(1) Continuing education courses must:

(a) Be directly related to counseling; and

(b) Contribute to the advancement, extension, and enhancement of the professional competence of the credential holder.

(2) Relevant courses include those that are related to counseling theory and practice, modality(ies) of the counseling services the credential holder will provide, professional ethics, courses related to risk assessment, screening using the global assessment of functioning scale, referral of clients, and Washington state law applicable to counseling.

(3) Acceptable continuing education courses (including distance learning), seminars, workshops, training programs, and institutes are those which have a featured instructor, speaker(s), or panel approved by an accredited institution of higher learning or an industry-recognized local, state, national, or international organization.

(4) Distance learning programs approved by an industry-recognized local, state, national, or international organization or accredited educational institution must require a test of comprehension upon completion.

(5) Other learning experiences, such as serving on a panel, board or council, community service, research, peer consultation, or publishing articles for professional publications are acceptable if the experience contributes to the advancement, extension, and enhancement of the professional competence of the credential holder. The "learning experience" category is limited to six hours per reporting period.