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Temporary Practice
Permits for Secretary Authority Health Care
Professions In response to the
delays caused by national fingerprint-based
background checks, the secretary has adopted
permanent rules to allow the issuance of
temporary practice permits to applicants for
eligible secretary authority professions
listed in
RCW 18.130.040(2)(a). The permanent
rules replace the emergency rules and are
effective December 17, 2009.
The rules do not apply to applicants for
professions regulated by boards or
commissions. Some boards and commissions
have exiting laws or rules regulating
temporary practice permits. In addition, the
rules do not apply to ocularists,
respiratory care practitioners or dispensing
optician practitioners. These professions
have existing rules regulating temporary
practice permits.
On January 1, 2009, the Washington State
Department of Health began using national
fingerprint-based background checks. The
state legislature authorized these checks in
2008. At this time, fingerprints will be
required from out-of-state applicants and
some with a criminal history in Washington.
Out-of-state applicants were chosen because
they are unlikely to have criminal history
information in the database the Washington
State Patrol maintains.
While we must complete a state background
check on all health profession applicants,
most applicants will not undergo the
national fingerprint-based background check.
We will notify applicants who need to have
this federal background check and provide
detailed instructions. For these applicants,
failure to submit fingerprints will delay
processing their applications.
Applicants must pay $35.25 to have their
fingerprints checked against the federal
database. They must also arrange for and pay
the cost of taking the fingerprints.
Fingerprint services may be obtained at
local law enforcement offices. Fingerprints
must be taken on the fingerprint card the
department provides.
Under the new rules, temporary practice
permits may be issued to qualified
applicants who must have a national
background check. They must meet all other
licensing requirements, have an active
license without restrictions in another
state, and have no criminal history in
Washington.
The temporary practice permit allows the
person to practice the full scope of their
profession for up to 180 days. There is no
fee for this permit. For licensing
information for your profession, please
refer to your profession's
Web site.
If you have any questions, please contact
our Customer Service Office at 360.236.4700
or by email at
hsqa.csc@doh.wa.gov.
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