(1) The minimum qualifications for community instructors for mental health specialty training, in addition to the general qualifications in WAC 388-71-1055 (1) and (2), include:

(a) The instructor must be experienced in caregiving practices related to the expanded specialty topic and capable of demonstrating competency in the entire course content;

(b) Education:

(i) Bachelor's degree, registered nurse, paramedic, emergency medical technician (EMT), mental health specialist, or a specialist with nationally recognized credentials in the expanded specialty topic with at least 80 hours of education in seminars, conferences, continuing education, or accredited college classes, in subjects directly related to expanded specialty topics; and

(ii) Successful completion of the expanded specialty training class before the instructor trains others;

(c) Work experience: Two years full-time equivalent direct work or volunteer experience with people in the specialty topic population; and

(d) Teaching experience:

(i) 200 hours experience teaching;

(ii) Successful completion of an adult education class that meets the requirements of WAC 388-71-1066;

(iii) Successful completion of the DSHS instructor qualification/demonstration process; and

(iv) The instructor has been approved and contracted by the department as a community instructor;

(e) Instructors who will administer tests must have experience or training in assessment and competency testing; and

(2) Five years of full-time equivalent direct work experience with people in the specialty topic population may substitute for either:

(a) The credential or degree described in subsection (1)(b)(i) of this section; or

(b) The 80 hours in seminars, conferences, continuing education described in subsection (1)(b)(i).