WSR 25-20-011
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed September 19, 2025, 7:17 a.m., effective October 20, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Dietitian and nutritionist certification standards; removing barriers and updating rules to align with recent legislation. The department of health (department) is adopting two new sections to chapter 246-822 WAC to align with 2SHB 1724 (chapter 425, Laws of 2023), codified as RCW 18.130.077. RCW 18.130.077 directs disciplining authorities to waive certain requirements for applicants seeking certification if the applicant has been credentialed in another state or states with substantially equivalent standards for at least two years preceding their application without interruption for longer than 90 days. RCW 18.130.077 also allows disciplining authorities to waive requirements for those applicants who have obtained a national certification for their profession. In response to the statute, the department is adding WAC 246-822-125 and 246-822-133 to create faster pathways to certification for dietitians and nutritionists in an effort to remove barriers to entering the health care workforce.
New WAC 246-822-125 removes the requirement of submitting transcripts or other documents to the department for certification as a nutritionist if the applicant meets the requirements in RCW 18.130.077 (1) and (3), or is nationally certified with the Board of Certification of Nutrition Specialists and meets all other requirements of RCW 18.130.077(3).
New WAC 246-822-133 removes the requirement of submitting multiple documents to the department for certification as a dietitian if the applicant meets the requirements in RCW 18.130.077 (1) and (3), or is certified with the Commission on Dietetic Registration as a registered dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist and meets all the other requirements of RCW 18.130.077(3).
The new sections will streamline and shorten the credentialing process for certified dietitian and certified nutritionist applicants and implement RCW 18.130.077.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 246-822-125 and 246-822-133.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.138.070 and 18.130.077.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-15-032 on July 8, 2025.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the 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 2, 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 2, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: September 15, 2025.
Kristin Peterson, JD
Chief of Policy
for Dennis E. Worsham
Secretary of Health
RDS-6415.3
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-822-125Nutritionist certification by endorsement.
An applicant may obtain certification as a nutritionist by endorsement if the applicant meets the requirements in either subsection (1) or (2) of this section.
(1) The applicant is currently credentialed in another United States jurisdiction with substantially equivalent standards and has been credentialed for at least two years immediately preceding their application with no interruption in credentialing lasting longer than 90 days and meets all other requirements of RCW 18.130.077(3). The applicant shall submit to the department:
(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;
(b) Proof that the applicant was credentialed as a dietitian or nutritionist in another state with qualifications and competencies equivalent to those in WAC 246-822-120(2);
(c) Proof of compliance with RCW 18.130.077(3); and
(d) The applicable fee required under WAC 246-822-990.
(2) The applicant holds the national certification with the board for certification of nutrition specialists and meets the requirements of RCW 18.130.077(3). The applicant shall submit to the department:
(a) An application on forms provided by the department;
(b) Proof of national certification;
(c) Proof of compliance with RCW 18.130.077(3); and
(d) The applicable fee required under WAC 246-822-990.
(3) If an applicant does not meet the requirements described in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the applicant may apply for initial certification as established under WAC 246-822-120.
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-822-133Dietitian certification by endorsement.
An applicant may obtain certification as a dietitian by endorsement if the applicant meets the requirements in either subsection (1) or (2) of this section.
(1) The applicant is currently credentialed in another United States jurisdiction with substantially equivalent standards and has been credentialed for the last two years immediately preceding their application with no interruption in credentialing lasting longer than 90 days and meets all other requirements of RCW 18.130.077(3). The applicant shall submit to the department:
(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;
(b) Proof that the applicant was credentialed as a dietitian in another state with qualifications and competencies equivalent to those in WAC 246-822-132(2);
(c) Proof of compliance with RCW 18.130.077(3); and
(d) The applicable fees required under WAC 246-822-990.
(2) The applicant holds the national certification with the commission on dietetic registration as a registered dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist and meets all other requirements of RCW 18.130.077(3). The applicant shall submit to the department:
(a) An application on forms provided by the department;
(b) Proof of national certification;
(c) Proof of compliance with RCW 18.130.077(3); and
(d) The applicable fee required under WAC 246-822-990.
(3) If an applicant does not meet the requirements described in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the applicant may apply for initial certification as established under WAC 246-822-132.