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WA HB1069
Bill
Status
Passed
4/13/2023
Primary Sponsor
Mari Leavitt
Click for details
AI Summary
- Washington State adopts the Mental Health Counselor Compact, enabling licensed professional counselors to practice across member states through a "privilege to practice" without obtaining separate licenses in each state, including via telehealth.
- Participating states must require licensees to hold a 60 semester-hour (or 90 quarter-hour) master's degree in counseling, pass a nationally recognized exam, and complete supervised postgraduate experience.
- Establishes the Counseling Compact Commission, a joint public agency with one delegate per member state, empowered to promulgate binding rules, maintain a coordinated data system of licensure and disciplinary information, and levy annual assessments on member states.
- The compact takes effect when enacted by 10 states; member states may withdraw with six months' notice, and states in default may be terminated by majority vote of member states.
- Amends RCW 18.225.090 to align licensed mental health counselor education requirements with compact standards, specifying that applicants with degrees in a "related discipline" (rather than counseling) may only exercise the interstate privilege to practice if their program meets the compact's 60 semester-hour/90 quarter-hour coursework requirements.
Legislative Description
Adopting the mental health counselor compact.
Last Action
Effective date 7/23/2023.
4/13/2023
Committee Referrals
Rules3/22/2023
Health & Long Term Care2/8/2023
Rules1/31/2023
Postsecondary Education & Workforce1/9/2023
Full Bill Text
No bill text available