AN ACT
Relating to the certification of mental health counselors; and amending RCW
18.19.120.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec.
1. RCW
18.19.120 and 1991 c 3 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)
The department shall issue a certified mental health counselor certificate to
any applicant meeting the following requirements:
(a) A
master's or doctoral degree in mental health counseling ((or a related field
from an approved school, or completion of at least thirty graduate semester
hours or forty-five graduate quarter hours in the field of mental health
counseling or the substantial equivalent in both subject content and extent of
training;
(b)
Postgraduate supervised mental health counseling practice that meets standards
established by the secretary;
(c)
Qualification by an examination, submission of all necessary documents, and
payment of required fees; and
(d)
Twenty-four months of postgraduate professional experience working in a mental
health counseling setting that meets the requirements established by the
secretary.
(2)
No applicant may come before the secretary for examination without the initial
educational and supervisory credentials as required by this chapter, except
that applicants completing a master's or doctoral degree program in mental
health counseling or a related field from an approved graduate school before or
within eighteen months of July 26, 1987, may qualify for the examination.
(3)
For one year beginning on July 26, 1987, a person may apply for certification
without examination. However, if the applicant's credentials are not adequate
to establish competence to the secretary's satisfaction, the secretary may
require an examination of the applicant during the initial certification
period. For the initial certification period, an applicant shall:
(a)
Submit a completed application as required by the secretary, who may require
that the statements on the application be made under oath, accompanied by the
application fee set by the secretary in accordance with RCW 43.70.250;
(b)
Have a master's or doctoral degree in counseling or a related field from an
approved school; and
(c)
Have submitted a completed application as required by the secretary accompanied
by the application fee set by the secretary and a request for waiver from the
requirements of (b) of this subsection, with documentation to show that the
applicant has alternative training and experience equivalent to formal education
and supervised experience required for certification.)) or a
behavioral science master's or doctoral degree in a related field with the
program equivalency as determined by rule by the department based on nationally
recognized standards; and
(b)
Two years of postgraduate practice of counseling under the supervision of a
qualified mental health counselor-supervisor or other mental health
professional deemed appropriate by the secretary that may be accumulated
concurrently with completion of the required program equivalency; and
(c)
Qualification by an examination, submission of all necessary documents, and
payment of required fees.
(((4)))
(2) Certified mental health counseling practice is that aspect of
counseling that involves the ((rendering to individuals, groups,
organizations, corporations, institutions, government agencies, or the general
public a mental health counseling service emphasizing a wellness model rather
than an illness model in the application of therapeutic principles, methods, or
procedures of mental health counseling to assist the client in achieving
effective personal, organizational, institutional, social, educational, and
vocational development and adjustment and to assist the client in achieving
independence and autonomy in the helping relationship)) provision of
professional mental health counseling services to individuals, couples, and
families, singly or in groups, whether the services are offered directly to the
general public or through organizations, either public or private, for a fee,
monetary or otherwise. "Certified mental health counseling" means
the application of principles of human development, learning theory, group
dynamics, and etiology of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior to
individuals, couples, families, groups, and organizations, for the purpose of
treating mental disorders and promoting optimal mental health and
functionality. Certified mental health counseling also includes, but is not
limited to, the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional
disorders, educational techniques developed to prevent such disorders, as well
as the application of a wellness model of mental health.
(3)
Nothing in this definition shall be construed as permitting the administration
or prescribing of drugs or in any way infringing upon the practice of medicine
and surgery as defined in chapter 18.71 RCW.
(4)
The secretary may establish rules governing mandatory continuing education
requirements for a certified mental health counselor applying for renewal.
