(1) To prescribe an opioid in Washington state, a physician licensed to prescribe opioids shall complete a one-time continuing education requirement regarding best practices in the prescribing of opioids or the opioid prescribing rules in this chapter. The continuing education must be at least one hour in length.

(2) The physician shall complete the one-time continuing education requirement described in subsection (1) of this section by the end of the physician's first full continuing education reporting period after January 1, 2019, or during the first full continuing education reporting period after initial licensure, whichever is later.

(3) The hours spent completing training in prescribing of opioids count toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements in the same category specified in WAC 246-919-460.