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Already Applied? Check for processing dates for applications with cleared payment on our application status webpage.
File a complaint about a health care provider or facility on our complaint process webpage.
Check on your credential using our provider credential search tool.
Agency Affiliated Counselor Drop-in Office Hour
Have questions about practicing while your application is processing? Want to know if supervised experience in another state counts toward your agency affiliated counselor (AAC) credential? Curious about the scope of practice differences across all three AAC credentials? Join our quarterly virtual office hour from 12:00pm–1:00pm starting March 25 to chat with Department of Health staff. The meeting details stay the same each week—add the invite to your calendar. To receive the recurring invitation, email program manager.
Drop-in Dates (Starts at noon)
- March 25, 2026
- June 24, 2026
- September 23, 2026
- December 23, 2026
Meeting ID: 297 097 402 493 08, Passcode: GV2xM6PJ
Dial in by phone: +1 564-999-2000,,781075547# United States, Olympia
Phone conference ID: 781 075 547#
Important Reminder for Registered AAC’s Designated as an MHP
The Department of Health launched new AAC credentials following the passage of Second Substitute House Bill (2SHB) 1724 during the 2023 legislative session. These changes affected all agency affiliated counselors (AACs) and introduced two new AAC credentials, the certified and licensed AAC.
By January 1, 2025, all registered AACs must:
- Be appropriately credentialed for the services they provide, which might include applying to a different AAC credential.
- Comply with their credential’s defined scope of practice.
Note there is no ability to continue as an mental health professional (MHP) if you do not hold the correct credential type. Registered AACs are no longer MHPs as of January 1, 2025, with no exceptions.
The policy statement about applying for one of the new agency affiliated counselor credentials (PDF) has expired as of January 1, 2025, but is posted online for reference.
More information is on our rules in progress webpage and our frequently asked questions webpage.
Related Links
More resources for health professionals | Healthcare professionals' demographic data survey | Co-occurring disorder specialist enhancement
- Current Topics
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- Information for providers whose credentials have been affected by a drug conviction
- Health care professionals (excluding physicians) who are offering telemedicine services to patients, are required to complete telemedicine training. Please see the Department of Health policy statement with additional information related to this requirement (PDF) for more information.
To learn more about the different training options available and access additional resources, please visit the Washington State Telehealth Collaborative Training page. To complete the free and publicly available telemedicine training, select enroll and create a Canvas account to access the Washington State Medical Professional Telemedicine Training. - Suicide prevention training for health professionals
- Applicants for an agency affiliated counselor credential who apply within 30 days of employment may provide services within the agency while the department processes their application. More information is available on the Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
- You may submit your application online.
- Report on counselor credentialing (PDF)
- Counselor publications
- Counselor frequently asked questions
Counseling Links
Counseling publications | Frequently asked questions (FAQs) | Suicide prevention training for health professionals