“The mission of the Mental Health Division is to promote recovery and safety.”
Licensure for Agencies Providing Mental Health Services
Application Process
The process for initial licensing of service providers. An applicant for a community support license must comply with the following process:
- Complete and submit an application form
[ 417KB] (address is located in the menu to the left), along with the required fee to the mental health division. A copy of the application form must be provided to the area regional support network. The regional support network may make written comments to the mental health division about the provider's application for licensure. The application must indicate the service components the applicant wants to offer, as listed in WAC 388-865-0400;
- The Mental Health Division conducts an on-site review to examine agency policies and procedures, personnel records, financial documents, and any other information that may be necessary to confirm compliance with minimum standards of this section, WAC 388-865-0470
- The consumer chart review is conducted during a second site review within twelve months of the issuance of the provisional license for the agency or service component if the site review is being conducted in response to a license application for a new agency or a new service component in a currently licensed agency;
- If licensure is denied, the applicant must wait at least six months following the date of notification of denial before reapplying.
Licensing Renewal Process
Each year the community support service provider must renew its license. The community support service provider sends the reapplication for licensure to mental health division along with the required fee. Follow the same steps as outlined in above application process.
Failure to submit the annual application for renewal license and/or to pay fees when due results in expiration of the license and the provider will be placed on probationary status.
Fees Submitted with Application
The following fees must be sent with the application for a license or renewal:
Annual service hours are computed on the most recent year. For new entities, annual service hours equals the projected service hours for the year of licensure. The provider must report the number of annual service hours based on the mental health division consumer information system Data Dictionary.
Range |
Service Hours |
Annual Fee |
1 |
0-3,999 |
$ 291.00 |
2 |
4,000-14,999 |
$ 422.00 |
3 |
15,000-29,999 |
$ 562.00 |
4 |
30,000-49,999 |
$ 842.00 |
5 |
50,000 or more |
$ 1,030.00 |
Need More Details?
For more detail on the all of the licensing process, please see the regulations as detailed in Washington Administrative Code, Chapter 388-865 Section 4 or contact the Licensing Section of the Mental Health Division by calling (360) 902-0788.
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For more ways to get in touch with the Department of Mental Health Services, go to the DSHS Contact Information Web page. Mental Health Related Questions Contact:
