2005 Washington Revised Code RCW 18.130.020: Definitions.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Disciplining authority" means the agency, board, or commission having the authority to take disciplinary action against a holder of, or applicant for, a professional or business license upon a finding of a violation of this chapter or a chapter specified under RCW 18.130.040.

     (2) "Department" means the department of health.

     (3) "Secretary" means the secretary of health or the secretary's designee.

     (4) "Board" means any of those boards specified in RCW 18.130.040.

     (5) "Commission" means any of the commissions specified in RCW 18.130.040.

     (6) "Unlicensed practice" means:

     (a) Practicing a profession or operating a business identified in RCW 18.130.040 without holding a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, and unsuspended license to do so; or

     (b) Representing to a consumer, through offerings, advertisements, or use of a professional title or designation, that the individual is qualified to practice a profession or operate a business identified in RCW 18.130.040, without holding a valid, unexpired, unrevoked, and unsuspended license to do so.

     (7) "Disciplinary action" means sanctions identified in RCW 18.130.160.

     (8) "Practice review" means an investigative audit of records related to the complaint, without prior identification of specific patient or consumer names, or an assessment of the conditions, circumstances, and methods of the professional's practice related to the complaint, to determine whether unprofessional conduct may have been committed.

     (9) "Health agency" means city and county health departments and the department of health.

     (10) "License," "licensing," and "licensure" shall be deemed equivalent to the terms "license," "licensing," "licensure," "certificate," "certification," and "registration" as those terms are defined in RCW 18.120.020.

[1995 c 336 § 1; 1994 sp.s. c 9 § 602; 1989 1st ex.s. c 9 § 312; 1986 c 259 § 2; 1984 c 279 § 2.]

Severability -- Headings and captions not law -- Effective date -- 1994 sp.s. c 9: See RCW 18.79.900 through 18.79.902.      Effective date -- Severability -- 1989 1st ex.s. c 9: See RCW 43.70.910 and 43.70.920.      Severability -- 1986 c 259: See note following RCW 18.130.010.