Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

     Purpose: Legislation created chapter 18.225 RCW in 2001, which repealed certification and replaced it with licensure for marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors and social workers. RCW 18.225.090 was amended in 2006, adding the phrase, "or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner" to the definition of who may provide supervision to mental health applicants. This rule reflects the current requirements.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending 3 [WAC 246-809-130, 246-809-230, and 246-809-320].

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.225.040 and [18.225.]090.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 06-10-083 on May 3, 2006.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: WAC 246-809-310(7): "One-on-one" supervision, which is currently defined as "face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than two licensure candidates["] be amended to read that, "One-on-one supervision means face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and one licensure candidate."

     WAC 246-809-110(9), 246-809-210(9), and 246-809-210(9): The term "peer" has been defined as a coworker who is not the licensure candidate's employer or supervisor.

     WAC 246-809-334 (4)(b): (b) Twenty-five hours of supervision of clinical practice; and (c) has two years of clinical postlicesnsure [postlicensure] or five years of clinical experience postcertification or licensure (for LICSW's). The department of health determined that the language of the rule should be "and" instead of "or."

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Betty Ingram, 310 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98502, phone (360) 236-4912, fax (360) 236-4909, e-mail Betty.Ingram@doh.wa.gov.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 6, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 6, Amended 3, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: August 29, 2006.

M. C. Selecky

Secretary

OTS-8748.5

NEW SECTION
WAC 246-809-110   Definitions.   The following terms apply to the licensure of marriage and family therapists.

     (1) "Approved educational program" means:

     (a) Any college or university accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation or its successor; or

     (b) A program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), at the time the applicant completed the required education.

     (2) "Approved supervisor" means a licensed marriage and family therapist, or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.

     (3) "Equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner" means a licensed mental health counselor, licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychologist, licensed physician practicing as a psychiatrist, or licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner, who has completed:

     (a) Three hundred clock hours in graduate or postgraduate marriage and family education, or continuing education in marriage and family therapy or supervision by an approved marriage and family therapist supervisor in marriage and family therapy or any combination of these; and

     (b) Five years of clinical practice that includes the equivalent of one year of clinical practice working with couples and families.

     (4) "Group supervision" means face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than six licensure candidates.

     (5) "Licensure candidate" means an individual that is accruing supervised clinical experience required for licensure.

     (6) "One-on-one supervision" means face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than two licensure candidates.

     (7) "Supervised experience requirement" means experience that is obtained under an approved supervisor who meets the requirements described in WAC 246-809-134.

     (8) "Supervision of supervision" means supervision by an approved supervisor for the purpose of training and qualifying a license holder to act as an approved supervisor for purposes of chapter 18.225 RCW and WAC 246-809-134.

     (9) "Peer" means a co-worker who is not the licensure candidate's employer or supervisor.

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     (1))) include successful completion of a supervised experience requirement. The experience requirement consists of a minimum of two calendar years of full-time marriage and family therapy. Of the total supervision, one hundred hours must be with a licensed marriage and family therapist with at least five years' clinical experience; the other one hundred hours may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. Total experience requirements include:

     (((a))) (1) A minimum of three thousand hours of experience, one thousand hours of which must be direct client contact; at least five hundred hours must be gained in diagnosing and treating couples and families; plus

     (((b))) (2) At least two hundred hours of qualified supervision with ((a)) an approved supervisor. At least one hundred of the two hundred hours must be one-on-one supervision, and the remaining hours may be in one-on-one or group supervision.

     (((2))) (3) Applicants who have completed a master's program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy may be credited with five hundred hours of direct client contact and one hundred hours of formal meetings with an approved supervisor.

[Statutory Authority: 2001 c 251, RCW 43.70.250. 01-17-113, § 246-809-130, filed 8/22/01, effective 9/22/01.]

     (2) The approved supervisor shall not be a blood or legal relative or cohabitant of the licensure candidate, licensure candidate's peer, or someone who has acted as the licensure candidate's therapist within the past two years.

     (3) The approved supervisor, prior to the commencement of any supervision, shall provide the licensure candidate a declaration, on a form provided by the department, that the supervisor has met the requirements of WAC 246-809-134 and qualifies as an approved supervisor.

     (4) The approved supervisor shall have completed the following:

     (a) A minimum of fifteen clock hours of training in clinical supervision obtained through:

     (i) A supervision course; or

     (ii) Continuing education credits on supervision; or

     (iii) Supervision of supervision; or

     (iv) Any combination of these; and

     (b) Twenty-five hours of experience in supervision of clinical practice; or

     (c) An American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) approved supervisor is considered to have met the qualifications above.

     (5) The approved supervisor shall attest to having thorough knowledge of the supervisee's practice activities including:

     (a) Practice setting;

     (b) Recordkeeping;

     (c) Financial management;

     (d) Ethics of clinical practice; and

     (e) A backup plan for coverage.

     (6) Applicants whose supervised postgraduate experience began prior to the effective date of these rules are exempt from the requirements of subsection (4) of this section.

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     (1) "Approved educational program" means any college or university accredited by an accreditation body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or its successor, at the time the applicant completed the required education.

     (2) "Approved setting" includes facilities, agencies or private practice where an applicant works with individuals, families, couples or groups under the supervision of an approved supervisor.

     (3) "Approved supervisor" means a qualified licensed mental health counselor or equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner who has been licensed without restrictions for at least two years.

     (4) "Equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner" means a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychologist, licensed physician practicing as a psychiatrist, or licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner.

     (5) "Group supervision" means face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than six licensure candidates.

     (6) "Immediate supervision" means a meeting with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than two licensure candidates.

     (7) "Licensure candidate" means an individual that is accruing supervised clinical experience required for licensure.

     (8) "Supervision of supervision" means supervision by an approved supervisor for the purpose of training and qualifying a licensee to act as an approved supervisor for purposes of chapter 18.225 RCW and WAC 246-809-234.

     (9) "Peer" means a co-worker who is not the licensure candidate's employer or supervisor.

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[Statutory Authority: 2001 c 251, RCW 43.70.250. 01-17-113, § 246-809-230, filed 8/22/01, effective 9/22/01.]

     (2) The approved supervisor shall not be a blood or legal relative or cohabitant of the licensure candidate, licensure candidate's peer, or someone who has acted as the licensure candidate's therapist within the past two years.

     (3) The approved supervisor, prior to the commencement of any supervision, shall provide the licensure candidate a declaration, on a form provided by the department, that the supervisor has met the requirements of WAC 246-809-234 and qualifies as an approved supervisor.

     (4) The approved supervisor shall have completed the following:

     (a) A minimum of fifteen clock hours of training in clinical supervision obtained through:

     (i) A supervision course; or

     (ii) Continuing education credits on supervision; or

     (iii) Supervision of supervision; and

     (b) Twenty-five hours of experience in supervision of clinical practice.

     (5) The approved supervisor shall have full knowledge of the licensure candidate's practice activities including:

     (a) Recordkeeping;

     (b) Financial management;

     (c) Ethics of clinical practice; and

     (d) The licensure candidate's backup plan for coverage in times when the licensure candidate is not available to their clients.

     (6) Applicants whose supervised postgraduate experience began prior to the effective date of these rules are exempt from the requirements of subsection (4) of this section.

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     (1) "Approved educational program" means a master's or doctoral educational program in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

     (2) "Approved supervisor" means a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW), licensed advanced social worker (LASW)(for LASWs only), or an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner.

     (3) "Equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner" means a licensed mental health counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed psychologist, licensed physician practicing as a psychiatrist, or licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner.

     (4) "Group supervision" means face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and no more than six licensure candidates.

     (5) "Licensure candidate" means an individual that is accruing supervised clinical experience required for licensure.

     (6) "Nationally recognized standards" means the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards, revised October 2004 published by the Council on Social Work Education revised October 2004 or any future revisions.

     (7) "One-on-one supervision" means face-to-face supervision with an approved supervisor, involving one supervisor and one licensure candidate.

     (8) "Supervision of supervision" means supervision by an approved supervisor for the purpose of training and qualifying a licensee to become an approved supervisor for purposes of chapter 18.225 RCW and WAC 246-809-334.

     (9) "Peer" means a co-worker who is not the licensure candidate's employer or supervisor.

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     (b) Successful completion of a supervised experience requirement. The experience requirement consists of a minimum of four thousand hours of experience, of which one thousand hours must be direct client contact, over a three-year period supervised by a licensed independent clinical social worker, with supervision of at least one hundred thirty hours by a licensed mental health practitioner. Of the total supervision, seventy hours must be with an independent clinical social worker; the other sixty hours may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. Sixty hours must be in one-to-one supervision and seventy hours may be in one-to-one supervision or group supervision. Distance supervision is limited to sixty supervision hours.)) (1) The following are the education requirements for the social worker applicant's practice area:

     (a) Licensed advanced social worker. Graduation from a master's or doctoral social work educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and approved by the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards.

     (b) Licensed independent clinical social worker. Graduation from a master's or doctorate level social work educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education and approved by the secretary based upon nationally recognized standards.

     (2) The following are the supervised postgraduate experience requirements for the social worker applicant's practice area:

     (a) Licensed advanced social worker. Successful completion of a supervised experience requirement. The experience requirement consists of a minimum of three thousand two hundred hours with ninety hours of supervision by a licensed independent clinical social worker or a licensed advanced social worker who has been licensed or certified for at least two years. Of those hours, fifty hours must include direct supervision by a licensed advanced social worker or licensed independent clinical social worker; the other forty hours may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. Forty hours must be in one-to-one supervision and fifty hours may be in one-to-one supervision or group supervision. Distance supervision is limited to forty supervision hours. Eight hundred hours must be in direct client contact.

     (b) Licensed independent clinical social worker. Successful completion of a supervised experience requirement. The experience requirement consists of a minimum of four thousand hours of experience, of which one thousand hours must be direct client contact, over a three-year period supervised by a licensed independent clinical social worker, with supervision of at least one hundred thirty hours by a licensed mental health practitioner. Of the total supervision, seventy hours must be with an independent clinical social worker; the other sixty hours may be with an equally qualified licensed mental health practitioner. Sixty hours must be in one-to-one supervision and seventy hours may be in one-to-one supervision or group supervision. Distance supervision is limited to sixty supervision hours.

[Statutory Authority: 2001 c 251, RCW 43.70.250. 01-17-113, § 246-809-320, filed 8/22/01, effective 9/22/01.]

     (2) The approved supervisor shall not be a blood or legal relative or cohabitant of the licensure candidate, licensure candidate's peer, or someone who has acted as the licensure candidate's therapist within the past two years.

     (3) The approved supervisor, prior to the commencement of any supervision, shall provide the licensure candidate a declaration, on a form provided by the department, that the supervisor has met the requirements of WAC 246-809-334 and qualifies as an approved supervisor.

     (4) The approved supervisor shall have completed the following:

     (a) A minimum of fifteen clock hours of training in clinical supervision obtained through:

     (i) A supervision course; or

     (ii) Continuing education credits on supervision; or

     (iii) Supervision of supervision; and

     (b) Twenty-five hours of experience in supervision of clinical practice; and

     (c) Has had two years of clinical experience postlicensure (LASWs only) or five years of clinical experience postcertification or licensure (for LICSWs only).

     (5) The approved supervisor shall attest to having thorough knowledge of the licensure candidate's practice activities including:

     (a) Specific practice setting;

     (b) Recordkeeping;

     (c) Financial management;

     (d) Ethics of clinical practice; and

     (e) The licensure candidate's backup plan for coverage in times when he/she is not available to their clients.

     (6) Licensure candidates whose supervised postgraduate experience began prior to the effective date of these rules are exempt from the requirements of subsection (4) of this section.

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