1. (1) An associate shall complete 16 hours of continuing education as required in WAC 246-809-632.
2. (2) A licensed social worker associate advanced and licensed social worker associate independent clinical shall complete six hours of suicide assessment, treatment, and management CE as required in WAC 246-809-632.

3. (3) A licensed counselor shall complete 32 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years.

   1. (a) At least six of the 32 hours must be in professional ethics and law, which may include topics under RCW 18.130.180.
   2. (b) At least two of the 32 hours must be in professional roles and boundaries. These hours must be taken separate from the requirements in (a) of this subsection.
   3. (c) All licensed counselors shall complete a minimum of two hours in health equity continuing education training every four years. The training content must be consistent with requirements established in WAC 246-12-830.

   4. (d) Beginning January 1, 2014, at least once every six years a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, and licensed social worker shall complete at least six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management.

      1. (i) The first training shall be completed during the first full CE period after initial licensure.
      2. (ii) Beginning July 1, 2017, a qualifying suicide prevention training must be selected from the department's model list, as required in WAC 246-809-615.
      3. (iii) Beginning July 1, 2021, a subsequent qualifying training must be selected from the department's model list, as required in WAC 246-809-615.
      4. (iv) The hours spent completing training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management count toward the total 32 hours of CE.

      5. (v) An individual applying for initial licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or licensed social worker on or after January 1, 2014, may delay completion of the first training required for six years after initial licensure if he or she can demonstrate completion of six hours of training in suicide assessment, treatment, and management that:

         1. (A) Was completed no more than six years prior to the application for initial licensure; and
         2. (B) Meets the qualifications listed in WAC 246-809-615.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.225.040, 18.225.090, 18.225.145, 2023 c 425, and 2024 c 371. WSR 25-11-019, s 246-809-630, filed 5/12/25, effective 10/1/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.225.040, 2021 c 276, 2020 c 76, and 2023 c 425. WSR 23-23-150, § 246-809-630, filed 11/20/23, effective 1/1/24. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.225.040, 2020 c 229 and 2020 c 76. WSR 21-09-037, § 246-809-630, filed 4/13/21, effective 5/14/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.225.040. WSR 17-13-082, § 246-809-630, filed 6/16/17, effective 7/17/17. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.442(7). WSR 14-09-102, § 246-809-630, filed 4/22/14, effective 4/22/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.225.040. WSR 04-06-010, § 246-809-630, filed 2/20/04, effective 3/22/04. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.19 RCW. WSR 02-11-108, § 246-809-630, filed 5/20/02, effective 6/20/02.]