RCW 18.120.010
Purpose
—
Criteria.
(1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish guidelines for the regulation of health professions not licensed or regulated prior to July 24, 1983, and those licensed or regulated health professions which seek to substantially increase their scope of practice: PROVIDED, That the provisions of this chapter are not intended and shall not be construed to: (a) Apply to any regulatory entity created prior to July 24, 1983, except as provided in this chapter; (b) affect the powers and responsibilities of the superintendent of public instruction or Washington professional educator standards board under RCW 28A.410.210
and
28A.410.010
; (c) apply to or interfere in any way with the practice of religion or to any kind of treatment by prayer; and (d) apply to any remedial or technical amendments to any statutes which licensed or regulated activity before July 24, 1983. The legislature believes that all individuals should be permitted to enter into a health profession unless there is an overwhelming need for the state to protect the interests of the public by restricting entry into the profession. Where such a need is identified, the regulation adopted by the state should be set at the least restrictive level consistent with the public interest to be protected.
(2) It is the intent of this chapter that no regulation shall, after July 24, 1983, be imposed upon any health profession except for the exclusive purpose of protecting the public interest. All bills introduced in the legislature to regulate a health profession for the first time should be reviewed according to the following criteria. A health profession should be regulated by the state only when:
(a) Unregulated practice can clearly harm or endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the public, and the potential for the harm is easily recognizable and not remote or dependent upon tenuous argument;
(b) The public needs and can reasonably be expected to benefit from an assurance of initial and continuing professional ability; and
(c) The public cannot be effectively protected by other means in a more cost-beneficial manner.
(3) After evaluating the criteria in subsection (2) of this section and considering governmental and societal costs and benefits, if the legislature finds that it is necessary to regulate a health profession not previously regulated by law, the least restrictive alternative method of regulation should be implemented, consistent with the public interest and this section:
(a) Where existing common law and statutory civil actions and criminal prohibitions are not sufficient to eradicate existing harm, the regulation should provide for stricter civil actions and criminal prosecutions;
(b) Where a service is being performed for individuals involving a hazard to the public health, safety, or welfare, the regulation should impose inspection requirements and enable an appropriate state agency to enforce violations by injunctive relief in court, including, but not limited to, regulation of the business activity providing the service rather than the employees of the business;
(c) Where the threat to the public health, safety, or economic well-being is relatively small as a result of the operation of the health profession, the regulation should implement a system of registration;
(d) Where the consumer may have a substantial basis for relying on the services of a practitioner, the regulation should implement a system of certification; or
(e) Where apparent that adequate regulation cannot be achieved by means other than licensing, the regulation should implement a system of licensing.
[
2005 c 497 s 219
;
1990 c 33 s 554
;
1983 c 168 s 1
.]
NOTES:
Intent
—
Part headings not law
—
Effective date
—
2005 c 497:
See notes following RCW 28A.305.011
.
Purpose
—
Statutory references
—
Severability
—
1990 c 33:
See RCW 28A.900.100
through
28A.900.102
.
RCW 18.120.020
Definitions.
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Applicant group" includes any health professional group or organization, any individual, or any other interested party which proposes that any health professional group not presently regulated be regulated or which proposes to substantially increase the scope of practice of the profession.
(2) "Certificate" and "certification" mean a voluntary process by which a statutory regulatory entity grants recognition to an individual who (a) has met certain prerequisite qualifications specified by that regulatory entity, and (b) may assume or use "certified" in the title or designation to perform prescribed health professional tasks.
(3) "Grandfather clause" means a provision in a regulatory statute applicable to practitioners actively engaged in the regulated health profession prior to the effective date of the regulatory statute which exempts the practitioners from meeting the prerequisite qualifications set forth in the regulatory statute to perform prescribed occupational tasks.
(4) "Health professions" means and includes the following health and health-related licensed or regulated professions and occupations: Podiatric medicine and surgery under chapter
18.22
RCW; chiropractic under chapter
18.25
RCW; dental hygiene under chapter
18.29
RCW; dentistry under chapter
18.32
RCW; denturism under chapter
18.30
RCW; dental anesthesia assistants under chapter
18.350
RCW; dispensing opticians under chapter
18.34
RCW; hearing instruments under chapter
18.35
RCW; naturopaths under chapter
18.36A
RCW; embalming and funeral directing under chapter
18.39
RCW; midwifery under chapter
18.50
RCW; nursing home administration under chapter
18.52
RCW; optometry under chapters
18.53
and
18.54
RCW; ocularists under chapter
18.55
RCW; osteopathic medicine and surgery under chapter
18.57
RCW; pharmacy under chapters
18.64
and
18.64A
RCW; medicine under chapters
18.71
and
18.71A
RCW; emergency medicine under chapter
18.73
RCW; physical therapy under chapter
18.74
RCW; practical nurses under chapter
18.79
RCW; psychologists under chapter
18.83
RCW; registered nurses under chapter
18.79
RCW; occupational therapists licensed under chapter
18.59
RCW; respiratory care practitioners licensed under chapter
18.89
RCW; veterinarians and veterinary technicians under chapter
18.92
RCW; massage therapists under chapter
18.108
RCW; acupuncturists or acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners licensed under chapter
18.06
RCW; persons registered under chapter
18.19
RCW; persons licensed as mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers under chapter
18.225
RCW; dietitians and nutritionists certified by chapter
18.138
RCW; radiologic technicians under chapter
18.84
RCW; nursing assistants registered or certified under chapter
18.88A
RCW; reflexologists certified under chapter
18.108
RCW; medical assistants-certified, medical assistants-hemodialysis technician, medical assistants-phlebotomist, forensic phlebotomist, medical assistant-EMT, and medical assistants-registered certified and registered under chapter
18.360
RCW; licensed behavior analysts, licensed assistant behavior analysts, and certified behavior technicians under chapter
18.380
RCW; music therapists licensed under chapter
18.233
RCW; dental therapists licensed under chapter
18.265
RCW; and anesthesiologist assistants licensed under chapter
18.71D
RCW.
(5) "Inspection" means the periodic examination of practitioners by a state agency in order to ascertain whether the practitioners' occupation is being carried out in a fashion consistent with the public health, safety, and welfare.
(6) "Legislative committees of reference" means the standing legislative committees designated by the respective rules committees of the senate and house of representatives to consider proposed legislation to regulate health professions not previously regulated.
(7) "License," "licensing," and "licensure" mean permission to engage in a health profession which would otherwise be unlawful in the state in the absence of the permission. A license is granted to those individuals who meet prerequisite qualifications to perform prescribed health professional tasks and for the use of a particular title.
(8) "Practitioner" means an individual who (a) has achieved knowledge and skill by practice, and (b) is actively engaged in a specified health profession.
(9) "Professional license" means an individual, nontransferable authorization to carry on a health activity based on qualifications which include: (a) Graduation from an accredited or approved program, and (b) acceptable performance on a qualifying examination or series of examinations.
(10) "Public member" means an individual who is not, and never was, a member of the health profession being regulated or the spouse of a member, or an individual who does not have and never has had a material financial interest in either the rendering of the health professional service being regulated or an activity directly related to the profession being regulated.
(11) "Registration" means the formal notification which, prior to rendering services, a practitioner shall submit to a state agency setting forth the name and address of the practitioner; the location, nature and operation of the health activity to be practiced; and, if required by the regulatory entity, a description of the service to be provided.
(12) "Regulatory entity" means any board, commission, agency, division, or other unit or subunit of state government which regulates one or more professions, occupations, industries, businesses, or other endeavors in this state.
(13) "State agency" includes every state office, department, board, commission, regulatory entity, and agency of the state, and, where provided by law, programs and activities involving less than the full responsibility of a state agency.
[
2024 c 362 s 9
;
2024 c 217 s 6
. Prior:
2023 c 460 s 14
;
2023 c 175 s 9
;
2020 c 80 s 22
;
2019 c 308 s 17
;
2017 c 336 s 19
; prior:
2016 c 41 s 17
;
2015 c 118 s 12
; prior:
2012 c 153 s 15
;
2012 c 153 s 14
;
2012 c 137 s 18
;
2012 c 23 s 8
;
2010 c 286 s 14
;
2001 c 251 s 26
;
2000 c 93 s 15
;
1997 c 334 s 13
;
1996 c 178 s 9
; prior:
1995 c 323 s 15
;
1995 c 1 s 18
(Initiative Measure No. 607, approved November 8, 1994);
1994 sp.s. c 9 s 718
;
1989 c 300 s 14
; prior:
1988 c 277 s 12
;
1988 c 267 s 21
; prior:
1987 c 512 s 21
;
1987 c 447 s 17
;
1987 c 415 s 16
;
1987 c 412 s 14
; prior:
1985 c 326 s 28
;
1985 c 117 s 3
; prior:
1984 c 279 s 57
;
1984 c 9 s 18
;
1983 c 168 s 2
.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note:
This section was amended by 2024 c 217 s 6 and by 2024 c 362 s 9, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025
(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025
(1).
Effective date
—
2023 c 460 ss 1-22:
See note following RCW 18.265.005
.
Effective date
—
2020 c 80 ss 12-59:
See note following RCW 7.68.030
.
Intent
—
2020 c 80:
See note following RCW 18.71A.010
.
Findings
—
2019 c 308:
See note following RCW 18.06.010
.
Effective date
—
2017 c 336 ss 18 and 19:
See note following RCW 18.130.040
.
Finding
—
2017 c 336:
See note following RCW 9.96.060
.
Effective date
—
2016 c 41:
See note following RCW 18.108.010
.
Effective date
—
2015 c 118:
See note following RCW 18.380.010
.
Effective date
—
2012 c 153 ss 15 and 17:
"Sections 15 and 17 of this act take effect July 1, 2016." [
2012 c 153 s 23
.]
Rules
—
2012 c 153:
See note following RCW 18.360.005
.
Finding
—
Purpose
—
Rules
—
Effective date
—
2012 c 137:
See notes following RCW 18.108.005
.
Intent
—
2010 c 286:
See RCW 18.06.005
.
Severability
—
2001 c 251:
See RCW 18.225.900
.
Effective dates
—
1997 c 334:
See note following RCW 18.89.010
.
Effective date
—
1996 c 178:
See note following RCW 18.35.110
.
Short title
—
1995 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 607):
See RCW 18.30.900
.
Severability
—
Headings and captions not law
—
Effective date
—
1994 sp.s. c 9:
See RCW 18.79.900
through
18.79.902
.
Effective date
—
1987 c 412:
See RCW 18.84.901
.
Severability
—
1984 c 279:
See RCW 18.130.901
.
RCW 18.120.030
Applicants for regulation
—
Information.
After July 24, 1983, if appropriate, applicant groups shall explain each of the following factors to the extent requested by the legislative committees of reference:
(1) A definition of the problem and why regulation is necessary:
(a) The nature of the potential harm to the public if the health profession is not regulated, and the extent to which there is a threat to public health and safety;
(b) The extent to which consumers need and will benefit from a method of regulation identifying competent practitioners, indicating typical employers, if any, of practitioners in the health profession; and
(c) The extent of autonomy a practitioner has, as indicated by:
(i) The extent to which the health profession calls for independent judgment and the extent of skill or experience required in making the independent judgment; and
(ii) The extent to which practitioners are supervised;
(2) The efforts made to address the problem:
(a) Voluntary efforts, if any, by members of the health profession to:
(i) Establish a code of ethics; or
(ii) Help resolve disputes between health practitioners and consumers; and
(b) Recourse to and the extent of use of applicable law and whether it could be strengthened to control the problem;
(3) The alternatives considered:
(a) Regulation of business employers or practitioners rather than employee practitioners;
(b) Regulation of the program or service rather than the individual practitioners;
(c) Registration of all practitioners;
(d) Certification of all practitioners;
(e) Other alternatives;
(f) Why the use of the alternatives specified in this subsection would not be adequate to protect the public interest; and
(g) Why licensing would serve to protect the public interest;
(4) The benefit to the public if regulation is granted:
(a) The extent to which the incidence of specific problems present in the unregulated health profession can reasonably be expected to be reduced by regulation;
(b) Whether the public can identify qualified practitioners;
(c) The extent to which the public can be confident that qualified practitioners are competent:
(i) Whether the proposed regulatory entity would be a board composed of members of the profession and public members, or a state agency, or both, and, if appropriate, their respective responsibilities in administering the system of registration, certification, or licensure, including the composition of the board and the number of public members, if any; the powers and duties of the board or state agency regarding examinations and for cause revocation, suspension, and nonrenewal of registrations, certificates, or licenses; the promulgation of rules and canons of ethics; the conduct of inspections; the receipt of complaints and disciplinary action taken against practitioners; and how fees would be levied and collected to cover the expenses of administering and operating the regulatory system;
(ii) If there is a grandfather clause, whether such practitioners will be required to meet the prerequisite qualifications established by the regulatory entity at a later date;
(iii) The nature of the standards proposed for registration, certification, or licensure as compared with the standards of other jurisdictions;
(iv) Whether the regulatory entity would be authorized to enter into reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions;
(v) The nature and duration of any training including, but not limited to, whether the training includes a substantial amount of supervised field experience; whether training programs exist in this state; if there will be an experience requirement; whether the experience must be acquired under a registered, certificated, or licensed practitioner; whether there are alternative routes of entry or methods of meeting the prerequisite qualifications; whether all applicants will be required to pass an examination; and, if an examination is required, by whom it will be developed and how the costs of development will be met; and
(vi) What additional training programs are anticipated to be necessary to assure training accessible statewide; the anticipated time required to establish the additional training programs; the types of institutions capable of providing the training; a description of how training programs will meet the needs of the expected workforce, including reentry workers, minorities, placebound students, and others;
(d) Assurance of the public that practitioners have maintained their competence:
(i) Whether the registration, certification, or licensure will carry an expiration date; and
(ii) Whether renewal will be based only upon payment of a fee, or whether renewal will involve reexamination, peer review, or other enforcement;
(5) The extent to which regulation might harm the public:
(a) The extent to which regulation will restrict entry into the health profession:
(i) Whether the proposed standards are more restrictive than necessary to insure safe and effective performance; and
(ii) Whether the proposed legislation requires registered, certificated, or licensed practitioners in other jurisdictions who migrate to this state to qualify in the same manner as state applicants for registration, certification, and licensure when the other jurisdiction has substantially equivalent requirements for registration, certification, or licensure as those in this state; and
(b) Whether there are similar professions to that of the applicant group which should be included in, or portions of the applicant group which should be excluded from, the proposed legislation;
(6) The maintenance of standards:
(a) Whether effective quality assurance standards exist in the health profession, such as legal requirements associated with specific programs that define or enforce standards, or a code of ethics; and
(b) How the proposed legislation will assure quality:
(i) The extent to which a code of ethics, if any, will be adopted; and
(ii) The grounds for suspension or revocation of registration, certification, or licensure;
(7) A description of the group proposed for regulation, including a list of associations, organizations, and other groups representing the practitioners in this state, an estimate of the number of practitioners in each group, and whether the groups represent different levels of practice; and
(8) The expected costs of regulation:
(a) The impact registration, certification, or licensure will have on the costs of the services to the public;
(b) The cost to the state and to the general public of implementing the proposed legislation; and
(c) The cost to the state and the members of the group proposed for regulation for the required education, including projected tuition and expenses and expected increases in training programs, staffing, and enrollments at state training institutions.
[
1991 c 332 s 6
;
1983 c 168 s 3
.]
NOTES:
Application to scope of practice
—
Captions not law
—
1991 c 332:
See notes following RCW 18.130.010
.
RCW 18.120.040
Applicants for regulation
—
Written reports
—
Recommendations by state board of health and department of health.
Applicant groups shall submit a written report explaining the factors enumerated in RCW 18.120.030
to the legislative committees of reference, copies of which shall be sent to the state board of health and the department of health for review and comment. The state board of health and the department of health shall make recommendations based on the report submitted by applicant groups to the extent requested by the legislative committees.
[
1989 1st ex.s. c 9 s 305
;
1984 c 279 s 59
.]
NOTES:
Effective date
—
Severability
—
1989 1st ex.s. c 9:
See RCW 43.70.910
and
43.70.920
.
Severability
—
1984 c 279:
See RCW 18.130.901
.
RCW 18.120.050
Continuing education requirements
—
Legislative proposals
—
Evidence of effectiveness.
Requirements for licensees to engage in continuing education as a condition of continued licensure has not been proven to be an effective method of guaranteeing or improving the competence of licensees or the quality of care received by the consumer. The legislature has serious reservations concerning the appropriateness of mandated continuing education. Any legislative proposal which contains a continuing education requirement should be accompanied by evidence that such a requirement has been proven effective for the profession addressed in the legislation.
[
1984 c 279 s 58
.]
NOTES:
Severability
—
1984 c 279:
See RCW 18.130.901
.
RCW 18.120.900
Short title.
This chapter may be known and cited as the Washington regulation of health professions act.
[
1983 c 168 s 4
.]
RCW 18.120.920
Construction
—
Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships
—
2009 c 521.
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to marital relationships and married persons, and references to dissolution of marriage shall apply equally to state registered domestic partnerships that have been terminated, dissolved, or invalidated, to the extent that such interpretation does not conflict with federal law. Where necessary to implement chapter 521, Laws of 2009, gender-specific terms such as husband and wife used in any statute, rule, or other law shall be construed to be gender neutral, and applicable to individuals in state registered domestic partnerships.
[
2009 c 521 s 50
.]