Washington § 43.70.250 - License fees for professions, occupations, and businesses.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4) of this section, it shall be the policy of the state of Washington that the cost of each professional, occupational, or business licensing program be fully borne by the members of that profession, occupation, or business.

(2) The secretary shall from time to time establish the amount of all application fees, license fees, registration fees, examination fees, permit fees, renewal fees, and any other fee associated with licensing or regulation of professions, occupations, or businesses administered by the department. Any and all fees or assessments, or both, levied on the state to cover the costs of the operations and activities of the interstate health professions licensure compacts with participating authorities listed under chapter 18.130 RCW shall be borne by the persons who hold licenses issued pursuant to the authority and procedures established under the compacts. In fixing said fees, the secretary shall set the fees for each program at a sufficient level to defray the costs of administering that program and the cost of regulating licensed volunteer medical workers in accordance with RCW 18.130.360, except as provided in RCW 18.79.202. In no case may the secretary impose any certification, examination, or renewal fee upon a person seeking certification as a certified peer support specialist trainee under chapter 18.420 RCW or, between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2030, impose a certification, examination, or renewal fee of more than $100 upon any person seeking certification as a certified peer support specialist under chapter 18.420 RCW. Subject to amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2029, the secretary may not impose any certification or certification renewal fee on a person seeking certification as a substance use disorder professional or substance use disorder professional trainee under chapter 18.205 RCW of more than $100.

(3) All such fees shall be fixed by rule adopted by the secretary in accordance with the provisions of the administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

(4)(a) During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, amounts that reflect an excess fund balance in the health professions account in RCW 43.70.320 may be used for regulatory and program administration costs for licensing of:

(i) Music therapists;

(ii) Home care aides, as related to chapter 323, Laws of 2023;

(iii) Marriage and family therapists and associates, as related to chapter 425, Laws of 2023 and chapter 371, Laws of 2024;

(iv) Mental health counselors and associates, as related to chapter 425, Laws of 2023 and chapter 371, Laws of 2024;

(v) Psychologists, as related to chapter 425, Laws of 2023 and chapter 371, Laws of 2024;

(vi) Substance use disorder professionals and trainees, as related to chapter 425, Laws of 2023 and chapter 371, Laws of 2024;

(vii) Social workers and social worker associates, as related to chapter 425, Laws of 2023 and chapter 371, Laws of 2024; and

(viii) Birth doulas, as related to chapter 217, Laws of 2022.

(b) During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, the department may not initiate or impose licensing fee increases to cover the regulatory and program administration costs described in (a) of this subsection or for continued implementation of the health care enforcement and licensing modernization system project.

Effective date—2026 c 268: See note following RCW 28B.15.210.

Findings—Intent—2024 c 366: See note following RCW 71.24.847.

Effective date—2019 c 415: See note following RCW 28B.20.476.

Effective date—2013 c 77: See note following RCW 43.70.110.

Finding—2005 c 268: See note following RCW 18.79.202.