Title 18 — Title 18 BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS

The board has the following authority in administering this chapter:(1) To adopt, amend, and rescind rules as deemed necessary to carry out this chapter;(2) To establish the minimum qualifications for applicants for licensure as provided by this chapter;(3) To approve the method …

In order to become a licensed geologist, an applicant must meet the following requirements:(1) The applicant shall be of good moral and ethical character as attested to by letters of reference submitted by the applicant or as otherwise determined by the board;(2) The applicant sh…

An application for licensing shall be filed with the director on a form provided by the director and must contain statements made under oath demonstrating the applicant's education and practical experience. The director may require any information and documentation that reasonabl…

Examinations of applicants for licensing, when required, shall be held at such times and places as determined by the board with the director's approval. The scope of the examination shall be directed to an applicant's ability to practice geology or any approved specialty of geolo…

The director shall issue a certificate of licensing to any applicant who has satisfactorily met all of the requirements of this chapter for licensing as a geologist or an approved specialty geologist. The certificate shall show the full name of the license holder, shall have a ce…

The director may, upon application and payment of a fee determined by the director as provided in RCW 43.24.086, issue a license and certificate without further examination as a geologist or specialty geologist to any person who holds a license or certificate of qualification iss…

Licenses issued in conformance with this chapter shall be renewed periodically on a date to be set by the director in conformance with RCW 43.24.140. A license holder who fails to pay the prescribed fee within ninety days following the date of expiration shall pay a renewal fee e…

(1) All fees and fines collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be paid into the geologists' account, created in subsection (2) of this section.(2) The geologists' account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from fines and fees collected und…

In addition to the unprofessional conduct described in RCW 18.235.130, the following conduct, acts, and conditions constitute unprofessional conduct:(1) Violating any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter;(2) Not meeting the qualifications for …

The board shall immediately suspend the license or practice permit of a person who has been certified pursuant to RCW 74.20A.320 by the department of social and health services as a person who is not in compliance with a child support order. If the person has continued to meet al…

The following activities do not require a certificate of licensing under this chapter:(1) Geological work performed by an employee or a subordinate of a geologist or specialty geologist licensed under this chapter, provided that the work does not include responsible charge of geo…

The uniform regulation of business and professions act, chapter 18.235 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees under this chapter.[ 2002 c 86 s 265.]Notes:Effective dates—2002 c 86: See note following RCW 18.08.340.Pa…

An applicant with military training or experience satisfies the training or experience requirements of this chapter unless the board determines that the military training or experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of this state.[ 2011 c 351 s 14.]

(1) Sections 1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, and 21 of this act take effect July 1, 2001.(2) Sections 2, 18, and 19 of this act take effect July 1, 2002.(3) Sections 4, 5, 6, 8, and 13 of this act take effect April 1, 2001.[ 2001 c 61 s 1; 2000 c 253 s 23.]Notes:Effec…

The legislature finds that licensed advanced social workers and licensed independent clinical social workers represent different specializations within the social work profession, with each license signifying the highest degree of licensure as it pertains to each specialty. The l…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Advanced social work" means the application of social work theory and methods, including:(a) Emotional and biopsychosocial assessment;(b) Psychotherapy under the super…

A person must not represent himself or herself as a licensed advanced social worker, a licensed independent clinical social worker, a licensed mental health counselor, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a licensed social work associate—advanced, a licensed social work asso…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or restrict:(1) The practice of marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, or social work by an individual otherwise regulated under this title and performing services within the authorized scope of practice;(2) T…

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. Any rules adopted shall be in consultation with the committee;(2) Establish all licensing, examination, and renewal …

The secretary shall keep an official record of all proceedings. A part of the record shall consist of a register of all applicants for licensing under this chapter and the results of each application.[ 2001 c 251 s 5.]

The Washington state mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers advisory committee is established.(1) The committee shall be comprised of nine members as follows:(a) Two members must be licensed mental health counselors;(b) Two members must be li…

The department of health may seek the advice and assistance of the advisory committee in administering this chapter, including, but not limited to:(1) Advice and recommendations regarding the establishment or implementation of rules related to the administration of this chapter;(…

The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licensure, and the discipline of persons licensed under this chapter. The secretary shall be the disciplinary authority under this chapter.[ 2001 c 251 s 8.]

(1) The secretary shall issue a license to any applicant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the secretary that the applicant meets the following education and experience requirements for the applicant's practice area.(a) Licensed social work classifications:(i) Licensed adva…

The department shall reduce the total number of supervised experience hours required under RCW 18.225.090 by ten percent for any applicant for a license under this chapter who has practiced as a certified chemical dependency professional for three years in the previous ten years.…

A person licensed under this chapter must provide clients at the commencement of any program of treatment with accurate disclosure information concerning the practice, in accordance with rules adopted by the department, including the right of clients to refuse treatment, the resp…

A person licensed under this chapter shall not disclose the written acknowledgment of the disclosure statement pursuant to RCW 18.225.100, nor any information acquired from persons consulting the individual in a professional capacity when the information was necessary to enable t…

(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 licensing 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 licensing provided for in this chapter and …

Any person certified under chapter 18.19 RCW who has met the applicable experience and education requirements under chapter 18.19 RCW prior to July 22, 2001, is eligible for a license as an advanced social worker, an independent clinical social worker, a marriage and family thera…

(1) An applicant holding a credential in another state may be licensed to practice in this state without examination if the secretary determines that the other state's credentialing standards are substantially equivalent to the licensing standards in this state.(2)(a)(i) The depa…

(1) The secretary shall issue an associate license to any applicant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the secretary that the applicant meets the following requirements for the applicant's practice area and submits a declaration that the applicant is working toward full lice…

The secretary shall establish by rule the procedural requirements and fees for renewal of a license or associate license. Failure to renew shall invalidate the license or associate license and all privileges granted by the license. If an associate license has lapsed, the person s…

This chapter shall not be construed as permitting the administration or prescription of drugs or in any way infringing upon the practice of medicine and surgery as defined in chapter 18.71 or 18.57 RCW, or in any way infringing upon the practice of psychology as defined in chapte…

The secretary of the department of health shall promulgate rules relating to issuance of a retired active license under RCW 18.130.250 for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, advanced social workers, and independent clinical social workers.[ 2012 c 58 s 1.]

(1)(a) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, by October 1, 2023, the department shall develop a program to facilitate placement of associates with clinical supervision services. The program must include a database of license holders with t…

To assess whether limitations on associate license renewals may be limiting the number of people able to complete the licensing process within statutory deadlines, the secretary shall report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on October 1st of each year, beginning i…

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.[ 2001 c 251 s 35.]

The legislature finds that a behavioral health support specialist is a new member of the workforce in Washington state trained in the competencies developed by the University of Washington behavioral health support specialist clinical training program. The behavioral health suppo…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Adult" means a person 18 years of age or older.(2) "Applicant" means a person who completes the required application, pays the required fee, is at least 18 years of ag…

The department shall collaborate with the University of Washington department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and consult with other stakeholders to develop rules to implement this chapter by January 1, 2025, which shall be consistent with the University of Washington behav…

A person may not represent themself as a behavioral health support specialist without being certified by the department.[ 2023 c 270 s 4.]

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or restrict delivery of behavioral health interventions by an individual otherwise regulated under this title and performing services within their authorized scope of practice.[ 2023 c 270 s 5.]

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. Any rules adopted shall be in consultation with the University of Washington;(2) Establish all certification, examin…

The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs uncertified practice, the issuance and denial of certification, and the discipline of persons certified under this chapter. The secretary shall be the disciplinary authority under this chapter.[ 2023 c 270 s 7.]

The secretary shall issue a certification to any applicant who demonstrates to the satisfaction of the secretary that the applicant meets the following requirements:(1) Graduation from a bachelor's degree program;(2) Successful completion of a behavioral health support specialist…

(1) The date and location of examinations shall be established by the secretary. Applicants who have been found by the secretary to meet the other requirements for certification shall be scheduled for the next examination following the filing of the application. The secretary sha…

Applications for certification 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 certification provided for in this chap…

The health care authority shall take any steps which are necessary and proper to ensure that the services of behavioral health support specialists are covered under the state medicaid program by January 1, 2025.[ 2023 c 270 s 11.]

The overriding mission of therapeutic recreation is the provision of purposeful intervention designed to help clients grow and to assist them to prevent or relieve problems through recreation and leisure. It is a systematic methodology through a progression of phases, including a…