Title 18 — Title 18 BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS

(1) The three levels of professional credentialing as defined in chapter 18.120 RCW are:(a) Registration, which is the least restrictive, and requires formal notification of the department of health identifying the practitioner, and does not require qualifying examinations;(b) Ce…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or restrict:(1) The practice by an individual licensed, certified, or registered under the laws of this state and performing services within the authorized scope of practice;(2) The practice by an individual employed by the g…

In addition to any other authority provided by law, the secretary has the authority to:(1) Adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW necessary to implement this chapter;(2) Establish all credentialing, examination, and renewal fees in accordance with RCW 43.70.250;(3) Establish forms a…

The secretary shall keep an official record of all proceedings. A part of the record shall consist of a register of all applicants for credentialing under this chapter and the results of each application.[ 1991 c 3 s 261; 1987 c 150 s 66.]

(1) The secretary has the authority to appoint advisory committees to further the purposes of this chapter. Each such committee shall be composed of five members, one member initially appointed for a term of one year, two for a term of two years, and two for a term of three years…

(1) The secretary shall issue a license or certificate, as appropriate, to any applicant who demonstrates to the secretary's satisfaction that the following requirements have been met:(a) Graduation from an educational program approved by the secretary or successful completion of…

The secretary shall establish by rule the standards and procedures for approval of educational programs and alternative training. The secretary may utilize or contract with individuals or organizations having expertise in the profession or in education to assist in the evaluation…

(1) The date and location of examinations shall be established by the secretary. Applicants shall be scheduled for the next examination following the filing of the application. The secretary shall establish by rule the examination application deadline.(2) The secretary or the sec…

Applications for credentialing shall be submitted on forms provided by the secretary. The secretary may require any information and documentation which reasonably relates to the need to determine whether the applicant meets the criteria for credentialing provided for in this chap…

The secretary shall waive the examination and credential a person authorized to practice within the state of Washington if the secretary determines that the person meets commonly accepted standards of education and experience for the profession. This section applies only to those…

An applicant holding a credential in another state may be credentialed to practice in this state without examination if the secretary determines that the other state's credentialing standards are substantially equivalent to the standards in this state.[ 1991 c 3 s 266; 1987 c 150…

The secretary shall establish by rule the procedural requirements and fees for renewal of a credential. Failure to renew shall invalidate the credential and all privileges granted by the credential. If a license or certificate has lapsed for a period longer than three years, the …

The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, shall govern the issuance and denial of credentials, unauthorized practice, and the discipline of persons credentialed under this chapter. The secretary shall be the disciplining authority under this chapter.[ 1991 c 3 s 268; 1987…

This chapter only applies to a business or profession regulated under the laws of this state if this chapter is specifically referenced in the laws regulating that business or profession.[ 1987 c 150 s 76.]

Pursuant to RCW 48.165.030 and 48.165.035, the secretary or his or her designee shall participate in the work groups and, within funds appropriated specifically for this purpose, implement the standards to enable the department to transmit data to and receive data from the unifor…

Section captions as used in this chapter do not constitute any part of the law.[ 1987 c 150 s 77.]

If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.[ 1987 c 150 s 80.]

It is the intent of the legislature to strengthen and consolidate disciplinary and licensure procedures for the licensed health and health-related professions and businesses by providing a uniform disciplinary act with standardized procedures for the licensure of health care prof…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Board" means any of those boards specified in RCW 18.130.040.(2) "Clinical expertise" means the proficiency or judgment that a license holder in a particular professio…

In accordance with RCW 43.135.055, to implement the background check activities conducted pursuant to RCW 18.130.064, the department may establish fees as necessary to recover the cost of these activities and, except as precluded by RCW 43.70.110, the department shall require app…

In accordance with RCW 43.135.055, the department may annually increase application and renewal fees as necessary to recover the cost of implementing the administrative and disciplinary provisions of chapter 134, Laws of 2008.[ 2008 c 285 s 13.]Notes:Intent—Captions not law—Effec…

No licensee subject to this chapter may be required to participate in any public or private third-party reimbursement program or any plans or products offered by a payor as a condition of licensure.[ 2013 c 293 s 5.]

(1) This chapter applies only to the secretary and the boards and commissions having jurisdiction in relation to the professions licensed under the chapters specified in this section. This chapter does not apply to any business or profession not licensed under the chapters specif…

(1) All applicants who submit applications for licensure on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide the following information with their application:(a) Race;(b) Ethnicity;(c) Gender;(d) Languages spoken;(e) Provider specialty, where applicable;(f) Primary practice location, if k…

RCW 18.108.085 shall govern the issuance and revocation of licenses issued or applied for under chapter 18.108 RCW to or by persons convicted of violating RCW 9A.88.030, 9A.88.070, 9A.88.080, or 9A.88.090 or equivalent local ordinances.[ 1995 c 353 s 3.]

Except as provided in RCW 18.130.062, the disciplining authority has the following authority:(1) To adopt, amend, and rescind such rules as are deemed necessary to carry out this chapter;(2) To investigate all complaints or reports of unprofessional conduct as defined in this cha…

(1) The disciplining authority may deny an application for licensure or grant a license with conditions if the applicant:(a) Has had his or her license to practice any health care profession suspended, revoked, or restricted, by competent authority in any state, federal, or forei…

(1) A disciplining authority shall provide a person or entity making a complaint or report under RCW 18.130.080 with a reasonable opportunity to supplement or amend the contents of the complaint or report. The license holder must be provided an opportunity to respond to any suppl…

In addition to the authority specified in RCW 18.130.050 and 18.130.062, the secretary has the following additional authority:(1) To employ such investigative, administrative, and clerical staff as necessary for the enforcement of this chapter. The secretary must, whenever practi…

(1) With regard to complaints that only allege that a license holder has committed an act or acts of unprofessional conduct involving sexual misconduct, the secretary shall serve as the sole disciplining authority in every aspect of the disciplinary process, including initiating …

(1) If a license holder subject to this chapter has been sanctioned by a disciplining authority on or after October 1, 2019, for an act or acts of unprofessional conduct involving sexual misconduct, the license holder or his or her designee must provide a disclosure to any patien…

(1)(a) The secretary is authorized to receive criminal history record information that includes nonconviction data for any purpose associated with investigation or licensing and investigate the complete criminal history and pending charges of all applicants and license holders.(b…

The secretary of health shall review and coordinate all proposed rules, interpretive statements, policy statements, and declaratory orders, as defined in chapter 34.05 RCW, that are proposed for adoption or issuance by any health profession board or commission vested with rule-ma…

(1)(a) The secretary shall adopt rules requiring every license holder to report to the appropriate disciplining authority any conviction, determination, or finding that another license holder has committed an act which constitutes unprofessional conduct, or to report information …

(1) If an individual licensed in another state that has licensing standards substantially equivalent to Washington applies for a license, the disciplining authority shall issue a temporary practice permit authorizing the applicant to practice the profession pending completion of …

(1) Disciplining authorities shall waive education, training, experience, and exam requirements for applicants who have been credentialed in another state or states with substantially equivalent standards for at least two years immediately preceding their application with no inte…

(1)(a) An individual, an impaired practitioner program, or a voluntary substance abuse monitoring program approved by a disciplining authority, may submit a written complaint to the disciplining authority charging a license holder or applicant with unprofessional conduct and spec…

If the department communicates in writing to a complainant, or his or her representative, regarding his or her complaint, such communication shall not include the address or telephone number of the health care provider against whom he or she has complained. The department shall i…

(1) If the disciplining authority determines, upon investigation, that there is reason to believe a violation of RCW 18.130.180 has occurred, a statement of charge or charges shall be prepared and served upon the license holder or applicant at the earliest practical time. The sta…

(1)(a) The secretary, in consultation with the disciplining authorities, shall develop uniform procedural rules to respond to public inquiries concerning complaints and their disposition, active investigations, statement of charges, findings of fact, and final orders involving a …

(1) The settlement process must be substantially uniform for licensees governed by disciplining authorities under this chapter. The disciplinary [disciplining] authorities may also use alternative dispute resolution to resolve complaints during adjudicative proceedings.(2) Disclo…

The procedures governing adjudicative proceedings before agencies under chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act, govern all hearings before the disciplining authority. The disciplining authority has, in addition to the powers and duties set forth in this chapter, all …

(1) In the event of a finding of unprofessional conduct, the disciplining authority shall prepare and serve findings of fact and an order as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW, the Administrative Procedure Act. If the license holder or applicant is found to have not committed unprofes…

The department shall not issue any license to any person whose license has been denied, revoked, or suspended by the disciplining authority except in conformity with the terms and conditions of the certificate or order of denial, revocation, or suspension, or in conformity with a…

The secretary shall immediately suspend the license of any person subject to this chapter who has been certified by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a support order or a *residential or visitation order as provided in RCW 74.2…

An order pursuant to proceedings authorized by this chapter, after due notice and findings in accordance with this chapter and chapter 34.05 RCW, or an order of summary suspension entered under this chapter, shall take effect immediately upon its being served. The order, if appea…

(1) Upon an order of a disciplining authority to summarily suspend a license, or restrict or limit a license holder's practice pursuant to RCW 18.130.050 or 18.130.062, the license holder is entitled to a show cause hearing before a panel or the secretary as identified in subsect…

An individual who has been disciplined, whose license has been denied, or whose license has been granted with conditions by a disciplining authority may appeal the decision as provided in chapter 34.05 RCW.[ 2008 c 134 s 21; 1984 c 279 s 14.]Notes:Finding—Intent—Severability—2008…

A person whose license has been suspended under this chapter may petition the disciplining authority for reinstatement after an interval as determined by the disciplining authority in the order unless the disciplining authority has found, pursuant to RCW 18.130.160, that the lice…

Upon a finding, after hearing, that a license holder has committed unprofessional conduct or is unable to practice with reasonable skill and safety due to a physical or mental condition, the disciplining authority shall issue an order including sanctions adopted in accordance wit…