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History: As of January 21, 2008
Title: An act relating to modifying credentialing standards for counselors.
Brief Description: Modifying credentialing standards for counselors.
Sponsors: Senators Keiser, Kohl-Welles and McAuliffe; by request of Governor Gregoire.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Health & Long-Term Care: 1/24/08.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE
Staff: Edith Rice (786-7444)
Background: The Washington State Legislature directed the Department of Health to
convene a work group to develop recommendations regarding the need to regulate those
individuals currently registered with the Department of Health as counselors. This was done
as part of the 2007-2009 operating budget. The Registered Counselor Work Group met,
identified issues, and adopted recommendations. These recommendations were made
available in November 2007 in a final report.
Membership of the work group included: registered counselors, consumers, legislators,
community mental health and chemical dependency treatment organizations, state agencies,
hypnotherapists, mental health counselors, social workers, psychologists, advanced practice
psychiatric nurses, and marriage and family therapists. A letter was sent to all registered
counselors in the state (approximately 18,000) notifying them of the work group.
Current law requires that registered counselors pay a yearly fee of 40 dollars to the
Department of Health and complete four clock hours of AIDS education. They are subject to
the Uniform Disciplinary Act. The work group found that current registered counselor
regulations do not set adequate minimum standards for registered counselors to practice
counseling and should be modified to clarify their role, establish different categories and
minimum requirement, improve public understanding of state standards and consumer rights,
and retain agency oversight.
Summary of Bill: The registered counselor credential is abolished July 1, 2010.
A new health profession credential of certified counselor is created and the Secretary of the
Department of Health (Secretary) is given authority to establish administrative procedures,
continuing education and fees for renewal of this credential.
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members
in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
Senate Bill Report - 1 - SB 6456
Certified counselors must have a bachelors degree in a counseling related field or the
equivalent to be determined by the Secretary. They must pass an examination in risk
assessment, ethics, screening and referral, and other subjects to be determined by the
Secretary. Certified counselors must have a written supervisory agreement with a supervisor
who meets qualifications established by the Secretary.
Registered counselors who wish to become a certified counselor but do not meet the above
requirements, can still qualify if they have been a registered counselor for a minimum of five
years, are in compliance with any disciplinary orders, have taken course work and passed an
examination in risk assessment, ethics, screening and referral, Washington State law, and
other subjects to be determined by the Secretary. They must have a written consultation
agreement with a credential holder who meets qualifications set by the Secretary. Application
must be made by July 1, 2009.
Private practice counseling by a certified counselor is limited to screening of the client's
condition and counseling in accordance with specific counseling methods.
Five new associate/trainee licenses are established for those who are working towards
becoming mental health counselors, clinical or advanced social workers, marriage and family
therapists, or certified chemical dependency professionals.
An advisory committee is established with representation from certified counselors, agency
affiliated counselors, hypnotherapists, and consumers representing the public at large.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 16, 2008.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains several effective dates. Please refer to the bill.
Senate Bill Report - 2 - SB 6456

House Bill 2674

extract:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 18.19 RCW

8 to read as follows:

9 The scope of practice of limited professional counselors consists

10 exclusively of the following:

11 (1) Appropriate screening of the client's level of functional

12 impairment using the global assessment of functioning as described in

13 the fourth edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental

14 disorders, published in 1994. Recognition of a mental or physical

15 disorder or a global assessment of functioning score of sixty or less

16 requires that the limited professional counselor refer the client to a

17 physician, osteopathic physician, or licensed mental health

18 practitioner, as defined by the secretary, for diagnosis and treatment;

19 (2)(a) Counseling and guiding clients who have a global assessment

20 of functioning score greater than sixty in adjusting to life

21 situations, developing new skills, and making desired changes, in

22 accordance with the theories and techniques of a specific counseling

23 method and established practice standards.

24 (b) A limited professional counselor shall not provide counseling

25 or guidance services under (a) of this subsection to a client with a

26 global assessment of functioning score of sixty or less, except as part

27 of a plan of care developed by a physician, osteopathic physician, or

28 licensed mental health practitioner, as defined by the secretary, who

29 is actively treating the client. The limited professional counselor

30 must adhere to any conditions related to the limited professional

31 counselor's role as specified in the plan of care.

32 Sec. 5. RCW 18.19.040 and 2001 c 251 s 20 are each amended to read