(1) Initial and recertification applications can be downloaded at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/domestic-violence/certification-process. Completed applications, the required fee, and documentation must be mailed together to:

Department of social

and health services

Domestic violence intervention

treatment program manager

P.O. Box 47510

Olympia, WA 98504

(2) A program cannot provide assessments or any level of direct treatment services to domestic violence participants without being certified by the department.

(3) Certification and recertification applications must include the application fee, be filled out completely, and contain all documentation required as indicated on the application in order to be processed by the department.

(4) The department will review the application within thirty days after an application is received to determine if the program meets the standards and certification requirements in this chapter.

(a) Programs may supplement their application as needed during the thirty days after the application is received and the department is reviewing it; and

(b) If a program does not meet the application requirements within the thirty days following submission, the program must reapply for certification.

(5) After initial certification programs certified under this chapter must reapply for certification every two years.

(6) The department must notify the applicant whether the program meets the standards set forth in this chapter.

(a) If a program meets the standards set forth in this chapter, the department will issue the program an approval letter and a certificate; or

(b) If a program does not meet the standards set forth in this chapter, the department will provide the program with:

(i) A written notice containing the reasons the department determined the program did not meet these standards; and

(ii) A list of the specific provisions of this chapter that the program failed to meet.

(7) Treatment programs have the right to an administrative hearing to contest the department's denial of their certification applications. Such hearings shall be governed by this chapter and chapter 388-02 WAC. Where provisions of this chapter and chapter 388-02 WAC conflict, the provisions of this chapter will control. 

(8) Certified programs must report to the department any and all changes that occur following the initial or renewal certification process.

(9) The department may request a copy of additional disclosure statements or background inquiries if there is reason to believe that offenses specified under RCW 43.43.830 have occurred since the original application was submitted.

(10) The department may grant an exception or waiver from compliance with specific program certification requirements if the exception or waiver does not violate existing local, state, federal, or tribal law.

(a) To request an exception or waiver to a rule in this chapter, the program must:

(i) Submit the request in writing to the department;

(ii) Assure that any exception or waiver would not jeopardize the safety, health, or treatment of an individual; and

(iii) Assure that any exception or waiver would not impede fair competition of another service program;

(b) The department approves or denies an exception or waiver request in writing and requires the program to keep a copy of the decision; and

(c) The department's decision to deny an exception or waiver request is not subject to administrative review under chapter 388-02 WAC.

(11) The department considers each geographical location of a program an individual program and must certify each location separately.

(a) A program certified to provide assessments or any level of treatment may do so at an off-site location as defined in this chapter, without an additional certification for the off-site location;

(b) If the program provides assessments only, then the program is only required to have one certification and does not need a separate certification for each geographical location it serves; and

(c) If a program that has provided only assessments wants to add certification to provide any level of care, the program must certify each geographical location where any level of care will be offered unless it meets the 'off-site' definition in this chapter.

(12) The application fee for initial certification and recertification of a domestic violence intervention treatment program is one hundred twenty-five dollars.

(a) The department publishes the application fee for certification of domestic violence intervention treatment programs in the application packet; and

(b) If there is any change in the fee, the update will be done and made effective in July of each year.