Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 18.19 · 20 active provisions
The qualifications and practices of counselors in this state are virtually unknown to potential clients. Beyond the regulated practices of psychiatry and psychology, there are a considerable variety of disciplines, theories, and techniques employed by other counselors under a number of differing titles. The legislature…
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Agency" means (a) an agency or facility operated, licensed, or certified by the state of Washington; (b) a federally recognized Indian tribe located within the state; or (c) a county.(2) "Agency affiliated c…
A person may not, as a part of his or her position as an employee of a state agency, practice counseling without being registered, certified, or licensed to practice as an agency affiliated counselor by the department under this chapter unless exempt under RCW 18.19.040.
The department of health may not issue any new registered counselor credentials after July 1, 2009.
A person may not, for a fee or as a part of his or her position as an employee of a state agency, practice hypnotherapy without being registered to practice as a hypnotherapist by the department under this chapter unless exempt under RCW 18.19.040.
Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prohibit or restrict:(1) The practice of a profession by a person who is either registered, certified, licensed, or similarly regulated under the laws of this state and who is performing services within the person's authorized scope of practice, including any attorney admitte…
(1) In addition to any other authority provided by law, the secretary has the following authority:(a) To adopt rules, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, necessary to implement this chapter;(b) To set all registration, certification, and renewal fees in accordance with RCW 43.70.250 and to collect and deposit all suc…
Certified counselors and certified advisers shall provide clients at the commencement of any program of treatment with accurate disclosure information concerning their practice, in accordance with guidelines developed by the department, that will inform clients of the purposes of and resources available under this chap…
The secretary shall keep an official record of all proceedings, a part of which record shall consist of a register of all applicants for registration under this chapter, with the result of each application.
(1) Application for agency affiliated counselor, certified counselor, certified adviser, or hypnotherapist must be made on forms approved by the secretary. The secretary may require information necessary to determine whether applicants meet the qualifications for the credential and whether there are any grounds for den…
The department may not automatically deny an applicant for an agency affiliated counselor credential who is practicing as a peer counselor in an agency or facility based on a conviction history consisting of convictions for simple assault, assault in the fourth degree, prostitution, theft in the third degree, theft in…
The secretary shall establish administrative procedures, administrative requirements, continuing education, and fees for renewal of credentials as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280. When establishing continuing education requirements for agency affiliated counselors, the secretary shall consult with the appropria…
An individual credentialed under this chapter shall not disclose the written acknowledgment of the disclosure statement pursuant to RCW 18.19.060 nor any information acquired from persons consulting the individual in a professional capacity when that information was necessary to enable the individual to render professi…
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 RCW, or in any way infringing upon the practice of psychology as defined in chapter 18.83 RCW, or restricting the scope of the prac…
The scope of practice of certified counselors and certified advisers consists exclusively of the following:(1) Appropriate screening of the client's level of functional impairment using the global assessment of functioning as described in the fourth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders,…
(1)(a) An applicant for an agency affiliated counselor credential who applies to the department within thirty days of employment by an agency may work as an agency affiliated counselor while the application is processed. The applicant must provide required documentation within reasonable time limits established by the…
The scope of practice of registered, certified, and licensed agency affiliated counselors consists exclusively of the following:(1) Counseling as defined under RCW 18.19.020;(2) A certified agency affiliated counselor may conduct mental health assessments and make mental health diagnoses which shall be reviewed by a cl…
The Washington state-certified counselors and hypnotherapist advisory committee is established.(1) The committee is comprised of seven members. Two committee members must be certified counselors or certified advisers. Two committee members must be hypnotherapists. Three committee members must be consumers and represent…
This chapter shall be known as the omnibus credentialing act for counselors.
To practice counseling, all registered counselors must obtain another health profession credential by July 1, 2010. The registered counselor credential is abolished July 1, 2010.