(1) All medicolegal forensic death investigation certificates have a three-year duration from the date issued, after which individuals who continue to meet the requirements of WAC
139-27-100 or
139-27-030 must seek recertification. Recertification will begin six months prior to the certification expiration date, and materials must be received by or before the expiration date. The recertification process is provided in WAC
139-27-060. To be eligible for recertification, individuals must meet these requirements:
(a) A medical examiner must:
(i) Maintain employment by a coroner's or medical examiner's office in Washington state.
(ii) Maintain their status as a board-certified forensic pathologist certified by the American Board of Pathology or has completed continuing education following WAC
139-27-040.
(iii) Maintain their license by the Washington state medical commission.
(iv) Be in good standing with their agency of employment.
(b) A coroner or medicolegal investigative personnel must:
(i) Maintain employment by a coroner's or medical examiner's office in Washington state.
(ii) Complete 30 hours of continuing education following WAC
139-27-040 over the three-year certification period.
(iii) Be in good standing with their agency of employment.
(2) If certification lapses, the coroner, medical examiner, or medicolegal investigative personnel will be required to complete the initial certification process again. If certification lapses by one year or more, the individual will be required to attend the core medicolegal forensic investigation training regardless of previous attendance.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
43.101.080 and
43.101.480. WSR 23-19-039, § 139-27-050, filed 9/13/23, effective 10/14/23.]