Washington Administrative Code

A board approved physical therapist assistant program shall mean a United States physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the CAPTE or a United States military physical therapy technician program that is substantially equivalent to an accredited United States …

(1) An applicant whose professional degree in physical therapy was awarded from a foreign physical therapy program that is not or was not accredited by the CAPTE shall submit:(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;(b) A credentials evaluation report of pr…

(1) Initial evaluation of a patient shall include history, patient's chief complaint, examination, and recommendation for treatment.(a) Direct referral of a patient by an authorized health care practitioner may be by telephone, letter, email, fax, or in person;(b) If the instruct…

(1) Each person shall wear identification showing his or her clinical title, and their role in the facility as a physical therapist, a physical therapist assistant, a physical therapy aide, a graduate physical therapist, or a graduate physical therapist assistant as appropriate. …

(1) The patient's lawful consent is to be obtained before any information related to the patient is released, except to the consulting or referring authorized health care practitioner or an authorized governmental agency(s).(a) Physical therapists are responsible for answering le…

A physical therapist is professionally and legally responsible for patient care given by assistive personnel under his or her supervision. If a physical therapist fails to adequately supervise patient care given by assistive personnel, the board may take disciplinary action again…

(1) A physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant shall not engage, or attempt to engage, in sexual misconduct with a current patient, client, or key party, as defined in WAC 246-16-020, inside or outside the health care setting. Sexual misconduct shall constitute ground…

(1) Appropriate, skilled physical therapy treatment is treatment which is reasonable in terms of accepted physical therapy practice, and necessary to recovery of function by the patient. The use of a nontraditional treatment by itself shall not constitute unprofessional conduct, …

(1) Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants may provide physical therapy via telehealth following all requirements for standard of care, including those defined in chapter 18.74 RCW and this chapter.(2) The physical therapist or physical therapist assistant…

A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant shall comply with chapter 19.68 RCW.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.74.023 and chapter 18.74 RCW, RCW 18.340.020. WSR 18-15-067, § 246-915-190, filed 7/17/18, effective 8/17/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.74.023. WSR 08-17-026, §…

In order to maintain the integrity of physical therapy practice, the physical therapist is responsible for obtaining all necessary information, such as medical history, contraindications, or any special instructions from an authorized health care practitioner. The evaluation and …

The board adopts the model rules for mandatory reporting as contained in chapter 246-16 WAC.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.74.023 and chapter 18.74 RCW, RCW 18.340.020. WSR 18-15-067, § 246-915-210, filed 7/17/18, effective 8/17/18. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.74.023(3) and 18.130.…

The board recognizes the need to establish a means of proactively providing early recognition and treatment options for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants whose competency may be impaired due to the abuse of drugs or alcohol. The board intends that such physica…

(1) "Monitoring contract" is a comprehensive, structured agreement between the recovering physical therapist or physical therapist assistant and WRAMP defining the requirements of the physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program participation.(2) "Approved treatment…

(1) WRAMP is the board approved monitoring program. WRAMP will employ staff with the qualifications and knowledge of both substance abuse and the practice of physical therapy as defined in this chapter to be able to evaluate:(a) Clinical laboratories;(b) Laboratory results;(c) Pr…

(1) Any physical therapist or physical therapist assistant participating in the substance abuse monitoring program shall:(a) Undergo a complete psychosocial evaluation before entering the approved monitoring program. This evaluation will be performed by health care professional(s…

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: RCW 18.74.023. WSR 94-05-014 (Order 403B), § 246-915-340, filed 2/4/94, effec…

(1) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant may obtain an inactive credential as described in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 4.(2) A physical therapist or physical therapist assistant with an inactive credential for three years or less who wishes to return to active status…

Licensed physical therapists may perform sharp debridement upon showing evidence of adequate education and training. Physical therapists shall not delegate sharp debridement. The board will accept the following as adequate education and training:(1) Twenty hours of mentored sharp…

A physical therapist may perform electroneuromyographic (EMG) examinations, which may include needle EMG and nerve conduction studies, to test neuromuscular function only if the physical therapist has received a referral from an authorized health care practitioner identified in R…

(1) A physical therapist may perform spinal manipulation only after being issued a spinal manipulation endorsement by the secretary. The secretary, upon approval by the board, shall issue an endorsement to a physical therapist who has at least one year of full-time, orthopedic, p…

(1) "Intramuscular needling" also known as "dry needling" is defined under RCW 18.74.010.(2) As established in RCW 18.74.200 a physical therapist may perform intramuscular needling, also known as dry needling after being issued an intramuscular needling endorsement by the secreta…

(1) Licenses 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 FeeFeeOriginal application Application$80.00Active license renewal License renewal100.00 Late renewal penalty50.0…

(1) Licenses 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 for physical therapist assistant:Title of FeeFeeOriginal application Application$75.00Active license renewal License renew…

(1) The physical therapy licensure compact (compact) is established in Washington under RCW 18.74.500. Its purpose is to facilitate interstate practice of physical therapy with the goal of improving public access to physical therapy services.(2) The rules of the physical therapy …

(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 physical therapy licensure compact eligibility requirements in this chapter to maintain the compact privilege.(2) The following…

(1) To apply for licensure as an athletic trainer, an applicant shall submit to the department:(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department;(b) Evidence of completion of an approved educational program as determined in WAC 246-916-020;(c) Evidence of attaining …

The secretary approves:(1) Any accredited educational program accepted by the board of certification for the athletic trainer (BOC) as meeting the requirements to sit for the certification examination; or(2) Completion of a bachelors or advanced degree attained prior to January 1…

(1) An applicant may qualify for licensure by endorsement as an athletic trainer if the applicant is currently licensed in a substantially equivalent state or jurisdiction and has been licensed for at least two years immediately preceding an application and meets all other requir…

A practitioner may obtain an inactive credential. Refer to the requirements of chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 4.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.250.020. WSR 08-11-060, § 246-916-040, filed 5/16/08, effective 7/1/08.]

If the license has expired, the practitioner must meet the requirements of chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.250.020. WSR 08-11-060, § 246-916-050, filed 5/16/08, effective 7/1/08.]

The goal of continuing education is to promote continued competence, development of current knowledge and skills, and enhancement of professional skills and judgment. Continuing education activities must focus on increasing knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the practice…

Effective August 1, 2020, a licensed athletic trainer must complete a secretary-approved one-time training that is at least six hours in length for suicide assessment that includes screening, referral, and imminent harm via lethal means elements.(1) This training must be complete…

(1) An athletic trainer licensed under chapter 18.250 RCW may, for the practice of athletic training:(a) Purchase, store, and administer over-the-counter medications as prescribed by an authorized healthcare practitioner;(b) Purchase, store, and administer medications as prescrib…

(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$115.00Active license renewal Renewal135.00 Late renewal penalty70.…

The definitions in this section and definitions in RCW 18.71A.010 apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise:(1) "Collaboration agreement" means a written agreement that describes the manner in which the physician assistant is supervised by or col…

An applicant for a license or interim permit may not withdraw their application if grounds for denial exist.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71A.150, 18.130.050, chapter 18.71A RCW and 2020 c 80. WSR 21-22-043, § 246-918-007, filed 10/27/21, effective 11/27/21. Statutory Authority: R…

A physician assistant may prescribe, order, administer, and dispense legend drugs and Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances consistent with the scope of practice provided:(1) The physician assistant has an active DEA registration; and(2) All prescriptions comply with s…

An interim permit is a limited license. The permit allows an individual who has graduated from a commission approved program within the previous twelve months to practice prior to successfully passing the commission approved licensing examination.(1) An individual applying to the…

(1) A practice agreement must meet the requirements in RCW 18.71A.120.(2) A physician assistant practicing under a practice agreement that was entered into before July 1, 2025, may continue to practice under the practice agreement until the physician assistant enters into a colla…

The commission may issue a temporary practice permit when the applicant has met all other licensure requirements, except the national criminal background check requirement. The applicant must not be subject to denial of a license or issuance of a conditional license under this ch…

A military spouse may receive an expedited temporary license while completing any specific additional requirements that are not related to training or practice standards for physician assistants under the following conditions.(1) An expedited temporary license may be issued to an…

(1) Except for a physician assistant licensed prior to July 1, 1999, individuals applying to the commission for licensure as a physician assistant must have graduated from an accredited commission approved physician assistant program and successfully passed the NCCPA examination.…

(1) To return to active status the physician assistant must meet the requirements of chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2, which includes paying the applicable fees under WAC 246-918-990 and meeting the continuing medical education requirements under WAC 246-918-180.(2) If the license has …

(1) To the extent a supervising, but not a collaborating, physician's prescribing privileges have been limited by any state or federal authority, either involuntarily or by the physician's agreement to such limitation, the physician assistant will be similarly limited in their pr…

(1) For the purposes of this rule, laser, light, radiofrequency, and plasma devices (hereafter LLRP devices) are medical devices that:(a) Use a laser, noncoherent light, intense pulsed light, radiofrequency, or plasma to topically penetrate skin and alter human tissue; and(b) Are…

(1) The purpose of this rule is to establish the duties and responsibilities of a physician assistant who injects medication or substances for cosmetic purposes or uses prescription devices for cosmetic purposes. These procedures can result in complications such as visual impairm…

(1) A physician assistant must clearly identify themself as a physician assistant and must appropriately display on their person identification as a physician assistant.(2) A physician assistant must not present themself in any manner which would tend to mislead the public as to …

(1) Under WAC 246-12-020, an initial credential issued within ninety days of the physician assistant's birthday does not expire until the physician assistant's next birthday.(2) A physician assistant must renew their license every two years on their birthday. Renewal fees are acc…

(1) To obtain a retired active license a physician assistant must comply with chapter 246-12 WAC, excluding WAC 246-12-120 (2)(c) and (d).(2) A physician assistant with a retired active license may not receive compensation for health care services.(3) A physician assistant with a…