that is obtained under an approved supervisor who meets the requirements described in WAC 246-809-134.
(9) "Supervision of supervision" means supervision by an approved supervisor for the purpose of training and qualifying a license holder to act as an approved supervisor for purposes of chapter 18.225 RCW and WAC 246-809-134.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-23-150, filed 11/20/23, effective 1/1/24)
WAC 246-809-130Supervised postgraduate experience.
(1) The experience requirements for the marriage and family therapist applicant's practice area include successful completion of a supervised experience requirement. ((Applicants who have))An applicant who has held an active marriage and family therapy license for the past ((five consecutive years or more))year in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory, without a disciplinary record or disqualifying criminal history, ((are))is deemed to have met the supervised experience requirements for Washington state licensure in subsection (3) of this section.
(2) In accordance with RCW 18.225.090 and 18.225.095, for an applicant((s)) who can demonstrate they have practiced as a substance use disorder professional for at least three years within 10 years from the date their application for a marriage and family therapist license is submitted to the department, the department shall reduce the total required supervised hours from 3,000 hours to 2,700 hours. The requirements in subsection (3)(a) through (e) of this section shall apply regardless of the reduction of total required hours.
(3) Total experience requirements include a minimum of 3,000 hours to include the following:
(a) One thousand hours of direct client contact with at least 500 hours gained in diagnosing and treating couples and families;
(b) At least 200 hours of qualified supervision with an approved supervisor.
(i) Of the 200 hours, 100 hours must be with a licensed marriage and family therapist with at least ((five))two years of clinical experience; the other 100 hours may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner;
(ii) At least 100 of the 200 hours must be one-on-one supervision; and
(iii) The remaining hours may be in one-on-one or group supervision.
(c) Applicants who have completed a master's program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy boards will be credited with 500 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of qualified supervision with an approved supervisor;
(d) Licensed marriage and family therapist associate applicants are not required to have supervised postgraduate experience prior to becoming an associate; and
(e) Licensed marriage and family therapist associate applicants must declare they are working towards full licensure.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-23-150, filed 11/20/23, effective 1/1/24)
WAC 246-809-210Definitions.
The following definitions apply to the licensure of mental health counselors and mental health counselor associates, in WAC 246-809-200 through 246-809-240.
(1) "Approved educational program" means any college or university accredited by an accreditation body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or United States Department of Education.
(2) "Approved setting" includes facilities, agencies or private practice where an applicant works with individuals, families, couples or groups under the supervision of an approved supervisor.
(3) "Approved supervisor" means a qualified licensed mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner who has been licensed without restrictions for at least two years.
(4) "Equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner" means a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychologist, licensed physician practicing as a psychiatrist, or licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner.
(5) "Group supervision" means face-to-face or virtual supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than six licensure candidates.
(6) "Immediate supervision" means a meeting with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than two licensure candidates.
(7) "Licensure candidate" means an individual that is accruing supervised clinical experience required for licensure.
(8) "Peer" means a co-worker who is not the licensure candidate's employer or supervisor.
(9) "Supervision of supervision" means supervision by an approved supervisor for the purpose of training and qualifying a licensee to act as an approved supervisor for purposes of chapter 18.225 RCW and WAC 246-809-234.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-13-082, filed 6/16/17, effective 7/17/17)
WAC 246-809-220Education requirements.
(1) To meet the education requirement for licensure as a mental health counselor or mental health counselor associate, an applicant must have a master's or doctoral degree in mental health counseling or a master's or doctoral degree in a behavioral science field relating to mental health counseling from an approved school. Fields recognized as relating to mental health counseling include counseling, psychology, social work, nursing, education, pastoral counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or social sciences. Any field of study qualifying as related to mental health counseling must satisfy course work equivalency requirements included in WAC 246-809-221. An official transcript must be provided as evidence of fulfillment of the course work required.
(2) Any supplemental course work must be from an approved school.
(3) ((Applicants who hold))An applicant who holds a behavioral science master's or doctoral degree in a related field may complete supplemental course work through an approved educational program to satisfy any missing program equivalencies. Postgraduate experience hours acquired concurrently with the additional course work counts toward the supervised postgraduate experience under WAC 246-809-230.
(4) A person who is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) or a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) through the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) is considered to have met the education requirements of this chapter. Verification must be received by the department directly from NBCC.
(5) An applicant is considered to have met the counseling practicum component of the educational requirements if they:
(a) Have held an agency affiliated counselor credential for the past year in good standing; and
(b) Demonstrate at least 600 hours of clinical experience under the supervision of a mental health professional. Experience must include demonstrated competence in the application of the principles of human development, learning theory, psychotherapy, group dynamics, or dysfunctional behavior in the delivery of direct clinical care.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 17-13-082, filed 6/16/17, effective 7/17/17)
WAC 246-809-221Behavioral sciencesProgram equivalency.
(1) Behavioral science in a field relating to mental health counseling includes a core of study relating to counseling theory and counseling philosophy.
(2) Either a counseling practicum, or a counseling internship, or both, must be included in the core of study unless otherwise permitted in WAC 246-809-220(5). Exclusive use of an internship or practicum used for qualification must have incorporated supervised direct client contact.
(3) This core of study must include seven of the content areas listed in (a) through (q) of this subsection. Five of the content areas must be from (a) through (h) of this subsection:
(a) Assessment/diagnosis.
(b) Ethics/law.
(c) Counseling individuals.
(d) Counseling groups.
(e) Counseling couples and families.
(f) Developmental psychology (may be child, adolescent, adult or life span).
(g) Psychopathology/abnormal psychology.
(h) Research and evaluation.
(i) Career development counseling.
(j) Multicultural concerns.
(k) Substance/chemical abuse.
(l) Physiological psychology.
(m) Organizational psychology.
(n) Mental health consultation.
(o) Developmentally disabled persons.
(p) Abusive relationships.
(q) Chronically mentally ill.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-12-074, filed 6/1/20, effective 7/2/20)
WAC 246-809-230Supervised postgraduate experience.
(1) The experience requirements for the mental health counselor applicant's practice area include successful completion of a supervised experience requirement. ((Applicants who have))An applicant who has held an active mental health counselor license for the past ((five consecutive years or more))year in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory, without a disciplinary record or disqualifying criminal history, ((are))is deemed to have met the supervised experience requirements for Washington state licensure in subsection (3) of this section.
(2) In accordance with RCW 18.225.090 and 18.225.095, for an applicant((s)) who can demonstrate they have practiced as a substance use disorder professional for at least three years within ((ten))10 years from the date their application for mental health counselor license is submitted to the department, the department shall reduce the minimum total required supervised hours from ((three thousand))3,000 hours to ((two thousand seven hundred))2,700 hours. The requirements in subsection (3)(b)(i) and (ii) of this section shall apply regardless of the reduction of total required hours.
(3)(a) The experience requirement consists of a minimum of ((thirty-six))36 months full-time counseling or ((three thousand))3,000 hours of postgraduate mental health counseling under the supervision of a qualified licensed mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner in an approved setting.
(b) Of the ((three thousand))3,000 hours:
(i) One hundred hours spent in immediate supervision with the qualified licensed mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner; and
(ii) At least ((one thousand two hundred))1,200 hours must be direct counseling with individuals, couples, families, or groups.
(4) ((Applicants who have))An applicant who has completed a master's or doctoral program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) will be credited with ((fifty))50 hours of postgraduate supervision and ((five hundred))500 hours of postgraduate experience.
(5) ((Applicants))An applicant for licensed mental health counselor associate ((are))is not required to have supervised postgraduate experience prior to becoming an associate.
(6) A licensed mental health counselor associate applicant((s)) must declare they are working toward full licensure.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-23-150, filed 11/20/23, effective 1/1/24)
WAC 246-809-310Definitions.
The following definitions apply to the licensure of independent clinical and advanced social workers and independent clinical and advanced social work associates, in WAC 246-809-300 through 246-809-340.
(1) "Approved educational program" means a master's or doctoral educational program in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.
(2) "Approved supervisor" means a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW), licensed advanced social worker (LASW) (for LASWs only), or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.
(3) "Equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner" means a licensed mental health counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed psychologist, licensed physician practicing as a psychiatrist, or licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner.
(4) "Group supervision" means face-to-face or virtual supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than six licensure candidates.
(5) "Licensure candidate" means an individual that is accruing supervised clinical experience required for licensure.
(6) "Nationally recognized standards" means the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, revised October 2004 published by the Council on Social Work Education revised October 2004 or any future revisions.
(7) "One-on-one supervision" means face-to-face or virtual supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and one licensure candidate.
(8) "Peer" means a co-worker who is not the licensure candidate's employer or supervisor.
(9) "Supervision of supervision" means supervision by an approved supervisor for the purpose of training and qualifying a licensee to become an approved supervisor for purposes of chapter 18.225 RCW and WAC 246-809-334.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-23-150, filed 11/20/23, effective 1/1/24)
WAC 246-809-330Supervised postgraduate experience requirements.
(1) Licensed advanced social worker.
(a) ((Applicants who have))An applicant who has held an active advanced social worker license for the past ((five consecutive years))year or more in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory, without a disciplinary record or disqualifying criminal history, ((are))is deemed to have met the supervised experience requirements for Washington state licensure in subsection (1)(c) of this section.
(b) In accordance with RCW 18.225.090 and 18.225.095, for an applicant((s)) who can demonstrate they have practiced as a substance use disorder professional for at least three years within 10 years from the date their application for an advanced social worker license is submitted to the department, the department shall reduce the total required supervised hours from 3,200 hours to 2,880 hours. The requirements in subsection (3)(c)(i) through (iii) of this section shall apply regardless of the reduction of total required hours.
(c) The supervised experience requirement consists of a minimum of 3,000 hours with 90 hours of supervision by a licensed independent clinical social worker or a licensed advanced social worker who has been licensed or certified for at least two years. Of those hours:
(i) Eight hundred hours must be in direct client contact; and
(ii) Ninety hours must be in direct supervision
under the supervision of a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed advanced social worker, or an equally qualified licensed mental health professional. Of those hours of direct supervised experience at least:
(A) Forty hours must be in one-to-one supervision; and
(B) Fifty hours may be in one-to-one or group supervision.
(2) Licensed independent clinical social worker.
(a) ((Applicants who have))An applicant who has held an active independent clinical social worker license for the past ((five consecutive years))year or more in another state, the District of Columbia, or territory, without a disciplinary record or disqualifying criminal history, ((are))is deemed to have met the supervised experience requirements for Washington state licensure in (c) of this subsection.
(b) In accordance with RCW 18.225.090 and 18.225.095, for an applicant((s)) who can demonstrate they have practiced as a substance use disorder professional for at least three years within 10 years from the date their application for an independent clinical social worker license is submitted to the department, the department shall reduce the total required supervised hours from 3,000 hours to 2,600 hours. The requirements in subsection (2)(c)(i) and (ii) of this section shall apply regardless of the reduction of total required hours.
(c) The experience requirement consists of a minimum of 3,000 hours of experience, over a period of not less than two years. Of those 3,000 hours:
(i) One thousand hours must be direct client contact supervised by a licensed independent clinical social worker;
(ii) One hundred hours of direct supervision as follows:
(A) Seventy hours must be with an independent clinical social worker;
(B) The remaining hours may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner as defined in WAC 246-809-310(3); and
(C) Sixty hours of the 100 hours of direct supervision must be in one-to-one supervision. The remaining hours may be in one-to-one supervision or group supervision.
(3) Licensed social worker associate-advanced and licensed social worker associate-independent clinical applicants are not required to have supervised postgraduate experience prior to becoming an associate.
(4) Licensed social worker associate-advanced and licensed social worker associate-independent clinical applicants ((must))shall declare they are working toward full licensure.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-23-150, filed 11/20/23, effective 1/1/24)
WAC 246-809-630Continuing education requirements.
(1) An associate ((must))shall complete ((18))16 hours of continuing education as required in WAC 246-809-632.
(2) A licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical ((must))shall complete six hours of suicide assessment, treatment, and management CE as required in WAC 246-809-632.
(3) A licensed counselor ((must))shall complete ((36))32 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years.
(a) At least six of the ((36))32 hours must be in professional ethics and law, which may include topics under RCW 18.130.180.
(b) At least two of the 32 hours must be in professional roles and boundaries. These hours must be taken separate from the requirements in (a) of this subsection.
(c) All licensed counselors ((must))shall complete a minimum of two hours in health equity continuing education training every four years. The training content must be consistent with requirements established in WAC 246-12-830.
(((c)))(d) Beginning January 1, 2014, at least once every six years a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, and licensed social worker ((must))shall complete at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.
(i) The first training ((must))shall be completed during the ((first full CE reporting period after January 1, 2014, or the)) first full CE period after initial licensure((, whichever occurs later)).
(ii) Beginning July 1, 2017, a qualifying suicide prevention training must be selected from the department's model list, as required in WAC 246-809-615.
(iii) Beginning July 1, 2021, a subsequent qualifying training must be selected from the department's model list, as required in WAC 246-809-615.
(iv) The hours spent completing training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management count toward the total ((36))32 hours of CE.
(v) An individual applying for initial licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or licensed social worker on or after January 1, 2014, may delay completion of the first training required for six years after initial licensure if he or she can demonstrate completion of six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management that:
(A) Was completed no more than six years prior to the application for initial licensure; and
(B) Meets the qualifications listed in WAC 246-809-615.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-23-150, filed 11/20/23, effective 1/1/24)
WAC 246-809-632Licensed associate continuing education.
(1) All licensed associates ((must))shall complete a total of ((18))16 hours of continuing education (CE) every year in order to renew their license. The CEs must be completed in accordance with this chapter. An associate ((must))shall attest to completing the CE every year during the renewal.
(2) Professional ethics and law CE for all licensed associates. All licensed associates ((must))shall include six hours of CE in professional ethics and law every two years. The associates ((must))shall attest to completing the CE during the second renewal, fourth renewal, and sixth renewal. These six CE hours may be completed anytime within the two-year period before each of these renewals. The six hours may contribute to the total ((18))16 hours of CE for the year in which the CE was completed.
(3) All licensed associates shall complete a minimum of two hours in professional roles and boundaries. These hours must be taken separate from the requirements in subsection (2) of this section.
(4) All licensed associates ((must))shall complete a minimum of two hours in health equity continuing education training every four years. The training content must be consistent with requirements established in WAC 246-12-830.
(((4)))(5) Suicide assessment, treatment, and management CE only for licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical.
(a) A licensed social worker associate advanced and a licensed social worker associate independent clinical ((must))shall complete:
(i) Six hours of suicide assessment, treatment, and management CE after initial licensure and before the first renewal in accordance with WAC 246-809-615 and 246-809-630; and
(ii) Six hours of subsequent training per WAC 246-809-615 and 246-809-630 in the following six-year period.
(b) ((The))A licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical may delay completing the first training if ((he or she))they can demonstrate completion of the training no more than six years before gaining their initial license.
(c) The hours spent completing training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management count toward the total 18 hours of CE.
FEES
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 23-07-057, filed 3/9/23, effective 6/1/23)
WAC 246-809-990Licensed counselor, and associateFees and renewal cycle.
(1) Except for a probationary license as described in WAC 246-809-095, a license must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC.
(2) An associate license((s are))is valid for one year and must be renewed every year on the date of issuance. ((The associate license may be renewed no more than six times, except as provided in RCW 18.225.145.))
(3) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:
Title
Fee
Licensed marriage and family therapist
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application and initial license
$290.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
180.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
90.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
85.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Retired active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
70.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
35.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00
Licensed marriage and family therapy associate
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
65.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
50.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
50.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
40.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00
Licensed mental health counselor
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
95.00
 
 
Initial license
80.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
125.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
65.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
65.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Retired active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal retired active
70.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
35.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00
Licensed mental health counselor associate
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
35.00
 
Renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
25.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
25.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
40.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00
Licensed advanced social worker and licensed independent clinical social worker
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application and initial license
170.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
70.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
50.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
72.50
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Retired active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal retired active
65.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
30.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)
16.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00
Licensed advanced social worker associate and licensed independent clinical social worker associate
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application
35.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)*
16.00
 
Renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
25.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
25.00
 
 
UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)*
16.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
40.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00
*
Surcharge applies to independent clinical social worker associate only.
(4) For a probationary license as described under WAC 246-809-095, the following nonrefundable fees will be charged:
Title
Fee
Licensed marriage and family therapist
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application and initial license
$290.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
180.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
90.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
85.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00
Licensed mental health counselor
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application and initial license
175.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
90.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
50.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
65.00
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00
Licensed advanced social worker and licensed independent clinical social worker
 
 
Original application
 
 
 
Application and initial license
200.00
 
Active license renewal
 
 
 
Renewal
100.00
 
 
Late renewal penalty
50.00
 
 
Expired license reissuance
72.50
 
Duplicate license
10.00
 
Verification of license
25.00