WSR 26-15-014
PROPOSED RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
[Filed July 6, 2026, 9:43 a.m.]
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 26-08-008.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Veterinarian, veterinary technician, veterinary medication clerk, and humane society licensing fees.
The department of health (department), in consultation with the veterinary board of governors (board), is proposing amendments to WAC 246-933-590, 246-933-990, 246-935-990, and 246-937-990. The proposed amendments include removing the jurisprudence (JP) exam fee for veterinarians and veterinary technicians, adding the Washington physicians health program (WPHP) impaired practitioner surcharge to initial licensure for veterinarians, updating licensing fees to cover program's operating costs, and correcting language and formatting for uniformity.
Hearing Location(s): On August 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Register in advance for this webinar at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RZRft7WTSJCVu1bnYgmFBw. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The department will be offering a virtual webinar hearing only. Individuals may attend virtually or submit comments in writing.
Date of Intended Adoption: August 28, 2026.
Submit Written Comments to: Poppy Budrow, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, email HSQAFeeRules@doh.wa.gov, web https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview/, beginning the date and time of this filing, by August 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Poppy Budrow, phone 564-669-0026, TTY 711, email poppy.budrow@doh.wa.gov or veterinary@doh.wa.gov, by August 11, 2026.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed amendments are necessary for the following reasons:
Elimination of JP exam fee: In June 2025, in response to 2SHB 1724 (chapter 425, Laws of 2023), the board adopted amendments to WAC 246-933-250 and 246-935-070 removing the JP exam as a requirement for initial licensure for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. To align with the board's recent rule changes, the department is proposing to remove the JP exam fee in WAC 246-933-990 and 246-935-990.
Impaired practitioner surcharge: As required by RCW
18.92.047, the board contracts with WPHP to implement and operate an impaired practitioner program. Contracts with WPHP are financed by a surcharge applied to the veterinarian's license. Currently, WAC 246-933-990 only provides for collection of the WPHP surcharge on license renewal. To adequately fund the board's contract with WPHP, the department is proposing to add the surcharge to initial licensure as allowed by RCW
18.92.047.
Licensing fees: RCW
43.70.250 requires that licensing fees cover regulatory program expenses which necessitates the program to be self-funding. An update to licensing fees is needed to adequately fund the program's operating expenses.
In addition to the fee changes, language and formatting have also been corrected for uniformity among the rules.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: RCW
43.70.250 authorizes the department to establish fees associated with the licensing and regulation of professions. The purpose of amendments are to align the fees with the board's recent rule changes related to the veterinary and veterinary technician JP exam requirements; update the licensing fees to adequately fund the program's operating expenses; as part of veterinarian initial licensure, establish the impaired practitioner fee to adequately fund the board's contract with WPHP; and correct language and formatting for uniformity.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of health, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation, and Enforcement: Poppy Budrow, 111 Israel Road S.E., Tumwater, WA 98501, 564-669-0026.
A school district fiscal impact statement is not required under RCW
28A.305.135.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW
34.05.328. This rule is exempt from analysis according to RCW
34.05.328 (5)(b)(iv) and (vi) because it clarifies language without changing its effect and sets or adjusts fees pursuant to legislative standards.
This rule proposal, or portions of the proposal, is exempt from requirements of the Regulatory Fairness Act because the proposal:
Is exempt under RCW
19.85.025(3) as the rules only correct typographical errors, make address or name changes, or clarify language of a rule without changing its effect; and rules set or adjust fees under the authority of RCW
19.02.075 or that set or adjust fees or rates pursuant to legislative standards, including fees set or adjusted under the authority of RCW
19.80.045.
Explanation of exemptions: The proposed amendments correct language and formatting for uniformity among the fee rules under RCW
34.05.310 (4)(d), and set and adjust fees for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary medication clerks under RCW
34.05.310 (4)(f).
Scope of exemption for rule proposal:
Is fully exempt.
July 6, 2026
Todd Mountin, PMP
Deputy Chief of Policy
for Dennis E. Worsham
Secretary of Health
RDS-7219.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-20-092, filed 10/4/11, effective 12/1/11)
WAC 246-933-590Humane society and animal care and control agency (entity) fees and renewal cycle.
(1) Registrations must be renewed every year on August 1 as provided in ((chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 3))WAC 246-12-060 through 246-12-080.
(2) The following nonrefundable fees ((are))will be charged:
Title of Fee | Fee |
Entity registration | $120.00 |
Entity renewal | 100.00 |
Late renewal penalty | 80.00 |
Expired registration reissuance | 80.00 |
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 25-07-080, filed 3/17/25, effective 4/17/25)
WAC 246-933-990Veterinarian fees and renewal cycle.
(1) Licenses must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in ((chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2))WAC 246-12-020 through 246-12-051.
(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:
Title of Fee | Fee |
Initial state license | |
| ((State jurisprudence examination (initial or retake) | $210.00)) |
| Application | ((145.00))$230.00 |
| Impaired veterinarian assessment | 35.00 |
| UW online access surcharge (HEAL-WA) | 16.00 |
Initial specialty license | |
| Application | ((140.00))230.00 |
| Impaired veterinarian assessment | 35.00 |
| UW online access surcharge (HEAL-WA) | 16.00 |
Temporary permit | ((215.00))230.00 |
State or specialty license renewal | |
| Renewal | ((160.00))255.00 |
| Impaired veterinarian assessment | 35.00 |
| UW online access surcharge (HEAL-WA) | 16.00 |
| Late renewal penalty | ((80.00))125.00 |
| Expired license reissuance | ((90.00))125.00 |
Retired active license and renewal | |
| Renewal | ((70.00))110.00 |
| Impaired veterinarian assessment | 35.00 |
| UW online access surcharge (HEAL-WA) | 16.00 |
| Late renewal penalty | ((50.00))55.00 |
Duplicate license | 10.00 |
Verification of license | 25.00 |
RDS-7220.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 20-08-066, filed 3/26/20, effective 7/1/20)
WAC 246-935-990Veterinary technician fees and renewal cycle.
(1) Licenses must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in ((chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2))WAC 246-12-020 through 246-12-051.
(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:
Title of Fee | Fee |
Initial state license | |
| ((State jurisprudence examination (initial or retake) | $160.00)) |
| Application | ((110.00))$100.00 |
| UW online access surcharge (HEAL-WA) | 16.00 |
License renewal | |
| Renewal | ((75.00))85.00 |
| UW online access surcharge (HEAL-WA) | 16.00 |
| Late renewal penalty | ((80.00))50.00 |
| Expired license reissuance | ((80.00))50.00 |
Duplicate license | 10.00 |
Verification of license | 25.00 |
RDS-7221.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 11-20-092, filed 10/4/11, effective 12/1/11)
WAC 246-937-990Veterinary medication clerk fees and renewal cycle.
(1) Registrations must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in ((chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2))WAC 246-12-020 through 246-12-051.
(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:
Title of Fee | Fee |
Initial registration | (($65.00))$55.00 |
Renewal | 55.00 |
Late renewal penalty | 55.00 |
Expired registration reissuance | 60.00 |
Duplicate registration | 30.00 |