Rules in Progress

The rules writing process is open to the public. The public is welcome to take part in helping us write rules. Rules are also known as regulations, Washington Administrative Code, or WAC. The rule-making process includes public notices and workshops, and usually a public hearing before a rule becomes final.

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Current Rules in Progress

New supervised experience, coursework, and foreign transcript rules for Licensed and Certified Agency Affiliated Counselors. Student intern rules for Registered Agency Affiliated Counselors

The Department of Health (department) filed a CR-103 rule package on February 20, 2025, for chapter 246-810 WAC to implement several bills. The amendments: (1) establish requirements for new agency affiliated counselor (AAC) credentials, including supervised experience, education, and coursework requirements; (2) establish that student interns are eligible for the registered AAC credential; (3) add federally qualified health centers as an approved practice setting for AACs after January 1, 2028; (4) clarify credential and continuing education requirements for the certified counselor, certified adviser, and hypnotherapist professions, consistent with recommendations made by the Certified Counselors and Hypnotherapists Advisory Committee; and (5) make other amendments to bring the rules up-to-date.

These rules are effective July 1, 2025.

The new AAC credentials were immediately implemented through emergency rulemaking, which will continue to be refiled until the permanent rules go into effect.

The following are AAC specific changes to chapter 246-810 WAC. For full chapter updates, please see WSR #25-06-010 below under Supporting Documents. 

Foreign Transcript Evaluation Requirements

Applicants for licensed or certified agency affiliated counselor, whose academic coursework and degree is from an institution in a foreign country, will need to have their transcripts translated and evaluated by an organization that is a current member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES); or an organization that is a current member of the Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).  The organization will determine the degree’s equivalence to United State standards, and once the report is received, the department will determine if it satisfies the requirements for the applicable credential.

The translation and evaluation copy must come directly from the organization to the department.

Foreign transcripts already in English will not need to also be translated.   

Licensed and Certified AAC Supervised Experience Requirements

For licensed and certified agency affiliated counselor applicants, supervised experience must meet the following requirements to be accepted:

• In direct treatment of people with a mental disorder;
• Supervision was provided by a mental health professional who can independently assess and diagnose within the scope of practice of their credential; 
• The experience started after the completion of applicant’s degree or through an internship or practicum that is part of the applicant’s degree program requirements; and 
• The experience was obtained under a credential to practice counseling or through a supervised internship or practicum. 

Certified AAC Coursework Requirements 

Starting July 1, 2025, applicants for the certified agency affiliated counselor credential must have 5 years of supervised experience, a bachelor’s degree in counseling or one of the social sciences and counseling-related coursework as outlined below.

Applicants may meet the certified agency affiliated counselor coursework requirements by completing one of the following pathways:

1. Have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or behavioral healthcare; or 
2. Complete at least 4 courses from 2 knowledge areas specified below:
   • Human behavior and counseling
   • Justice in society
   • Cultural competence 

Applicants for certified agency affiliated counselor, who have the bachelor’s degree and 5 years of supervised experience necessary for the credential by July 1, 2025, will not need to satisfy the new coursework requirements but must apply before July 1, 2027.

Licensed AAC Coursework Requirements

Starting July 1, 2025, applicants for the licensed agency affiliated counselor credential must have 2 years of supervised experience, a master’s degree in counseling or one of the social sciences and counseling-related coursework outlined below.

Applicants for licensed agency affiliated counselor, who were designated as an MHP prior to July 23, 2024, won’t be required to fulfill the new coursework requirements effective July 1, 2025, but must apply for the credential before July 1, 2027.

Student Interns may be a Registered AAC 

Student interns may choose to practice with a credential as a registered agency affiliated counselor or without a credential, under the student exemption in RCW 18.19.040. Student interns practicing as a registered agency affiliated counselor must notify the department within 30 days of the completion of their internship or practicum.

(Effective January 1, 2028) Federally Qualified Health Centers 

Starting January 1, 2028, federally qualified health centers located in Washington state may employ agency affiliated counselors.  

Supporting Documents

• WSR 25-06-010 CR-103 (PDF) Permanent Rule
• WSR 24-23-051 Emergency rules (PDF)

More Agency Rule Resources

• Department of Health Rule Making
• State Board of Health rules
• Other Department rules in Washington Administrative Code Title 246