Washington Administrative Code › Title 246 - Health, Department of › PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND LICENSING › Chapter 246-809 - Licensure for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and social workers › CONTINUING EDUCATION › Section 246-809-615 - Training standards for suicide assessment, treatment, and management

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1) A licensed
				  counselor must, at least once every six years, complete training in suicide
				  assessment, treatment, and management.
(2) A licensed counselor must complete
				  training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management. The training must be
				  provided by a single provider and must be at least six hours in length, which
				  may be provided in one or more sessions.
(a)
				  Until July 1, 2017, the training must be approved by an industry-recognized
				  local, state, national, international organizations or institutions of higher
				  learning listed in WAC
				  246-809-620
				  or an equivalent organization, educational institution or association which
				  approves training based on observation and experience or best available
				  practices;
(b) Beginning July 1,
				  2017, the training must be on the department's model list of training programs
				  in suicide assessment, treatment and management. The model list is developed in
				  accordance with rules adopted by the department that establish minimum
				  standards for training programs. The establishment of the model list does not
				  affect the validity of training completed prior to July 1, 2017;
(c) An associate applying for initial
				  licensure may delay completion of the first training required by this section
				  for six years after initial licensure if he or she can demonstrate successful
				  completion of the training required in (a) or (b) of this subsection no more
				  than six years prior to the application for initial licensure;
(d) A licensed marriage and family therapist,
				  licensed mental health counselor, licensed social worker, or licensed social
				  worker associate who is a state or local government employee is exempt from the
				  requirements of this section if he or she receives a total of at least six
				  hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from his or
				  her employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the training may
				  be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among shorter training
				  sessions at the employer's discretion; and
(e) A licensed marriage and family therapist,
				  licensed mental health counselor, licensed social worker, or licensed social
				  worker associate who is an employee of a licensed or certified behavioral
				  health agency licensed under chapter 71.05 or 71.24 RCW is exempt from the
				  requirements of this section if he or she receives a total of at least six
				  hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management from his or
				  her employer every six years. For purposes of this subsection, the training may
				  be provided in one six-hour block or may be spread among shorter training
				  sessions at the employer's discretion.