Washington Administrative Code

A licensed dental therapist may practice only in federally qualified health centers, tribal federally qualified health centers, and federally qualified health center look-a-likes. Individuals licensed as a dental therapist shall comply with the requirements in chapter 18.265 RCW …

The definitions in this section and RCW 18.265.010 apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.(1) "Close supervision" means the same as RCW 18.260.010.(2) "Commission" means the dental quality assurance commission as established in chapter 18.32 …

An applicant seeking dental therapist licensure shall submit to the department the following:(1) Official transcripts verifying successful completion of a dental therapy education program approved by the commission.(2) Official verification of passing the dental therapy examinati…

To be eligible for initial dental therapy licensure, the applicant must successfully complete a dental therapy education program approved by the commission. The commission accepts educational programs as listed in RCW 18.265.030 (1) and (2).(1) Dental therapy education programs m…

An applicant seeking licensure by examination in Washington must successfully complete dental therapy written and clinical examinations approved by the commission including:(1) Central Regional Dental Testing Services (CRDTS);(2) CDCA/WREB/CITA; or(3) Any other examination that t…

An applicant may qualify for licensure by endorsement as a dental therapist if the applicant is currently credentialed as a dental therapist or dental health aide therapist in another state or jurisdiction with substantially equivalent licensing standards and has been credentiale…

(1) An applicant may qualify for limited licensure if they hold a valid dental therapist license, dental health aide therapist (DHAT) certification, or recertification in another state or Canadian province, or have been certified or licensed by a federal or tribal governing board…

(1) A dental therapist may only practice dental therapy under the supervision of a dentist and under a written practice plan contract. The contract, at a minimum, must contain: (a) The elements listed in RCW 18.265.060; and(b) Limited conditions and emergency procedures.(i) Limit…

On or before a dental therapist begins treating patients, they shall obtain liability insurance.(1) Liability insurance must be maintained at all times.(2) The amount of coverage must be equivalent to that of the supervising dentist's liability insurance coverage.(3) A dental the…

A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall comply with the same requirements for patient records as a dentist as described in WAC 246-817-304 and 246-817-305.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WSR 25-20-107, s 246-819-100, filed 1…

A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall comply with the same requirements for patient records retention and accessibility as a dentist as described in WAC 246-817-310.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WSR 25-20-107, s 246-819-…

A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall maintain the same infection control standards as a dentist as described in WAC 246-817-601 through 246-817-660.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WSR 25-20-107, s 246-819-120, filed 10/1/…

(1) To renew a dental therapy license, an individual shall:(a) Complete 54 hours of continuing education every three years following the first license renewal;(b) Maintain a current basic life support (BLS) for the health care provider certification. Certification must include bo…

A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall complete a department-approved one-time training that is at least three hours in length in suicide assessment, treatment, and management training as described in RCW 43.70.442.(1) This training must be completed by the end of t…

(1) A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall complete two hours of health equity continuing education training every three years as described in WAC 246-12-820 and 246-12-830.(2) The hours spent completing the training in health equity under this section counts toward…

A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall comply with the same requirements for nondiscrimination as a dentist as described in WAC 246-817-370.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WSR 25-20-107, s 246-819-160, filed 10/1/25, effect…

A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall comply with the same requirements for representation of care, fees, and records as a dentist as described in WAC 246-817-390.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WSR 25-20-107, s 246-819-17…

A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall comply with the same patient abandonment requirements as a dentist as described in WAC 246-817-380.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WSR 25-20-107, s 246-819-180, filed 10/1/25, effectiv…

A dental therapist licensed under this chapter shall comply with the sexual misconduct rule as described in WAC 246-16-100.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WSR 25-20-107, s 246-819-190, filed 10/1/25, effective 11/1/25.]

(1) A dental therapist shall submit a complete report of any patient mortality or other incident which results in temporary or permanent physical or mental injury requiring hospitalization of said patient during, or as a direct result of dental procedures or anesthesia.(2) A dent…

The license of a dental therapist must be displayed in a place visible to individuals receiving services on the premises, and readily available for inspection.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WSR 25-20-107, s 246-819-210, filed 10/1/25, e…

The license of a dental therapist must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday. If the license expires, the dental therapist shall meet the requirements in WAC 246-12-020 through 246-12-051.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.110, 43.70.250, 43.70.280, and 2023 c 460. WS…

(1) A license must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC.(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:Title of FeeFeeInitial application$950.00License renewal$950.00Late renewal penalty$300.00Expired license reissuance$300.…

The definitions in RCW 18.227.010 and in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly states otherwise.(1) "Approved educational program" means a program that has been fully approved, provisionally approved, or legacy approved by the department under WAC …

(1) The department uses the procedural rules in chapter 246-10 WAC to govern adjudicative proceedings.(2) A certified BHSS must follow requirements for credentialed health care providers in chapter 246-12 WAC.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.227.020, chapter 18.227 RCW, and 2023 c 27…

(1) An applicant for a behavioral health support specialist (BHSS) certificate shall submit to the department:(a) An application on forms provided by the department;(b) Official transcripts to verify completion of a bachelor degree;(c) Documentation to verify completion of an app…

To be eligible for certification as a behavioral health support specialist, an applicant shall:(1) Graduate from a bachelor's degree program.(2) Successfully complete a BHSS educational program approved by the department, which must be included as part of a:(a) Bachelor degree pr…

(1) Consistent with University of Washington behavioral health support specialist clinical training program guidelines, behavioral health support specialist competencies and clinical skills include, but are not limited to:(a) Health equity, including:(i) Recognizing the impact of…

(1) To be eligible for certification as a behavioral health support specialist, a student shall complete a BHSS practicum or BHSS apprenticeship on-the-job training that:(a) Provides practical instruction that reinforces BHSS competencies and clinical skills listed in WAC 246-821…

(1) All supervised experience required for behavioral health support specialist certification must be completed under a practicum supervisor as defined in WAC 246-821-215.(2) Before the practicum begins or within the first month of the practicum, the student shall meet with the s…

(1) A behavioral health support specialist practicum supervisor must be licensed in the state of Washington, with no restrictions, as one of the following provider types:(a) Independent clinical social worker or associate licensed under chapter 18.225 RCW;(b) Marriage and family …

(1) A behavioral health support specialist applicant shall take and pass a jurisprudence examination administered by the department that covers professional judgment, knowledge of state laws, and ethics pertaining to the BHSS profession.(2) An applicant who fails the test is elig…

(1) A behavioral health support specialist provides treatment for a behavioral health condition which is impacting a client's quality of life by:(a) Delivering brief, evidence-based interventions to treat individuals with behavioral health conditions, including mental health or s…

(1) The definitions and prohibitions on sexual misconduct described in chapter 246-16 WAC apply to behavioral health support specialists, except WAC 246-16-100 (4) and (5).(2) A BHSS shall never engage, or attempt to engage in:(a) The activities listed in WAC 246-16-100 (1) and (…

(1) To supervise a certified behavioral health support specialist, a provider shall hold one of the following Washington state credentials:(a) Advanced social worker or associate license under chapter 18.225 RCW;(b) Independent clinical social worker or associate license under ch…

(1) A behavioral health support specialist shall provide disclosure information to each client prior to the delivery of services. Disclosure information may be provided in a format of the provider's choosing or in a general format used by a state-approved treatment facility.(2) T…

A certified behavioral health support specialist shall complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years, either in person or through distance learning, including:(1) At least two hours of health equity education every four years that comply with requirements in WAC 246-1…

A certified behavioral health support specialist who provides clinical services through telemedicine as defined in RCW 70.41.020 shall complete a one-time telemedicine training that complies with RCW 43.70.495.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.227.020, chapter 18.227 RCW, and 2023 c 2…

(1) Qualifying continuing education (CE) for a behavioral health support specialist must:(a) Be relevant to the profession; and(b) Contribute to the advancement and enhancement of their professional competence.(2) Activities primarily designed to increase practice income or offic…

Local, state, national, and international organizations that are recognized in the behavioral health industry and institutions of higher learning include, but are not limited to, the following:(1) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and Washington Associa…

(1) A behavioral health support specialist educational program must be approved by the department and, if applicable, registered with the department of labor and industries before its graduates are eligible for BHSS certification.(2) The minimum amount of behavioral health instru…

(1) Program application process. A behavioral health support specialist educational program must be approved by the department and, if applicable, registered with the department of labor and industries before its graduates are eligible for BHSS certification.(a) To apply for appr…

(1) The department recognizes that multiple colleges, universities, and technical colleges began implementing behavioral health support specialist educational programs prior to the establishment of chapter 18.227 RCW in 2023. In recognition of the educational programs and the ach…

If a behavioral health support specialist certification is expired, the individual shall meet the requirements of WAC 246-12-040 in order to return to active status.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.227.020, chapter 18.227 RCW, and 2023 c 270. WSR 24-21-083, s 246-821-900, filed 10/16…

(1) A behavioral health support specialist certificate must be renewed every year on the provider's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC.(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged for a certified BHSS:Title of FeeFeeApplication and initial certification$285.00Acti…

The definitions in this section and RCW 18.138.010 apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Accreditation council for education in nutrition and dietetics" or "ACEND" means a national organization that accredits dietetics education programs…

An applicant for certification as a nutritionist shall:(1) Submit to the department:(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;(b) The applicable fee in WAC 246-822-990; and(2) Provide one of the following:(a) Transcripts forwarded directly to the department …

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…

To be eligible for certification as a nutritionist, an applicant shall:(1) Successfully complete a master's or doctorate degree in one of the following subject areas: Human nutrition, nutrition education, foods and nutrition, or public health nutrition, as required in RCW 18.138.…

An applicant for certification as a dietitian shall:(1) Submit to the department:(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;(b) The applicable fee in WAC 246-822-990; and(2) Provide to the department verification of current RDN registration or provide the fol…