Resources for Students
OBTAINING COUNSELOR REGISTRATION IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
RCW 18.19, the Washington State Law relating to counselors, stipulates that any person providing counseling services for a fee be registered with the State through the Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance Program. Although the law specifically exempts students from its requirements, agencies are not prevented from requiring students to be registered in order to meet conditions of agency credentialing regulations or for insurance coverage. Students providing mental health services are likely to be asked to register. If in doubt, students should check the agency requirements in their Practicum Placement Data (PPD) form online or in the library, and/or with the agency contact or potential practicum instructor. This is a summarized guideline.
Several steps are required for registration, and the process can take over six weeks to complete. Students cannot see clients until registration is obtained, so applications should be submitted well before practicum begins
- REQUEST APPLICATION : Contact the Washington State Department of Health for an application for Counselor Registration. They may be reached in Olympia at 360-237-4700 or online at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps7/Registered_Counselor/forms.htm (NOTE: The online application website contains complete information about this process and is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED as your best source of guidance to a successful application.)
- HIV/AIDS TRAINING PREREQUISITE: You must provide documentation that you have received four hours of HIV/AIDS training, as required by state law for counselors. If you have not received this training, check with your practicum site to see if they offer the training in either a classroom, video, or DVD format. If they do not offer the training, check the Dept. of Health HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education Services newsletter ‘Washington State Responds”, which lists statewide HIV/AIDS trainings that meet state licensure regulations. Trainings are offered frequently by local hospitals, community and technical colleges, the American Red Cross, health departments and health districts, and HIV/AIDS organizations, at minimal cost ($15-50). See http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/hiv_aids/Prev_Edu/training.htm for a full listing of current training sites.
- COMPLETE APPLICATION : Be honest about your history. You should disclose and explain all moving violations, previous credentialing disciplinary actions, domestic violence, or criminal charges. A “yes” answer does not automatically prohibit the DOH from issuing a credential; each application is evaluated on an individual basis and conditional or restricted credentials may be issued. Criminal background checks are conducted on all new applicants through the Washington State Patrol and/or Superior/District Court Information Systems. Arrests and convictions will appear even if deferred, dismissed or reduced, and your application can be considered fraudulent if you did not disclose history revealed in a background check. If you have been credentialed in another state, you will be asked for a release of information from that state regarding your credentialing status. Your Social Security Number is also required.
- MAIL $40 FEE AND DEPOSIT SLIP FORM with APPLICATION. DOH requires you to fill out their online deposit form DOH-670-034 and attach it with your check or money order to the application. Costs will be higher if you have ever had a counselor registration and let it lapse (see Expired Counselor Registration information). Mail to Department of Health, Registered Counselor Program, P.O. Box 1099, Olympia, WA 98507-1099. Fees are yearly, renewable before your next birthday.
- ONCE YOUR APPLICATION IS APPROVED: Once your application is approved, a registration number will be assigned to you once (viewable online), after which you may begin seeing clients. The registration will be mailed to the address you provided and must be displayed in your place of work. You will be asked to complete a disclosure form for clients that describes your training and methods of counseling. You are expected to provide clients with that personal information and an agency brochure that defines client and counselor rights and responsibilities, as well as avenues for filing complaints. Make sure your practicum site instructor provides complete and clear information to you about how to comply with these requirements.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION , contact the WA Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance, Registered Counselor Program at https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/hpqa1/hps7/Registered_Counselor.htm or by phone at 360-237-4700. An alternate website pathway for Health Professionals is through http://www.doh.wa.gov/licensing.
