Laws

August Credentialing Freeze: All health professional and facility licensing systems will be unavailable from 5 p.m. Friday, August 22, until the morning of Tuesday, August 26, 2025. If your license expires during this time, please renew early to avoid delays. 

Chapter 71.24 RCW Community Mental Health Services Act – This chapter grants Department of Health the authority to license behavioral health agencies and to certify behavioral health services (see RCW 71.24.037)

Chapter 71.05 RCW Mental Illness – This chapter contains requirements for services provided to adults under civil commitment (involuntary detention) for behavioral health conditions.

Chapter 71.34 RCW Mental Health Services for Minors – This chapter contains requirements for services provided to minors under civil commitment (involuntary detention) for behavioral health conditions.

Department of Health Rules

Chapter 246-341 WAC Behavioral Health Services Administrative Requirements – These rules describe the licensing and certification requirements for behavioral health agencies and the services they provide.

Health Care Authority Rules

The Health Care Authority has a behavioral health and recovery rulemaking website showing its rule-making activity related to behavioral health agencies and services.

Health Care Authority rules related to behavioral health and managed care are in title 182 WAC, under the following WAC chapters:

Historical DSHS-DBHR rule versions (for reference purposes only)

Former DSHS-DBHR Rules Effective April 1, 2018

Former DSHS-DBHR Rules Previous to April 1, 2018