WA Naturopathy Board

Suicide Prevention Training Required for WA Health Professionals

The Washington State Department of Health published an informational page explaining suicide prevention training requirements for healthcare professionals under RCW 43.70.442. Beginning July 1, 2017, affected health professionals must complete training from programs on the state's approved Model List to meet statutory content and time requirements.

COVID-19 Continuing Education Requirements Extension for Naturopathic Physicians

The Washington State Board of Naturopathy adopted policy BON 20-01.1 extending continuing education (CE) requirements for naturopathic physicians during COVID-19. The board exercised authority under WAC 246-12-210 to grant CE extensions due to extenuating circumstances. Naturopathic physicians who attested to CE through September 30, 2020 received coinciding extensions with their license renewals. The board will accept online and prerecorded courses meeting WAC 246-836-080 requirements through December 31, 2021. Case-by-case consideration applies to other circumstances beyond licensees' control.

License Holders Must Disclose Sexual Misconduct to Patients

Washington State's RCW 18.130.063 requires license holders who have been sanctioned for sexual misconduct on or after October 1, 2019, to disclose this to patients before or at their first appointment. Licensees must provide the public order or stipulation, describe all sanctions and their duration, include the disciplining authority's phone number, and explain how to access more information on the license lookup website. Patients or their surrogate decision makers must sign an acknowledgment of receipt, which must be kept in the patient's file.