(1) Each treatment program certified for assessments or any level of domestic violence intervention treatment must ensure that all staff having direct treatment contact with participants documents their continuing education hours.

(2) Each direct treatment staff must complete a minimum of twenty hours of continuing professional education each year after the program is certified, or each year after the staff person is added to the staff list.

(3) No more than five of those hours may be obtained by attending "in-house" training.

(4) Of the twenty annual hours of continuing education, each direct treatment staff must complete a minimum of nine hours in victim training which includes, but is not limited to, any combination of the following topics:

(a) Domestic violence victim advocacy;

(b) Safety planning with domestic violence survivors;

(c) Legal or financial options for domestic violence survivors;

(d) Information on no contact orders or protective orders;

(e) Housing options for domestic violence survivors; or

(f) Other trainings that directly relate to domestic violence survivors or victim advocacy.

(5) Of the twenty annual hours of continuing education, each direct treatment staff must complete a minimum of one hour related to suicide prevention.

(6) Of the twenty annual hours of continuing education, each direct treatment staff must complete a minimum of ten hours in domestic violence intervention, perpetrator, or batterer's treatment. Any combination of the following topics may also be included with the remaining hours if they are submitted with an explanation of how the training relates to domestic violence intervention treatment:

(a) Mental health;

(b) Substance use, gambling or other addictions;

(c) Sexism;

(d) Racism;

(e) LGBTQ culture or homophobia;

(f) Trauma informed treatment;

(g) Complex trauma;

(h) Deescalation in a treatment setting;

(i) Group facilitation;

(j) Domestic violence offender behaviors;

(k) Experiential treatment;

(l) Behavioral assessments;

(m) Cognitive behavioral treatment;

(n) Motivational interviewing;

(o) Forensic counseling;

(p) Dialectical behavioral treatment;

(q) Child abuse;

(r) Sexual assault; or

(s) Other trainings that directly relate to providing domestic violence intervention treatment.

(7) The recommended format for all trainings is live and in-person, however direct treatment staff may obtain continuing professional education online when approved in writing by the program's supervisor. 

(8) Supervisors who provide level four treatment must also complete and submit four hours of department approved continuing education every two years following the initial six-hour training in level four treatment.

(a) The four hours of training for level four treatment may be included in the forty hours of continuing education training hours.

(b) The continuing education hours for level four treatment must include training on criminogenic factors, risk issues, psychopathy, and related topics.

(9) The direct treatment staff must document all continuing education training hours on department approved forms.

(a) The form must be accompanied by completion certificates, course or workshop outlines, and the supervisor's signature; and

(b) The program must submit the form and accompanying documentation to the department at the time the program applies for recertification (see WAC 388-60A-0110).