AN ACT Relating to rehabilitation counselors; amending RCW 18.19.030, 18.19.020, 43.131.357, and 43.131.358; and adding a new section to chapter 18.19 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 2, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.030 are each amended to read as follows:

No person may, for a fee or as a part of his or her position as an employee of a state agency, practice counseling without being registered to practice by the department of licensing under this chapter unless exempt under RCW 18.19.040. No person may represent himself or herself as a certified social worker, certified mental health counselor, certified rehabilitation counselor, or certified marriage and family therapist without being so certified by the department of licensing under this chapter.

Sec. 2. Section 3, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.020 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Certified marriage and family therapist" means a person certified to practice marriage and family therapy pursuant to RCW 18.19.130.

(2) "Certified mental health counselor" means a person certified to practice mental health counseling pursuant to RCW 18.19.120.

(3) "Certified rehabilitation counselor" means a person certified to practice rehabilitation counseling under section 3 of this act.

(4) "Certified social worker" means a person certified to practice social work pursuant to RCW 18.19.110.

((~~(4)~~)) (5) "Client" means an individual who receives or participates in counseling or group counseling.

((~~(5)~~)) (6) "Counseling" means employing any therapeutic techniques, including but not limited to social work, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, and hypnotherapy, for a fee that offer, assist or attempt to assist an individual or individuals in the amelioration or adjustment of mental, emotional, or behavioral problems, and includes therapeutic techniques to achieve sensitivity and awareness of self and others and the development of human potential. For the purposes of this chapter, nothing may be construed to imply that the practice of hypnotherapy is necessarily limited to counseling.

((~~(6)~~)) (7) "Counselor" means an individual, practitioner, therapist, or analyst who engages in the practice of counseling to the public for a fee, including for the purposes of this chapter, hypnotherapists.

((~~(7)~~)) (8) "Department" means the department of licensing.

((~~(8)~~)) (9) "Director" means the director of the department or the director's designee.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 18.19 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department shall issue a certified rehabilitation counselor certificate to any applicant meeting the following requirements:

(a)(i) A master's or doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling granted by a rehabilitation counselor education program that was fully accredited by the national council on rehabilitation education at the time the applicant's degree was granted; or

(ii) (A) A master's or doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling granted by a rehabilitation counselor education program that was not fully accredited by the national counsel on rehabilitation education at the time the applicant's degree was granted; and

(B) One year of acceptable rehabilitation counseling experience under the supervision of a certified rehabilitation counselor certified by the commission on rehabilitation counselor certification; or

(iii)(A) A master's or doctoral degree related to a master's or doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling; and

(B) Three years of acceptable rehabilitation counseling experience, one of which must have been under the supervision of a certified rehabilitation counselor; or

(b) Successful completion of the examination required in RCW 18.19.150, unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption under subsection (2) of this section or RCW 18.19.160.

(2) Except as provided in RCW 18.19.160, an applicant is exempt from the examination provisions of RCW 18.19.150 if:

(a) The application for exemption is made within twelve months after the effective date of this section; and

(b) The applicant establishes to the satisfaction of the director that he or she is currently certified by the commission on rehabilitation counselor certification.

(3) The practice of rehabilitation counseling in that aspect of counseling that involves the assessment and treatment of persons of disability to assist them in achieving optimal personal, educational, social, and vocational development and adjustment.

Sec. 4. Section 25, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 43.131.357 are each amended to read as follows:

The regulation of counselors, social workers, mental health counselors, rehabilitation counselors, and marriage and family counselors under chapter 18.19 RCW shall be terminated on June 30, 1993, as provided in RCW 43.131.358.

Sec. 5. Section 26, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 43.131.358 are each amended to read as follows:

The following acts or parts of acts, as now existing or hereafter amended, are each repealed, effective June 30, 1994:

(1) Section 1, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.010;

(2) Section 2, chapter 512, Laws of 1987, section 1, chapter --, Laws of 1989 (section 1 of this act) and RCW 18.19.030;

(3) Section 3, chapter 512, Laws of 1987, section 2, chapter --, Laws of 1989 (section 2 of this act) and RCW 18.19.020;

(4) Section 4, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.040;

(5) Section 5, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.050;

(6) Section 6, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.060;

(7) Section 7, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.070;

(8) Section 8, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.080;

(9) Section 9, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.090;

(10) Section 10, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.100;

(11) Section 11, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.180;

(12) Section 12, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.110;

(13) Section 13, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.120;

(14) Section 14, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.130;

(15) Section 15, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.170;

(16) Section 16, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.150;

(17) Section 17, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.140;

(18) Section 18, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.190;

(19) Section 19, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.160; ((~~and~~))

(20) Section 20, chapter 512, Laws of 1987 and RCW 18.19.900; and

(21) Section 3, chapter --, Laws of 1989 and RCW 18.19.--- (section 3 of this act).