(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.
(a) Licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical must 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
(b) 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.
(c) 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 |
[Statutory Authority: RCW
18.225.040, 2020 c 229 and 2020 c 76. WSR 21-09-037, § 246-809-632, filed 4/13/21, effective 5/14/21. Statutory Authority: RCW
18.225.040. WSR 17-13-082, § 246-809-632, filed 6/16/17, effective 7/17/17.]