Summary
During the 2026 legislative session, the Washington State Legislature directed the Department of Health (department) to review current health professions licensing fees and fee-setting methodology, compare Washington’s approach with other states, and develop recommendations for a more equitable fee structure for health professions licensing.
Legal Authority
This work is directed by Section 225(26), Chapter 268, Laws of 2026 (ESSB 5998) (PDF). In the relevant part, the law provides:
For the Department of Health, Health Systems Quality Assurance
The appropriations in this section are subject to the following conditions and limitations:
(26) Within existing resources, the department must submit a report by September 30, 2026, to the governor and legislature regarding an equitable alternative fee structure for the health professions licensing program. The department must:
(a) Review the department's current health professions licensing and regulatory costs and the department's methodology for setting fees;
(b) Consider relevant fees and methods from other states with comparable licensing and regulatory programs;
(c) Include analysis and recommendations on alternative methods, including recommendations to distribute the fee burden more equitably across professions; and
(d) Provide estimated costs associated with any recommended alternative methods.
Road Map
During the initial research conducted by the department, the department hosted four listening sessions to gather input from licensed professionals, employers, professional associations, training programs, and the general public regarding barriers and issues related to the current licensing and regulatory fee structure. This input will help inform the department’s research and recommendations.
The department is now drafting a preliminary report that outlines the current fee structure and methodology for setting fees. At the same time, department staff are reviewing public comments, and conducting additional research as needed. Once public feedback and research have concluded, the department will complete it’s report and provide final recommendations for a more equitable fee structure.
To access the recordings of each listening session, use the links available below. Through each link, you will be able to access the video and audio of the session, turn the ASL interpretation on or off, and choose to listen to the Spanish interpretation audio. You will also have access to Zoom’s automated closed captions.
If you need access to the professional closed captions, we recommend using the separate caption link provided for each session. There you will find the transcript of the professional closed captions prepared by the captioners.
Listening Sessions Recordings
Equitable Fee Structure Listening Session 1
Monday, April 27 - 11:00 a.m.
Equitable Fee Structure Listening Session 2
Tuesday, April 28 - 5:30 p.m.
Equitable Fee Structure Listening Session 3
Wednesday, April 29 - 11:00 a.m.
Equitable Fee Structure Listening Session 4
Thursday, April 30 – 5:30 p.m.
Other Relevant Documents
Listening sessions:
Email invite:
Slides for the Listening Sessions:
Questions or Comments?
If you have any questions or comments, please contact us.