Counselors are subject to discipline by the Department of Health for the following instances of unprofessional conduct as outlined in RCW 18.130.180:

• Any act involving moral turpitude, dishonestly, or corruption relating to counseling

• Violation of any state or federal statute or administrative rule regulating the profession, including established standards of patient care or professional conduct or practice

• Violations or rules established by any health agency

• Previous convictions relating to the practice of counseling

• False, fraudulent, or misleading advertising

• Misrepresentation or fraud in any aspect of the conduct of the business or profession

• Incompetence, negligence, or malpractice which creates unreasonable risk of harm to the patient or results in injury to a patient

• Promoting unnecessary or in efficacious drugs, devices, treatment, procedures, or services for personal gain

• The offering, undertaking, or agreeing to cure or treat disease by a secret method, procedure, treatment, or medicine

• Providing counseling beyond the scope of practice as defined by law or rule

• The willful betrayal of a practitioner-patient privilege as recognized by law

• Abuse of a client or patient or sexual contact with a client or patient

• Misrepresentation or concealment of a material fact in obtaining a license or reinstatement

• Continuing to provide services after suspension, revocation, or restriction of the individual's license to practice any health health care profession

• Aiding or abetting an unlicensed person to practice when a license is required

• Failure to adequately supervise staff resulting in risk to the consumer's health or safety

• The possession, use, prescription for use, or distribution of controlled substances or legend drugs in any way other than for legitimate or therapeutic purposes

• Current misuse of alcohol, controlled substances or legend drugs

• Engaging in contact with the republic while suffering from a contagious or infectious disease involving serious risk to public health

• The procuring, or aiding or abetting in procuring, a criminal abortion

• Acceptance of more than a nominal gratuity by a representative or vendor of products or services intended for patients in contemplation for sale or use in research when a conflict of interest is present

• Acceptance, directly or indirectly, of compensation for patient referrals

• Failure to cooperate with the disciplining authority, or interference with an investigation or disciplinary proceeding, as outlined in RCW 18.130.180 when a complaint has been made