We will send the applicant an e-mail approval informing them of their eligibility to take the exam. To take the exam, the applicant must:
Webassessor administers the exam individually by appointment at various test center locations throughout the United States and Canada. It is an online only exam.
We will send emailed instructions on how to register online for the exam. Applicants will be able to:
You cannot register for an exam with less than 24 hours notice.
You must submit requests for ADA accommodations in writing 30 days prior to the date of the exam you would like to schedule. Please note, you must make the request before you schedule an exam in the Webassessor testing system.
Certified Counselor Program
PO Box 47852
Olympia, WA 98504-7852
How do I reschedule or cancel an exam?
If you need to cancel or reschedule an exam within 72 hours of exam you must contact the Department of Health, Counselor Program at 360-236-4841 or by e-mail at
hsqahpfcounselorexam@doh.wa.gov.
If it is more than 72 hours prior to the scheduled exam, you can reschedule or cancel an exam yourself by going to
www.webassessor.com/dohcounselingexam and logging into your account.
If you cancel or reschedule without at least 72-hours notice you will be subject to a cancellation fee of $66.98. Refunds for failure to appear for a scheduled exam are limited to medical emergencies. Webassessor will require written verification from a health care provider.
How many questions are on the exam?
The exam will have 50 multiple choice questions.
How long does the exam take?
You are allowed two hours to complete the exam.
Can I bring reference materials and my own notes to the exam?
No. You are not allowed to bring anything into the testing room.
How much does the exam cost?
The cost of the exam is $85. You must pay the exam fee to Webassessor by credit/debit card.
What topics are covered on the exam?
The exam covers risk assessment, ethics, appropriate screening using the global assessment of functioning scale, client referral and Washington State law.
What should I study to prepare for the exam?
Exam content will come from a variety of sources, the primary references for the exam are:
- Chapter on the Global Assessment of Functioning in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Fourth Edition, American Psychiatric Association.
- Washington State Law (Available at libraries or on-line at
http://www.leg.wa.gov/LawsAndAgencyRules/Pages/default.aspx).
- National Institutes of Mental Health Publications on Disorders, Populations, and Other booklets, easy to read guides, fact sheets available free of charge at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications
- Suicide Fact Sheets, American Association of Suicidology available free of charge at: http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/stats-and-tools/fact-sheets
- Violence Against Women: Information for Health Care Providers Website available free of charge at:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/emstrauma/vaw/default.htm
Below are a few samples of exam questions. These samples will not be on the exam.
- According to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), in some settings, scales in addition to the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) may be useful. These other scales include all of the following EXCEPT the:
A. Defensive Functioning Scale
B. Psychometric Functioning Scale
C. Social and Occupational Functioning Scale
D. Global Assessment of Relational Functioning
- According to the Counselor statute, RCW 18.19, which of the following persons is EXEMPT from the requirement to be credentialed in the State of Washington?
A. A person practicing peer counseling
B. A student practicing counseling as part of a course at a university
C. A person practicing counseling under the auspices of their church
D. All of the above
- According to the Counselor statute, RCW 18.19, which one of the following is required to complete continuing education?
A. certified adviser
B. registered counselor
C. registered hypnotherapist
D. certified human services counselor
- According to Chapter 70.02 RCW - Medical Records, when an authorization permits the disclosure of health care information to an employer of a patient for purposes other than payment, unless renewed the authorization shall expire after:
A. 60 days
B. 90 days
C. 180 days
D. One year
- According to the American Association of Suicidology Suicide Fact Sheets, all of the following are "Acute Risk Factors" EXCEPT:
A. divorce
B. agitation
C. insomnia
D. persistent nightmares
Answers: 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B, 5-A
State law requires certified counselors and certified advisers to pass an examination in risk assessment, ethics, appropriate screening and referral, and Washington State law. (Chapter RCW 18.19) The legislature established that applicants must pass the examination to become credentialed. Legislature did not establish provisions or resources to use the examination results for purposes other than as a pass/fail mechanism. For this reason, we only provide applicants with pass or fail results for the examination.
We will send the exam results by e-mail to the e-mail address on file with the Department of Health within 5 business days. Please do not contact the testing company for exam results.
You must wait at least one week from the date of your last exam.
State law prohibits us from releasing examination questions. (RCW 42.56.250) Whether you pass or fail the exam, we cannot provide you with the questions you answered incorrectly.
