The following "frequently asked questions" is based on a revised
3/2/09 DRAFT of the rules for the new
credentials mentioned above. (Updated April 21, 2009.)
"Note: The purpose of this
document is to provide general information regarding the draft
rules. This document is not and will not be part of the official
rules or statutes regulating the professions. As the proposed
rules may change before final adoption, information provided in
this document may become outdated and/or may become inaccurate.
You are therefore strongly encouraged to obtain and review the
final rules when they are adopted."
Please read the Frequently Asked Questions document (below) and the
draft rules for answers. In addition, please share with anyone
else that will be affected by the changes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Regarding Draft Changes To WAC 246-810 For Certified Counselor, Certified Adviser, Agency Affiliated Counselor, and Hypnotherapist
Note: The purpose of this document is to provide general information
regarding the draft rules dated March 2, 2009. This document is not and will not be part of the official rules or statutes
regulating the professions. As the proposed rules may change before final adoption, information provided in this document
may become outdated and/or may become inaccurate. You are therefore strongly encouraged to obtain and review the final rules
when they are adopted.
Background: Legislation passed in 2008
will result in significant changes to the registered counselor credential in 2009 and 2010:
Timelines:
•
Beginning July 2, 2009, no new registered counselor credentials will be issued.
•
Existing registered counselor credentials can be renewed or reactivated, and will be valid through
June 30, 2010. As of July1, 2010 this credential will be abolished.
•
Therefore, individuals with a registered counselor credential will need to obtain a different credential by
July 1, 2010, if they intend to continue practicing after that date.
More: Questions and answers about time-lines.
New Credentials:
Eight new credentials will be created on
July 1, 2009:
·
Agency
Affiliated Counselor Registration – a
new registration for individuals who work in counseling for the
state of Washington, or who work for agencies or facilities that are
licensed or certified by the state of Washington.
·
Certified
Counselor License and Certified
Adviser License – new licenses for individuals who perform
private practice counseling.
·
Chemical
Dependency Professional Trainee Certification – a new certification for individuals who are in
training to become a Chemical Dependency Professional.
·
Mental Health
Counselor Associate License – a new
license for individuals who are gaining the supervised experience to
become a licensed Mental Health Counselor.
·
Marriage and
Family Therapist Associate License – a
new license for individuals who are gaining the supervised
experience to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
·
Social Work
Associate Advanced License and
Social Work Associate Independent Clinical – new
licenses for individuals who are gaining the supervised experience
to become a licensed Social Worker.
[ Webmaster:
What about the hypnotist or
Hypnotherapist ? ]
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Questions and
Answers Regarding Timelines:
1.
Question: I would like
to begin a new counseling practice in July, 2009. Can I become a
registered counselor at that time?
Answer:
You will not be able to obtain a new registered counselor credential
after July 1, 2009 (this year). You may obtain a new registered counselor credential before
June 30, 2009, and practice under that registered counselor
credential until the date that all registered counselor credentials
are abolished - on July 1, 2010 (next year). If you expect to
begin counseling after June 30 of this year, and have never had a
registered counselor credential, you will need to apply for and
obtain a credential other than registered counselor before you can
begin counseling.
2.
Question: I am currently a registered
counselor. Will I automatically be grandfathered into one of
the new credentials?
Answer: No. Everyone
will have to apply for a new credential (certified counselor,
certified adviser, or agency affiliated counselor). There will
be no grandfathering. Everyone will have to meet the minimum
requirements in rule and pay the application/examination fee.
3.
Question: I am currently a registered
counselor. Can I renew and practice under this credential until
July 1, 2010?
Answer:
Yes.
4. Question: I had a credential as a
registered counselor, but let it expire. Can I
reactivate the credential?
Answer: Yes,
you can reactive the expired credential, but it will only be renewed
through June 30, 2010, because all registered counselor credentials
will be abolished on July 1, 2010.
5. Question: When can I apply for one of
the new eight credentials?
Answer:
Applications can be submitted beginning July 1, 2009.
6. Question: I’m planning on applying
for one of the new credentials. How quickly will I receive it?
Answer:
Processing time will vary greatly depending on the type of
credential you are applying for. Credential types which do not
require verification of education or experience, or an examination,
such as Agency Affiliated Counselor and Chemical Dependency
Professional Trainee can be processed with fewer steps and will
require less time to issue the credential. Other credential types
which require verification and review of documentation such as
education, training, and experience may require much time to
complete before the credentials can be issued. Applications are
processed in the date order that they are received.
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Questions and
Answers Regarding the Rule Definition
Section
1. Question:
Why do the draft rules still refer to registered counselor?
Answer:
Because the registered counselor credential will remain valid and
will not be abolished until July 1, 2010, existing rules and
regulations will remain in effect for registered counselors until
that date.
2. Question:
I noticed that there is a definition of counseling has been added in
the draft rules. Where did this come from?
Answer: This
definition of counseling has been in the counselor statute (RCW
18.19) for many years. It had not been included in the rules until
now, and is being added to improve and add clarity to the rules.
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Questions and
Answers Regarding the Exemption Rule Section
1. Question:
Is it correct that certain practices and settings are exempt from
requiring a credential to practice counseling.
Answer: Yes the legislature has identified these
exemptions in statute. See RCW 18.19.040 or WAC 246-810-011 “Exempt activities
and individuals” in the draft rules.
2. Question: Are these
exemptions new?
Answer: Only one of the eight areas of exemption is new
- 246-810-011(7) – peer counselors. The other exemptions
have been in statute for many years.
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Questions and
Answers Regarding the State Employee
Rule Section
1. Question: I’m a state
employee where I provide counseling services. Do I have to have a
credential?
Answer: Yes, if you meet the definition of
counseling and you work in one of the agency/facilities listed in
WAC 246-810-016 or 017.
2. Question: Is this a
new requirement?
Answer: No, it has been part of the counseling statute
for many years. What is new is that instead of obtaining a
registered counselor credential, state employees will obtain a
registration for agency affiliated counselor. (State employees
providing hypnotherapy services will continue to obtain the
hypnotherapist registration.)
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Questions and
Answers Regarding the Agency
Affiliated Counselor
Rules Section
1. Question: What is the definition of an
agency affiliated counselor?
Answer: "Agency
affiliated counselor" means a person registered under chapter 18.19
RCW, who is engaged in counseling and employed by an agency.
2.
Question: What is the definition of an agency?
Answer: Agency
means: an agency or facility operated, licensed or certified by the
state of Washington.
3.
Question: I work for an agency that has a
business license in the state of Washington. Will my
employer's business license by itself qualify me to register as an
agency affiliated counselor?
Answer: No, your
employer's business license by itself does not meet the standard to
employ agency affiliated counselors. Your employer should
review the rule on becoming recognized to employ agency affiliated
counselors.
4.
Question:
I am a state employee and provide counseling services as part of my
job. When I apply for an agency affiliated counselor, will I need to
document my degree and take a test?
Answer:
No. Agency affiliated counselor is a new registration, and does
not require documentation of a degree or an examination. However,
as with all credentials, applicants for agency affiliated counselor
will have to show proof of having completed a course on AIDs/HIV,
and pass a criminal background check. In addition, in the future,
continuing education requirements may be established in order to
renew your agency affiliated counselor registration. (See
continuing education questions and answers.)
5.
Question:
I’m a registered counselor but I don’t work for a state agency, nor
for an agency or facility operated, licensed, or certified by the
state. Can I register as an agency affiliated counselor?
Answer: No,
you do not qualify for an agency affiliated counselor registration.
In order to continue counseling, you will need to apply for and
obtain a credential other than agency affiliated counselor by June
30, 2010.
6. Question: I’m not a
state employee, but I work for a facility that is licensed by the
state. I don’t see my facility listed in the rules as being
recognized. Can my facility request to be recognized, so that I
can be register as an agency affiliated counselor?
Answer: Your facility can request to be recognized, but
a review will have to be conducted to confirm that the facility is
licensed or certified. A process for such reviews is being
developed.
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Questions and
Answers Regarding the Certified
Counselor and Adviser Rules Section
1. Question:
I will have just a month less than five years as a registered
counselor at the end of June, 2010. When I apply for certified
counselor, will I have to show that I have a bachelor’s degree in a
counseling-related field? Also, will I be required to have
supervision arrangement instead of consultation arrangement?
Answer: Yes
to both. Since you will have been a registered counselor for less
than five years at the time the registered counselor credential is
abolished, you will have to show proof of the degree, and you will
be required to have supervision instead of consultation.
2.
Question: Does the 5 years need to be consecutive or total if
I have let it expire?
Answer: The 5 years does not
have to be consecutive but must total 5 years and your registered
counselor credential must be active at the time of application it
cannot be expired.
3. Question:
My degree is in a counseling-related field, but it isn’t one that is
listed in the rules. Can I request that my degree be recognized?
Answer:
Yes. A review process to recognize degrees in additional areas is
being developed. See WAC 246-810-024.
4. Question:
Will I able to obtain a reading list so that I can study for the
examination?
Answer:
Yes. The examination and study guide are still being developed and
are not yet available. As information becomes available it will be
posted on the website.
5. Question:
A friend and I are both applying for certified counselor. Can we
act as supervisor or consultants to each other to satisfy that
requirement?
Answer: No.
The draft rules prohibit such dual role relationships. See WAC
246-810-026.
6.
Question: Do I have to apply to the state in order to
serve as a supervisor or consultant?
Answer: No,
applying to the department is not required in order to serve as a
supervisor or consultant. However, supervisors, consultants, and the
credential holders they supervise or provide consultation to must
meet all of the requirements established in the rules, and may be
asked to provide evidence to the department that they meet the
requirements should there be a question. See WAC 246-810-026.
7. Question:
Will there be more detailed standards on supervision and
consultation?
Answer: It
is anticipated that additional rules will be developed on these
standards after the year of transition. An advisory committee will
be appointed, and will be available to assist in the further
development and improvement of the standards. See WAC
246-810-025.
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Questions and
Answers Regarding Continuing
Education Rules Section
Question:
What are the continuing education requirements for agency affiliated
counselors?
Answer:
The establishment of continuing education requirements for Agency
Affiliated Counselors is permitted under the statute enacted by the
Legislature. However, the legislation requires that the Secretary of
Health consult with all state agencies that utilize Agency
Affiliated Counselors before adopting these requirements. Since all
state agencies that will utilize Agency Affiliated Counselors will
not be known until these credentials begin to be issued later this
year, the
establishment of Agency Affiliated Counselor continuing education
requirements will not occur at this time.
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General
Questions and Answers
1. Question:
Have the fees for the new credentials been determined?
Answer:
Yes, the proposed fees for the new credentials can be found in WAC
246-810-990.
2. Question:
When will the applications be available?
Answer:
We will start accepting applications on July 1, 2009. The
application packets will be posted online as soon as they are available.
[Links to Application
Packets]
END
See also:
Questions about counseling in
Washington State
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