Title 18 — Title 18 BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS
113 chapters · 2,288 sections in this title.
RCW 18.33.060 Establishment and operation of the commission.
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(1) The compact participating states hereby create and establish a joint government agency whose membership consists of all participating states that have enacted the compact. The commission is an instrumentality of the participating states acting jointly and not an instrumentali…
RCW 18.33.070 Data system.
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(1) The commission shall provide for the development, maintenance, operation, and utilization of a coordinated database and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and the presence of significant investigative information on all licensees and applicants for a licen…
RCW 18.33.080 Rule making.
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(1) The commission shall promulgate reasonable rules in order to effectively and efficiently implement and administer the purposes and provisions of the compact. A commission rule shall be invalid and have no force or effect only if a court of competent jurisdiction holds that th…
RCW 18.33.090 Oversight—Dispute resolution—Enforcement.
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(1)(a) The executive and judicial branches of state government in each participating state shall enforce this compact and take all actions necessary and appropriate to implement the compact.(b) Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the commission shall be brought…
RCW 18.33.100 Effective date—Withdrawal—Amendment.
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(1) The compact shall come into effect on the date on which the compact statute is enacted into law in the seventh participating state.(a) On or after the effective date of the compact, the commission shall convene and review the enactment of each of the states that enacted the c…
RCW 18.33.110 Construction—Severability.
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(1) This compact and the commission's rule-making authority shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes, and the implementation and administration, of the compact. Provisions of the compact expressly authorizing or requiring the promulgation of rules shall not b…
RCW 18.33.120 Consistent effect—Conflict with other state laws.
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(1) Nothing in this chapter shall prevent or inhibit the enforcement of any other law of a participating state that is not inconsistent with the compact.(2) Any laws, statutes, regulations, or other legal requirements in a participating state in conflict with the compact are supe…
RCW 18.34.005 Regulation of health care professions—Criteria.
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See chapter 18.120 RCW.
RCW 18.34.010 Licensing—Exemptions—Limitations.
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Nothing in this chapter shall:(1) Be construed to limit or restrict a duly licensed physician or optometrist or employees working under the personal supervision of a duly licensed physician or optometrist from the practices enumerated in this chapter, and each such licensed physi…
RCW 18.34.020 Definitions.
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The term "secretary" wherever used in this chapter shall mean the secretary of health of the state of Washington. The term "apprentice" wherever used in this chapter shall mean a person who shall be designated an apprentice in the records of the secretary at the request of a phys…
RCW 18.34.030 Apprentices.
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No licensee hereunder may have more than two apprentices in training or under their direct supervision at any one time. However, the primary supervisor shall be responsible for the acts of his or her apprentices in the performance of their work in the apprenticeship program and p…
RCW 18.34.050 Examining committee—Compensation and travel expenses.
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The examining committee shall consist of three persons primarily engaged in the business of dispensing opticians and who currently hold a valid license under this chapter. Members of the committee shall be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.240 and shall be reimbursed for t…
RCW 18.34.060 Dispensing optician.
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A dispensing optician is a person who prepares duplications of, or prepares and dispenses lenses, spectacles, eyeglasses and/or appurtenances thereto to the intended wearers thereof on written prescriptions from physicians or optometrists, and in accordance with such prescription…
RCW 18.34.070 Applicants—Eligibility for examination—Fee.
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Any applicant for a license shall be examined if he or she pays an examination fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and certifies under oath that he or she:(1) Is eighteen years or more of age; and(2) Has graduated from an accredited high school; and(3) Is…
RCW 18.34.080 Examination—Issuance and display of license.
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The examination shall determine whether the applicant has a thorough knowledge of the principles governing the practice of a dispensing optician which is hereby declared necessary for the protection of the public health. The examining committee may approve an examination prepared…
RCW 18.34.110 Existing practitioner—Fee.
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The secretary shall issue a license without examination to any person who makes application therefor within six months after June 12, 1957, pays a fee of fifty dollars and certifies under oath that he or she is of good moral character and has been actually and principally engaged…
RCW 18.34.115 Credentialing by endorsement.
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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 332 s 33.]Notes:App…
RCW 18.34.120 Renewal registration fee—Continuing education.
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Each licensee hereunder shall pay a renewal registration fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280. The secretary may adopt rules establishing mandatory continuing education requirements to be met by persons applying for license renewal.[ 1996 c 1…
RCW 18.34.136 Application of uniform disciplinary act.
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The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees under this chapter.[ 1987 c 150 s 19; 1986 c 259 s 45.]Notes:Severability—1987 c 150: See RCW 18.122.901.Severability—1986 c 259: Se…
RCW 18.34.141 License required.
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No person may practice or represent himself or herself as a dispensing optician without first having a valid license to do so.[ 1987 c 150 s 20.]Notes:Severability—1987 c 150: See RCW 18.122.901.
RCW 18.34.151 Licensing requirements—Military training or experience.
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An applicant with military training or experience satisfies the training or experience requirements of this chapter unless the secretary determines that the military training or experience is not substantially equivalent to the standards of this state.[ 2011 c 32 s 2.]
RCW 18.35.005 Regulation of health care professions—Criteria.
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See chapter 18.120 RCW.
RCW 18.35.008 Intent.
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It is the intent of this chapter to protect the public health, safety, and welfare; to protect the public from being misled by incompetent, unethical, and unauthorized persons; and to assure the availability of hearing and speech services of high quality to persons in need of suc…
RCW 18.35.010 Definitions.
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The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Assistive listening device or system" means an amplification system that is specifically designed to improve the signal to noise ratio for the listener, reduce interfe…
RCW 18.35.020 Hearing instruments—Dispensing—License, certificate, permit required.
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(1) No person shall engage in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments or imply or represent that he or she is engaged in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments unless he or she is a licensed hearing aid specialist, or a licensed audiologist or holds an interi…
RCW 18.35.030 Receipt required—Contents.
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Any person who engages in fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments shall provide to each person who enters into an agreement to purchase a hearing instrument a receipt at the time of the agreement containing the following information:(1) The seller's name, signature, license…
RCW 18.35.040 Applicants—Generally.
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(1) An applicant for licensure as a hearing aid specialist must have the following minimum qualifications and shall pay a fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250. An applicant shall be issued a license under the provisions of this chapter if the applicant has…
RCW 18.35.050 Examination—Required—When offered—Review.
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Except as otherwise provided in this chapter an applicant for license shall appear at a time and place and before such persons as the department may designate to be examined by written or practical tests, or both. Examinations in hearing aid specialist, speech-language pathology,…
RCW 18.35.060 Interim permit—Issuance.
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The department, upon approval by the board, shall issue an interim permit authorizing an applicant for speech-language pathologist licensure or audiologist licensure who, except for the postgraduate professional experience and the examination requirements, meets the academic and …
RCW 18.35.070 Examination—Contents—Tests.
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The hearing aid specialist written or practical examination, or both, provided in RCW 18.35.050 shall consist of:(1) Tests of knowledge in the following areas as they pertain to the fitting of hearing instruments:(a) Basic physics of sound;(b) The human hearing mechanism, includi…
RCW 18.35.080 License—Generally.
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(1) The department shall license each qualified applicant who satisfactorily completes the required examinations for his or her profession and complies with administrative procedures and administrative requirements established pursuant to RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.(2) The board…
RCW 18.35.085 Credentialing by endorsement.
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An applicant holding a credential in another state, territory, or the District of Columbia may be credentialed to practice in this state without examination if the board determines that the other state's credentialing standards are substantially equivalent to the standards in thi…
RCW 18.35.090 Compliance with administrative procedures, requirements—Display of license—Continuing education, competency standards.
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Each person who engages in practice under this chapter shall comply with administrative procedures and administrative requirements established under RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280 and shall keep the license or interim permit conspicuously posted in the place of business at all times…
RCW 18.35.095 Licensure or certification—Inactive status.
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(1) A hearing aid specialist licensed under this chapter and not actively practicing may be placed on inactive status by the department at the written request of the licensee. The board shall define by rule the conditions for inactive status licensure. In addition to the requirem…
RCW 18.35.100 Place of business.
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(1) Every hearing aid specialist, audiologist, speech-language pathologist, or interim permit holder, who is regulated under this chapter, shall notify the department in writing of the regular address of the place or places in the state of Washington where the person practices or…
RCW 18.35.105 Records—Contents.
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Each licensee and interim permit holder under this chapter shall keep records of all services rendered for a minimum of three years. These records shall contain the names and addresses of all persons to whom services were provided. Hearing aid specialists, audiologists, and inter…
RCW 18.35.110 Disciplinary action—Grounds.
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In addition to causes specified under RCW 18.130.170 and 18.130.180, any person licensed or holding an interim permit under this chapter may be subject to disciplinary action by the board for any of the following causes:(1) For unethical conduct in dispensing hearing instruments.…
RCW 18.35.120 Disciplinary action—Additional grounds.
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A licensee or interim permit holder under this chapter may also be subject to disciplinary action if the licensee or interim permit holder:(1) Is found guilty in any court of any crime involving forgery, embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, larceny, extortion, or …
RCW 18.35.140 Powers and duties of department.
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The powers and duties of the department, in addition to the powers and duties provided under other sections of this chapter, are as follows:(1) To provide space necessary to carry out the examination set forth in RCW 18.35.070 of applicants for hearing aid specialist licenses or …
RCW 18.35.150 Board of hearing and speech—Created—Membership—Qualifications—Terms—Vacancies—Meetings—Compensation—Travel expenses.
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(1) There is created hereby the board of hearing and speech to govern the three separate professions: Hearing aid specialist, audiology, and speech-language pathology. The board shall consist of eleven members to be appointed by the governor.(2) Members of the board shall be resi…
RCW 18.35.161 Board—Powers and duties.
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*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6226-S.SL) ***The board shall have the following powers and duties:(1) To establish by rule such minimum standards and procedures in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments as deemed appropriate and in the public interest;(2) To adopt any oth…
RCW 18.35.162 Unprofessional conduct.
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Violation of the standards adopted by rule under RCW 18.35.161 is unprofessional conduct under this chapter and chapter 18.130 RCW.[ 1996 c 200 s 21.]
RCW 18.35.172 Application of uniform disciplinary act.
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The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses and interim permits, and the discipline of licensees and permit holders under this chapter.[ 2002 c 310 s 17; 1998 c 142 s 12; 1996 c 200 s 22; 1987 c 150 s 21.]Note…
RCW 18.35.175 Unlawful sales practices.
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It is unlawful to fit or dispense a hearing instrument to a resident of this state if the attempted sale or purchase is offered or made by telephone or mail order and there is no face-to-face contact to test or otherwise determine the needs of the prospective purchaser. This sect…
RCW 18.35.180 Application of Consumer Protection Act and False Advertising Act.
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Acts and practices in the course of trade in the promoting, advertising, selling, fitting, and dispensing of hearing instruments shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 19.86 RCW (Consumer Protection Act) and RCW 9.04.050 (False Advertising Act) and any violation of the pro…
RCW 18.35.185 Rescission of transaction—Requirements—Notice.
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(1) In addition to any other rights and remedies a purchaser may have, the purchaser of a hearing instrument shall have the right to rescind the transaction for other than the licensed hearing aid specialist, licensed audiologist, or interim permit holder's breach if:(a) The purc…
RCW 18.35.190 Valid license prerequisite to suits.
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In addition to remedies otherwise provided by law, in any action brought by or on behalf of a person required to be licensed or to hold an interim permit under this chapter, or by any assignee or transferee, it shall be necessary to allege and prove that the licensee or interim p…
RCW 18.35.195 Exemptions.
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(1) This chapter shall not apply to military or federal government employees.(2) This chapter does not prohibit or regulate:(a) Fitting or dispensing by students enrolled in a board-approved program who are directly supervised by a licensed hearing aid specialist, a licensed audi…
RCW 18.35.200 Other laws unaffected.
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The provisions of this chapter shall not exclude the application of any other law to persons or circumstances covered under this chapter.[ 1973 1st ex.s. c 106 s 20.]
RCW 18.35.205 Chapter exclusive.
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The legislature finds that the public health, safety, and welfare would best be protected by uniform regulation of hearing aid specialists, speech-language pathologists, speech-language pathology assistants, audiologists, and interim permit holders throughout the state. Therefore…