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In 2023 the legislature passed Second Substitute House Bill 1724 to create two new credential types, the Certified AAC and Licensed AAC credentials. Providers who hold these new credential types will be able to assess and diagnose behavioral health conditions in behavioral health agencies. The department has filed emergency rules to immediately provide these new credentials in WSR 23-16-031 Emergency Rulemaking for AACs.
Applications will be available on July 24, 2023.
Only paper applications (PDF) are available now, but electronic applications will be available in August or September. Agency Affiliated Counselor Licensing Information | Washington State Department of Health
Certified AAC
The Certified AAC requires a bachelor’s degree in counseling or the social sciences and 5 years of supervised experience.
Individuals who wish to apply for the Certified AAC credential will need to apply with the department to work under that credential’s scope of practice.
Licensed AAC
The Licensed AAC requires a master’s degree in counseling or the social sciences and 2 years of supervised experience.
The department is working on a plan to transition current AACs who have been designated as a Mental Health Professional (MHP) to the new credential. The department will provide more details about this process soon. You will need to apply for the new credential eventually, and we would encourage you to apply about 3 months before your AAC registration expires.
See our Rules in Progress and FAQ webpages for more information.
The department will also begin standard rulemaking soon to meet the additional requirements in legislation. The department will be collaborating with the Health Care Authority, stakeholders, behavioral health agencies, and other approved practice settings, and other interested parties to establish standards, rules, and other requirements for the profession.
For additional information contact Ted Dale, Program Manager, at ted.dale@doh.wa.gov or (360) 236-2991.
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