PERMANENT RULES
Date of Adoption: December 10, 1999.
Purpose: There is a need to implement the 1998 legislation to mandate and further define what will be required for continuing education for certified marriage and family therapists, certified mental health counselors and certified social workers.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.19.170.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 99-22-092 on November 2, 1999.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 7, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 7, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
January 18, 2000
M. C. Selecky
Secretary
OTS-2805.10
CONTINUING EDUCATION
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-810-600
Who is required to have continuing
education?
(1) Certified marriage and family therapists, certified mental health counselors, and certified social workers are required to have continuing education.
(2) The effective date for reporting the required continuing education shall begin with the 2001 renewal cycle.
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The continuing education (CE) program or course shall contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the certified counselor. Courses or workshops primarily designed to increase practice income or office efficiency are specifically not eligible for CE credit. Counselors are encouraged to take CE relating to the various phases of their professional career.
(1) Acceptable CE courses (including distance learning), seminars, workshops and postgraduate institutes are those which are:
(a) Programs having a featured instructor, speaker(s) or panel approved by an industry-recognized local, state, national, international organization or institution of higher learning; or
(b) Distance learning programs, approved by an industry-recognized local, state, national or international organization or institution of higher learning. These programs must require tests of comprehension upon completion.
(2) Training programs sponsored by the agency where a counselor is employed are acceptable if:
(a) The experience can be shown to contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the certified counselor; and
(b) The training programs are limited to twenty-six hours per reporting period.
(3) Other learning experience, such as serving on a panel, board or council, community service, or publishing articles for professional publications, are acceptable if:
(a) The experience can be shown to contribute to the advancement, extension and enhancement of the professional competence of the certified counselor; and
(b) The experiences are limited to six hours per reporting period.
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They are, but not limited to, the following organizations:
(1) American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;
(2) Clinical Social Work Federation;
(3) National Association of Social Workers;
(4) American Mental Health Counselors Association;
(5) National Board for Certified Counselors; or
(6) Institutions of higher learning that are accredited by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the Commission on Recognition of Postsecondary Accreditation.
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OTS-3237.4
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-810-630
How many hours do I need and in what time
period?
Certified counselors must complete thirty-six hours of continuing education every two years. At least four of the thirty-six hours must be in professional ethics and law.
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The certificate holder who prepares and presents lectures or education that contributes to the professional competence of a certified counselor may accumulate the same number of hours obtained for continuing education purposes by attendees as required in WAC 246-12-220. The hours for presenting a specific topic lecture or education may only be used for continuing education credit once during each renewal period.
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OTS-3238.4
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-810-650
How do I document my courses?
Acceptable documentation shall include transcripts, letters from course instructors, certificate of completion, or other formal certification, as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.
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The certificate holder returning to active status from temporary retirement pursuant to RCW 18.19.160(2) must provide a written declaration that the continuing education requirements for the two most recent years have been met.
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