Suicide Prevention Training for Health Professionals

State of Washington Health Profession Mandatory Suicide Prevention Training

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Legislation (RCW 43.70.442) requires that the health professions listed below take a suicide prevention course that meets their hour and content requirement before the end of the next full continuing education reporting period. Implementation dates vary by profession. After identifying the suicide prevention training requirements for a profession, find courses on the Model List.

For specific questions about your own suicide training requirements or whether a particular training is appropriate for your health profession, please contact the program manager or executive director of your profession's board or commission.

People in the following professions must complete suicide prevention training:

Profession	Hours of Training and Frequency	Core Training Components and Content
Profession Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Practitioners * began August 1, 2021	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors
Profession Athletic Trainers * began August 1, 2020	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors
Profession Certified counselors \| certified advisers * began January 1, 2014	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours every six years	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral
Profession Chemical dependence professionals * began January 1, 2014	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours every six years	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral
Profession Chiropractors * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral
Profession Dentists * began August 1, 2020	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral Assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means
Profession Dental hygienists * began August 1, 2020	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral
Profession Licensed mental health professionals * began January 1, 2014	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours at least once every six years	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Licensed practical nurses (LPN), registered nurses (RN) and advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNP) - certified registered nurse anesthetists are exempt * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Marriage and family therapists * began January 1, 2014	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours at least once every six years	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Naturopaths * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Occupational therapists and assistants * began January 1, 2014	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours at least once every six years	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral
Profession Optometrists * began August 1, 2021	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral
Profession Osteopathic physicians and surgeons - holders of a postgraduate training license issued under RCW 18.57.035 are exempt * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Osteopathic physician assistants * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Pharmacists * began January 1, 2017	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral Assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means
Profession Physicians -residents holding a limited license issued under RCW 18.71.095 (3) are exempt * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Physician assistants * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Physical therapists and assistants * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral
Profession Psychologists * began January 1, 2014	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours at least once every six years	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Retired active licensee for one of these professions: Naturopaths LPNs, RNs, or ARNPs (certified registered nurse anesthetists are exempt) Osteopathic physicians and surgeons (other than a holder of a postgraduate osteopathic medicine and surgery license) Osteopathic physician assistants Physician assistants Physicians (other than a resident holding a limited license) * began January 1, 2016	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans
Profession Retired active license as a dentist * began August 1, 2020	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Assessment of issues related to imminent harm via lethal means
Profession Retired active license as an optometrist *began August 1, 2021	Hours of Training and Frequency Three hours one time	Core Training Components and Content Suicide screening and referral
Profession Social workers Advanced social workers Advanced social worker associates Independent clinical social workers Independent clinical social worker associates * began January 1, 2014	Hours of Training and Frequency Six hours at least once every six years	Core Training Components and Content Suicide assessment, treatment and management Imminent harm via lethal means or self-injurious behaviors Content on veterans