Rules in Progress
The rule-making 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
Second Substitute House Bill 1724 (SSHB 1724) – Increasing the Behavioral Health Workforce (2023) and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2247 (ESSHB 2247) – Addressing behavioral health provider shortages (2024)
Section 6(a) of SSHB 1724 instructs the board to adopt emergency rules by July 1, 2024, to implement changes to licensing requirements to remove barriers to entering and remaining in the health care workforce and to streamline and shorten the credentialing process.
Emergency rules have been adopted and are posted here (PDF).
Section 6(b) of SSHB 1724 also instructs the board to adopt permanent rules for the same purpose by July 1, 2025. As a result, the board is looking for public feedback on areas that were identified through prior workshops that fall under the indicated purpose.
ESSHB 2247 creates a new psychological associate license and authorizes the board to adopt rules waiving any of the licensing requirements, as determined by the board, for an applicant who has continuously held a psychology license in good standing in another jurisdiction for a period of time that renders the waived licensing requirements duplicative or unnecessary.
The board hosted a second series of workshops to ask for public feedback. Below you can view the information and draft language shared at the workshop:
| Date and Time | Topic | Handouts |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2024, at noon | Review draft rules | |
| September 25, 2024, at 5 p.m. | Review draft rules |
Same as above |
If you would like to provide written feedback you can do so by emailing our office with "Public Comment" in the subject line. Please submit comments by November 6, 2024.