Washington Administrative Code

A licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist who contacts a patient or client away from the licensee's place of business must:(1) When the contact is in person, present the prospective patient or client with written notice of:(a) Licensee's name, business name, business addre…

In addition to the receipt and disclosure information required by RCW 18.35.030, 18.35.185, 63.14.040 and 63.14.120, every retail agreement for the sale of hearing instruments must contain or have attached the following notice to buyer in twelve point font or larger. The language…

A practitioner may obtain an inactive credential. Refer to the requirements of chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 4.[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. WSR 98-05-060, § 246-828-295, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.35.161 (1) and (3). WSR 95-19-017, § 246-828-…

(1) If the license or certification has expired for three years or less, the practitioner must meet the requirements for renewal credentialing of practitioners in WAC 246-12-020 through 246-12-051.(2) If the license or certification has expired for over three years, and the pract…

Fingerprint-based national background checks may cause a delay in licensing or certification. Individuals who satisfy all other licensing or certification requirements and qualifications may receive a temporary practice permit while the national background check is completed.(1) …

A military spouse or state registered domestic partner of a military person may receive a temporary practice permit while completing any specific additional requirements that are not related to training or practice standards for the profession. The board adopts the procedural rul…

(1) The hours of business of each hearing instrument establishment must be prominently displayed and visible to the public at each regular place or places of business owned or operated by that establishment.(2) Any regular place or places of business or any activities resulting f…

Every licensee must provide to a hearing instrument purchaser, in writing prior to the signing of the contract, notice of availability of services. The notice must include the specific location of the follow-up service, including date and time if applicable.[Statutory Authority: …

RCW 18.35.190(2) allows the purchaser of the hearing instrument(s) to rescind the purchase and recover moneys for reasonable cause. The term "reasonable cause" includes:(1) Any material misstatement of fact or misrepresentation by the licensee regarding the hearing instrument(s) …

(1) A credential holder must complete a minimum of two hours in health equity continuing education training every three years in accordance with WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.(2) This training must be completed by the end of the second full continuing education reporting peri…

The purpose of continuing education is to ensure the highest quality professional care. The objectives are to improve and increase the ability of the hearing aid specialist, audiologist, speech-language pathologist, and speech-language pathology assistant to deliver the highest p…

The board adopts the model procedural rules for adjudicative proceedings as adopted by the department of health and contained in chapter 246-11 WAC, including subsequent amendments.[Statutory Authority: 2014 c 189, RCW 18.35.161, 18.130.062, and 18.130.020. WSR 15-14-092, § 246-8…

(1) Minimum educational requirements for licensure to practice as a hearing aid specialist in Washington are:(a) Satisfactory completion of a two-year degree program in hearing aid specialist instruction approved by the board. The board will consider for approval any program whic…

If the board issues a notice of intent to deny an application, rescind approval, or grant conditional approval, the authorized representative of the applicant's program may request a review within thirty days. Failure to request a review will result in the notice of intent becomi…

The curriculum of the program must include the components listed in this section.(1) The standards in this section are intended as minimum components of a curriculum, and are not intended as an exact description of program curricula. To ensure a graduate or certificate holder is …

An applicant for certification as a speech-language pathology assistant must have one of the following minimum qualifications:(1) An associate of arts or sciences degree, or a certificate of proficiency.(a) Transcripts must show:(i) Coursework that culminates in a speech-language…

The following definitions are applicable to the sexual misconduct rule, WAC 246-828-625:(1) "Health care information" means any information, whether oral or recorded in any form or medium that identifies or can readily be associated with the identity of, and relates to the health…

(1) A health care provider may not engage, or attempt to engage, in sexual misconduct with a current patient, client, or key party, inside or outside the health care setting. Sexual misconduct constitutes grounds for disciplinary action. Sexual misconduct includes but is not limi…

(1) Credentials must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in WAC 246-12-030.(2) Practitioners must pay the following nonrefundable fees:Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist Fee Type:FeeInterim permit Application$165.00 Permit140.00 Initial licens…

(1) The compact privilege must be renewed no later than the expiration date of the home state license. The compact privilege holder must comply with all audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact eligibility requirements in chapter 18.35A RCW to maintain the compa…

The definitions in this section apply throughout the chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Animal" means any species normally recognized as treatable by veterinary medicine.(2) "Animal massage therapist" means an individual licensed to practice massage therap…

In accordance with chapter 18.108 RCW, effective July 1, 2017, all references to "massage practitioner" in this chapter mean "massage therapist." After July 1, 2017, all individuals licensed to practice massage therapy under chapter 18.108 RCW will retain the title of massage pra…

(1) An applicant for a massage therapist license must be eighteen years of age or older and must submit to the department:(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;(b) Proof of successful completion of the required education and training of a massage school,…

(1) A massage therapist applicant holding a massage license in another state or foreign jurisdiction may be granted a Washington massage license if:(a) The board determines the other state's, territory's, or foreign jurisdiction's education and training requirements are substanti…

(1) A transfer program must be approved by the board prior to a massage school or massage program enrolling a transfer student through the use of transfer credits or clock hours.(2) To qualify as a board approved transfer program, an authorized representative of the massage schoo…

(1) An applicant for a massage therapist license must successfully pass one of the following examinations:(a) The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards' massage and bodywork licensing examination (MBLEx);(b) The national certification examination for therapeutic massage and …

All application documents submitted in a foreign language must be accompanied by an accurate translation of those documents into the English language. Translated documents must bear a notarized affidavit certifying that the translator is competent in both the language of the docu…

(1) To qualify as a board approved massage school, massage program or apprenticeship program, an authorized representative of the massage school, massage program or apprenticeship program must submit to the board a completed application packet provided by the department. A comple…

(1) When the board determines that a massage school, massage program, transfer program or apprenticeship program fails to meet the standards for education and training as required in this chapter, the board may:(a) Deny approval to a new massage school, massage program, transfer …

The board may consider reinstatement of a massage school, massage program, transfer program or apprenticeship program upon submission of satisfactory evidence that the massage school, massage program, transfer program or apprenticeship program meets the standards contained in WAC…

(1) A massage school, massage program, transfer program or apprenticeship program that has been denied approval or had its approval suspended or revoked may appeal the board's decision according to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act, Parts IV an…

(1) A massage school, massage program, transfer program, or apprenticeship program education and training must have a curriculum and system of education and training consistent with its particular area of practice. The education and training in massage therapy will consist of a m…

(1) For the purpose of animal massage therapist endorsement as provided in chapter 18.108 RCW, board approval will be given to any education and training program that consists of a minimum of one hundred hours. An hour of education and training is defined as fifty minutes out of …

(1) The curriculum of the massage school, massage program, or apprenticeship program must be designed and presented to meet or exceed the required six hundred twenty-five hours completed in no fewer than twenty-four weeks.(2) Academic standards. The massage school, massage progra…

A massage school, massage program, or apprenticeship program must have adequate facilities and equipment available for students learning massage therapy. All facility equipment must be maintained in accordance with local rules and ordinances in addition to those required by chapt…

(1) To renew a license, a massage therapist must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years, as provided in WAC 246-12-170 through 246-12-240. Continuing education must be provided by an individual who has at least three years of professional experience in the subj…

(1) The secretary may approve an exemption from this chapter for an individual who has completed a somatic education and training program that has a professional organization with a permanent administrative location that oversees the practice of somatic education and training and…

A massage therapist may perform intraoral massage after completing specific intraoral massage education and training and after receiving an intraoral massage endorsement to their massage therapist license. To qualify for an intraoral massage endorsement a massage therapist must c…

(1) A massage therapist using hydrotherapies including, but not limited to, cabinet, vapor or steam baths, whirlpool, hot tub or tub baths must have adequate shower facilities available for client or patient use.(2) All cabinets, showers, tubs, basins, massage or steam tables, hy…

To maintain a professional standard of hygiene in their practice, a massage therapist must:(1) Cleanse any exposed body part used for applying treatment, before and after each treatment, using a sink with water and soap or a chemical germicidal product;(2) Maintain a barrier of u…

A person who owns or operates a massage business may be subject to legal action for practice without a license under RCW 18.130.190 if the massage business advertises massage and the massage business employs individuals to provide massages who are not licensed under chapter 18.10…

(1) It is not consistent with the standard of practice for a massage therapist to touch the following body parts on a client or patient except where specifically noted:(a) The gluteal cleft (space distal to the coccyx to the anus) and perineum unless in accordance with WAC 246-83…

(1) Prior to performing breast massage, a massage therapist must:(a) Acquire prior signed or initialed written and verbal informed consent from the client or patient. If the client or patient is under eighteen years of age, prior written consent must be obtained from a parent or …

(1) A massage therapist may massage the gluteal cleft from distal to the coccyx to the anus, and the perineum, after meeting the requirements in subsections (3), (4), and (5) of this section.(2) For the purpose of this section and WAC 246-830-550, the perineum is defined as the t…

(1) A massage therapist must:(a) Allow a client or patient privacy to dress or undress except as may be necessary in emergencies or custodial situations; and(b) Always provide the client or patient a gown or draping except as may be necessary in emergencies.(2) Massage therapists…

(1) A massage therapist providing professional services to a client or patient must document services provided. Documentation should be appropriate to the venue, the type and complexity of those services and, when applicable, in sufficient detail to support and enable anticipated…

(1) Massage therapist records for clients or patients eighteen years of age and older must be retained by, or be otherwise accessible to the massage therapist for at least three years from the date of last treatment.(2) Massage therapist records for clients or patients under the …

(1) A person holding an expired credential may not practice until the credential is returned to active status.(2) If the credential has been expired for less than three years, he or she must meet the requirements of chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.(3) If the credential has been expire…

A massage therapist may obtain an inactive credential as described in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 4.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.108.025 (1)(a), 18.108.085 (1)(a), 43.70.041 and chapter 18.108 RCW. WSR 17-14-062, § 246-830-580, filed 6/29/17, effective 7/30/17.]

(1) Licenses must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:Title of FeeFeeOriginal application Application and initial license$210.00 UW online access fee (HEAL-WA)16.00Acti…