WSR 13-18-082 PROPOSED RULES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (Board of Psychology) [Filed September 4, 2013, 9:23 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 12-17-137.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 246-924-230 amending the continuing education requirements for psychologists; amending WAC 246-924-240 the definitions of categories of credible CE; and creating new WAC 246-924-255 for suicide training standards.
Hearing Location(s): Department of Health, Creeekside Two at CenterPoint, Suite 307, 20425 72nd Avenue South, Kent, WA 98032, on November 15, 2013, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: November 15, 2013.
Submit Written Comments to: Betty J. Moe, Department of Health, 111 Israel Road S.E., P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, e-mail http://www3.doh.wa.gov/policyreview/, fax (360) 236-2901, by November 6, 2013.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Betty Moe by November 8, 2013, TTY (800) 833-6388 or 711.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed rules implement ESHB 2366 (chapter 181, Laws of 2012), and SHB 1376 (chapter 78, Laws of 2013), which was codified as RCW 43.70.422, by creating new continuing education (CE) requirement[s] for psychologists. The proposed rules establish CE requirements in suicide assessment, treatment and management, and provide clarification related to the topics that must be in an approved course.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: It is the legislative intent that these rules will help lower the suicide rate in Washington by requiring psychologists to complete training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management as part of their continuing education, continuing competency, or recertification requirements.
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 43.70.442.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Board of psychology, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Betty Moe, Program Manager, 101 Israel Road, Tumwater, WA 98501, (360) 236-4912.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. A small business economic impact statement was not prepared. The proposed rule would not impose more than minor costs on businesses in an industry.
A cost-benefit analysis is required under RCW 34.05.328. A preliminary cost-benefit analysis may be obtained by contacting Betty J. Moe, Program Manager, Department of Health, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone (360) 236-4912, fax (360) 236-2901, e-mail Betty.Moe@doh.wa.gov.
September 4, 2013
Thomas Wall, Ph.D., Chair
Examining Board of Psychology
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 99-14-075, filed 7/6/99, effective 8/6/99)
WAC 246-924-230 Continuing education requirements.
(1) ((The Washington state board of psychology (hereafter referred to as the board) requires)) To renew a license, a licensed psychologist must complete a minimum of sixty hours of continuing education (((hereafter referred to as)) (CE) every three years((.)): (((2))) (a) A minimum of four hours ((credit in ethics)) must be ((included in the sixty hours required)) in ethics. Areas to be covered, depending on the licensee's primary area(s) of function are practice, consultation, research, teaching, ((and/))or supervision. (b) Beginning January 1, 2014, once every six years, a minimum of six hours must be training covering suicide assessment, treatment, and management as specified in WAC 246-924-255. These hours count toward the total sixty hours of continuing education. (i) Except as provided in (b)(ii)(A) and (B) of this subsection, the training must be completed during the first full CE reporting period after January 1, 2014, or the first full continuing education period after initial licensure, whichever occurs later. (ii) A psychologist applying for initial licensure on or after January 1, 2014, may delay completion of the first training for six years after initial licensure, if he or she can demonstrate successful completion of six-hour training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management that: (A) Was completed no more than six years prior to the application for initial licensure; and (B) Meets the qualifications listed in WAC 246-924-255(1). (((3))) (2) Faculty providing CE offerings shall meet the training and the full qualifications of their respective professions. All faculty shall have demonstrated an expertise in the areas in which they are instructing. (((4))) (3) The Washington state examining board ((reserves the right to)) of psychology may require any licensee to submit ((evidence, e.g., course or program certificate of training, transcript, course or workshop brochure description, evidence of attendance, etc., in addition to the affidavit form in order)) documentation to demonstrate compliance with the sixty hours of CE ((requirement)).
AMENDATORY SECTION (Amending WSR 99-14-075, filed 7/6/99, effective 8/6/99)
WAC 246-924-240 Definitions of categories of creditable CE.
(1) All continuing education (CE) activities ((shall)) must be directly relevant to maintaining or increasing professional or scientific competence in psychology. (2) Courses or workshops primarily designed to increase practice income or office efficiency, ((while valuable to the licensee,)) are specifically noneligible for CE credit. (3) Program sponsors or institutes ((should)) will not ((apply for, nor expect to)) receive((,)) prior or current board approval for CE status or category. ((Recognized activities shall include)) (4) Courses, seminars, workshops, and postdoctoral institutes offered or sponsored by the following qualify for continuing education credit for a licensed psychologist: (((1) Courses, seminars, workshops and post-doctoral institutes offered by)) (a) Educational institutions chartered by a state and recognized (accredited) by a regional association of schools, colleges and universities as providing graduate level course offerings. ((Such educational activities shall)) Documentation must be recorded on an official transcript or certificate of completion((.)); (((2) Courses (including correspondence courses), seminars, workshops and post-doctoral institutes sponsored by)) (b) The American Psychological Association((,)); (c) Regional or state psychological associations or their subchapters((,)); (d) Psychology internship training centers((,)); (e) Other professionally or scientifically recognized behavioral science organizations((,)); and (f) The Washington state examining board of psychology. (((3))) (5) A licensed psychologist may earn credit toward the CE requirement ((may be earned)) through teaching an approved CE program. The CE credit earned ((through teaching shall)) may not exceed thirty hours every three years. Credit for teaching an approved CE program may be earned on the following basis: (a) One credit hour for each sixty minutes actually spent teaching the program for the first event. Credit may be conferred for teaching similar subject matter only if the psychologist has actually spent an equal or greater amount of preparation time updating the subject matter to be taught on a later occasion. (b) One credit hour for each sixty minutes actually spent participating in a panel presentation. (6) A licensed psychologist may earn CE credit by attending an approved training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-924-255 Suicide training standards.
(1) An approved training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management must: (a) Be approved by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, regional or state psychological associations or their subchapters, psychology internship training centers, or an equivalent organization, educational institution or association which approves training based on observation and experiment or best available practices. (b) Cover training in suicide assessment, including screening and referral, suicide treatment, and suicide management. (c) Be provided by a single provider and must be at least six hours in length, which may be provided in one or more sessions. (2) A licensed psychologist who is a state or local government employee is exempt from the requirements of this section if he or she receives a total of at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from his or her employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the training may be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among shorter training sessions at the employer's discretion. (3) A licensed psychologist who is an employee of a community mental health agency licensed under chapter 71.24 RCW or a chemical dependency program certified under chapter 70.96A RCW is exempt from the requirements of this section if he or she receives a total of at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from his or her employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the training may be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among shorter training sessions at the employer's discretion. (4) A licensed psychologist that obtained training under subsection (2) or (3) of this section may obtain CE credit for that training subject to documentation as defined in WAC 246-924-300.
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