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Counseling in Washington State
--Moving or Transferring
Your Counselor Registration or License:
Commonly asked questions about Mental Health, Marriage and Family, School or Addictions Counseling in Washington (WA) State
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Counselors / Therapists / Social Workers
Counseling in Washington State
I recommend that you bookmark or save this page to your favorites list. Hyperlinks below may take you to other pages on this site (use back button to return) or to other sites. (Close window to return.)
This discussion of Washington State counseling regulations and procedures is provided to help counselors, especially those new to counseling profession or new to Washington. If you have a suggestion for something that should be on this page, please let me know. Floyd Else, MA, LMHC, NCC, MAC, Webmaster.
Who is in charge of the counseling profession and licensing in Washington State? Where are they? How do I get in touch with them?
Registration and licensing of mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers and psychologists falls under the Washington State Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance.
Mailing Address: Washington State Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance, P.O. Box 47865, Olympia WA 98504-7865. Physical Address: 310 Israel Road, Tumwater WA 98501. [ Send an email to Health Profession Quality Assurance. ]Requirements for becoming licensed or certified as a counselor: Information about the laws and procedures governing the practice of counseling and application forms.
Chemical Dependency Professional
♦ Why can't I use my CDP credential in private practice?
Hypnotherapist (Registered)
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Licensed Independent Social Worker
Registered Counselor
The Washington State Department of Health CDP Program is THE informational resource for understanding what it takes to become a certified Chemical Dependency Professional in Washington State. Their website contains contact information and free downloads. [Special note for mental health professionals who would like to add a CDP credential]
Counselors, psychologists and social Workers in the public schools, fall into a category referred to as Staff Associate and are regulated by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in Olympia, Washington. General Requirements and Application Process. [A summary of the school counselor certification requirements of the 50 states is also available.]
Information on the three different ways in which Psychologists obtain licensing in Washington State is also available from the Washington State Department of Health, Health Professions Quality Assurance. Contact the Psychology Board by phone at (360) 236-4700.
Counselors and the public can visit the Provider Credentials Look-up System. Look up any health care provider licensed or registered with Washington State Health Department. Verify providers by credential number or by credential type and name. Licensed counselors are NOT listed under "L" but under "C"--for credential type "counselor" then by sub-type [Licensed Marriage / Family Therapist, etc.]
The news releases of the Washington Stated Department of Health are indexed by year and you can read reports of disciplinary actions against health care providers (doctors, dentists, nurses, counselors, etc.) to find out what kind of behaviors could get YOU into trouble.
Other Questions About Counseling:
Where can you attend the HIV/AIDS classes that Washington State requires of all counselors? --- The following link will lead those working on counselor registration or licensure to a schedule of HIV/AIDS Training Classes that counselors in the State of Washington must complete to meet state licensing or registration requirements. (Also check with your local community college for their class offerings. Be aware that many of the the community college class offering list their HIV/AIDS offering in categories such as "Phlebotomy and Lab Training." You can obtain your training through video tape or DVDs available from the community college.)
Our CounselingSeattle.com email newsletter started January 2007, "Mental Health Issues Around Puget Sound," is published on those rare occasions to alert you to new developments that you might not have heard of. Now is the time to add your name to the mailing list.
Clinical Supervision required for Licensure
Counselor Supervision: When you are employed by an agency, you have a treatment supervisor--some of your agency supervision may count toward licensure. As a self-employed registered counselor in private practice and working toward licensure, you need supervised hours and may need to pay a licensed health care provider for supervision. Some licensed counselors still chose to pay for supervision and professional consultation. [Regulations defining the requirements to be an approved supervisor.] [ Official supervision related forms to download and print out.]
Looking for employment?Do you know how to create an Electronic Resume, a Scannable Resume or an Email Resume? See: the Resume Guide for Counselors. Do you know how and where to post your resume online? See: Counselor Employment -- Career -- Job Search.
Where are the counseling jobs? Information and links to a number of employment related services.
What kind of salary or wage is being paid? How much can I expect to make in a counseling job in Washington State? Please note this is "employment" information, not figures on counselors in private practice.
What are the employment supply and demand level in different areas of Washington State? What are the total jobs in each area? How many new jobs are expected next year? Mental Health Counselors (this category does not include traditional Social Worker positions, Psychologists or Psychiatrists who have their own pages). Clue for using the page--click on the underlined occupational title on each row to get the statistics for that area. [ Search for other occupations ] and other employment information on Workforce Explorer, Washington, a service of Washington State Employment Security Department.]
So How Many Counselors Are There Anyway?As of June 9, 2006: There are currently over 17,000 active registered counselors and over 430 active hypnotherapists in Washington State. (The Department of Health does not have much information about individuals who are registered as counselors because currently there are no academic requirements, supervision or exam requirements to register.) There are 2,950 licensed clinical social workers, 4,171 licensed mental health counselors and 944 licensed marriage and family therapists.
Starting your own counseling practice?
What local, county and state licenses are required? Answer a series of questions and click the "continue" button. Going to use a name other than your own full legal name? (Recommendation: don't.) If so, register your trade name.
Also see: Doing Business in Washington State. 1. start a business (plan a business, steps for starting a business, find business registration requirements and more.) 2. licenses, permits and Inspections (license your business or yourself, check a business or license status) 3. taxes and reports (state business taxes, file reports, and more.)
Whether you are employed or self-employed in private practice, you need professional liability insurance.
Sole proprietors who do not have employees don't necessarily need an Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN). However, if you join an insurance panel, they will request your EIN or social security number to use in required annual federal reports. Many counselors, concerned with identity theft, choose to obtain an EIN to avoid disclosing their social security number.
Are you a HIPAA "covered entity?" Do you have a National Provider Identifier number? Covered entities can apply for an NPI beginning May 23, 2005. However, since there are so many providers, this will be accomplished in stages. The compliance date for all covered entities except small health plans is May 23, 2007. See also: CounselingSeattle.com links to HIPAA information. One of the biggest challenges counselors face regarding HIPAA is the fact that sooner or later insurance companies will accept only electronic billing.
Where can I find counseling office space? The CounselingSeattle.com "office space / group room space for rent" section. Part-time office space can be an expensive starting point for a new practice.
Before you start seeing clients you will need to prepare a client disclosure information form and have copies printed to give to the client and to put in the client file--after they have read and signed them.
Supervision: When you are employed by an agency, you have a treatment supervisor. As a self-employed registered counselor in private practice and working toward licensure, you need supervised hours and may need to pay a licensed health care provider for supervision. Some licensed counselors still chose to pay for supervision and professional consultation. [New supervision regulations are coming up.] [Official supervision related forms to download and print out.]
Licensed counselors and registered counselors in private practice often meet together and go over client cases in a case consultation peer group where they get the benefit of clinical feedback from fellow therapists as well as a forum for discussion of common private practice problems. Case consultation peer groups provide opportunities to network and to get input from the experiences of other professional counselors.
Your mailing address: I recommend that IF you rent part-time office space, DO NOT use that address for your mailing address. When many counselors use the same suite of offices, the US Post Office often will not accept change of address notices. The counselors remaining in the space after you are gone are expected to forward mail to the departed counselors. But they don't know you or have your new address. The State of Washington, health insurance companies and other essential business contacts may continue to send mail to your former part-time business address for years without you being aware of it--until it gets you in trouble. If you are unwilling to use your home address as a business mailing address, get on the waiting list for a post office box.
Non-Compete Clause: "I signed a non-compete clause when I left a mental health agency to start my private practice. Now a former client at the agency has called and wants to resume counseling. What is the legal and ethical thing to do?"
Private Practice Pointers: Topics such as Starting and Expanding a Private Practice, meeting HIPAA requirements, implementing Informed Consent, Provider Relations Contact List for Managed Care and Insurance Panels, Working with Managed Care, Managed Care response templates, how to get on provider panels, responding to claim denials, marketing and advertising your practice, and selling or buying a private practice are found on the American Counseling Association Website.
You might also consider filing your professional qualifications with CAQH. It's also important to comply with the Washington State law regarding record keeping and retention of client files, including provision for retaining or transferring client records in the event of the counselor going out of business or death or incapacitation.
Miscellaneous Words of Wisdom (?)
At all costs, avoid sexual misconduct with current or former clients. There has been a great deal of publicity about harm to clients by counselors and other health professions. For counselors it means new clarification in the Revised Code of Washington WAC 246-809-049, Sexual misconduct.
Why do we spell our occupation as "counselor," while the rest of the English speaking world spells it "counsellor?"
If you notice any errors or omissions in this material or have any counselor-related questions that are not covered here, please send them to me and I will locate and post the answers. Your help is appreciated.
Floyd Else, MA, LMHC, NCC, MAC, Webmaster
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Advertising: List Your Private Practice
With the CounselingSeattle.com counselor locator service, potential clients can locate a counselor in the greater Seattle / King County Washington area using the Directory of Counselor Names, by city or neighborhood, or by Niche Specialty©.
The mental health and addictions
counselors listed on these pages are:
(1.) Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC),
(2.) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW),
(3.) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), or
(4.) Registered Counselors (RC).
In renewing their listing each year, these counselors, therapists,
psychotherapists and social workers tell CounselingSeattle.com that:
1. the professional name and contact information that they are using in
the ad is their own.
2. they are licensed or registered in the State of Washington, and
3. they are not subject to any license restrictions preventing practice.
[If you have knowledge that any of the information about persons advertising in CounselingSeattle.com is inaccurate or misleading, please notify us. ]
Advertise Your Therapy Group
It is difficult and expensive to advertise group therapy. You need to reach both the anonymous public and professionals who may make referrals. CounselingSeattle.com offers a place to list you therapy group that can easily be found and accessed by the public and professionals. Just use your favorite search engine and enter the words "therapy group your town Washington" (without parenthesis) and hit enter! [ Visit the Group Therapy page ]
Advertise Your Counseling Office Space
or Group Room to Rent
CounselingSeattle.com is the hot spot to advertise your full or part-time counseling office space availability and the best place to find office or group room space to fulfill your own counseling needs. [ Visit the Counselor Office Space / Group Room for Rent page ]
Advertise Your Counselor Training Workshop
Workshop presenters who are looking for an outstanding spot to advertise their counselor training workshops need look no further. [ Visit the Counseling Workshops, Therapist Training and Continuing Education Units (CEU's) page ]
[ For more information about advertising on CounselingSeattle.com ]
This document is Copyrighted© 2005 by CounselingSeattle.com, Floyd Else, Webmaster, and may not be reproduced, in whole or in part without crediting the author, source and site name. All rights reserved.
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