(1) The department must not license a school-age program that is legally exempt from licensing pursuant to RCW 43.216.010(2). However, if a school-age program requests to become certified by the department, the department must apply all licensing rules to the otherwise exempt program. In such a case, the department must apply licensing rules equally to licensed and certified school-age programs.

(2) The department may certify an otherwise exempt school-age program for subsidy payment without further inspection if the program is:

(a) Licensed by an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized community of Indians, including an Alaska native village as defined in 43 U.S.C. Sec. 1602(c), recognized as eligible for services by the United States Secretary of the Interior;

(b) Certified by the DOD; or

(c) Approved by the OSPI.

(3) A school-age program exempt from licensing pursuant to RCW 43.216.010(2) must use the department's form to submit their exempt status.

(4) A school-age program requesting certification must be located on the premises over which the tribe, DOD, or OSPI has jurisdiction.

(5) A school-age program regulated by a tribe, the DOD, or OSPI may request certification:

(a) For subsidy payment only; or

(b) As meeting foundational quality standards of this chapter.

(6) The department must not certify a department employee or a member of their household when the employee is involved directly, or in an administrative or supervisory capacity, in the:

(a) Certification process;

(b) Placement of a child in a certified program; or

(c) Authorization of payment for the child in care.