Bill > HB2040

This bill aims to streamline the licensing requirements for certain behavioral health professionals in Washington state. The key provisions include: 1. Reducing the required number of supervised experience hours for full licensure as a licensed advanced social worker from 3,200 hours to 1,600 hours, with a minimum of 45 hours of direct supervision, starting on July 1, 2024. The legislature intends to revisit this approach based on any recommendations from ongoing work by state agencies and stakeholders. 2. Reducing the required number of supervised experience hours for full licensure as a licensed independent clinical social worker from 4,000 hours to 2,000 hours, with a minimum of 500 hours of direct client contact and 65 hours of direct supervision, starting on July 1, 2024. 3. Reducing the required number of supervised experience hours for full licensure as a licensed mental health counselor from 3,000 hours to 1,500 hours, with a minimum of 50 hours of immediate supervision and 600 hours of direct counseling, starting on July 1, 2024. 4. Reducing the required number of supervised experience hours for full licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist from 3,000 hours to 1,500 hours, with a minimum of 500 hours of direct client contact and 100 hours of qualified supervision, starting on July 1, 2024. The overall goal of the bill is to address the shortage of behavioral health professionals in Washington by streamlining the licensing process for certain professionals, thereby increasing the number of licensed providers available to treat residents with behavioral health needs.

Health and Social Services

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2040&Year=2021&Initiative=false