(1) All licensed associates must complete a total of eighteen 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 attest to completing the CE every year during the renewal.

(2) Professional ethics and law CE for all licensed associates. All licensed associates must include six hours of CE in professional ethics and law every two years. The associates must attest to completing the CE during the second renewal, fourth renewal, and sixth renewal. These six CE hours maybe completed anytime within the two-year period before each of these renewals. The six hours may contribute to the total eighteen hours of CE for the year in which the CE was completed.

(3) Suicide assessment, treatment, and management CE only for licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical. Licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical must complete 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.

(a) The licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical may delay completing the first training if he or she can demonstrate completion of the training no more than six years before gaining their initial license.

(b) The hours spent completing training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management count toward the total eighteen hours of CE.

Table 1

Continuing Education Requirements by Licensure Renewal Dates

License Type	• Marriage and Family Therapist Associate		• Social Worker Associate Advanced
	• Mental Health Counselor Associate		• Social Worker Associate Independent Clinical
At Initial Licensure	Not applicable for initial licensure		Not applicable for initial licensure
Between Initial Licensure and First Renewal	18 Hours Total		18 Hours Total
				• 6 hours in suicide assessment, treatment, and management unless obtained 6 years prior to initial licensure
Between First and Second Renewal	18 Hours Total		18 Hours Total
		• 6 of which must be in professional ethics and law which may be obtained anytime within 2 years before the CE due date		• 6 of which must be in professional ethics and law which may be obtained anytime within 2 years before the CE due date
Between Second and Third Renewal	18 Hours Total		18 Hours Total
Between Third and Fourth Renewal	18 Hours Total		18 Hours Total
		• 6 of which must be in professional ethics and law which may be obtained anytime within 2 years before the CE due date		• 6 of which must be in professional ethics and law which may be obtained anytime within 2 years before the CE due date
Between Fourth and Fifth Renewal	18 Hours Total		18 Hours Total
Between Fifth and Sixth Renewal	18 Hours Total		18 Hours Total
		• 6 of which must be in professional ethics and law which may be obtained anytime within 2 years before the CE due date		• 6 of which must be in professional ethics and law which may be obtained anytime within 2 years before the CE due date

PDFWAC 246-809-632

Licensed associate continuing education.