Verified October 10, 2026 against the statutes, regulations and sources cited below. The state decides every application. All states
What operators miss in Washington
- A substantiated complaint or critical incident investigation that leads to corrective action costs $2,250.
- An agency must offer education on all FDA-approved medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder before it may advertise or treat those disorders.
Does Washington license behavioral health and addiction treatment programs?
DOH licenses or certifies behavioral health agencies for one calendar year at a time, and the license lists each type of service. An agency may not provide a service it is not certified for, though it may provide one whose approval is pending.
- One license with service components
- Behavioral health agency license or certification
- Issued by Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
Citation: RCW 71.24.037; WAC 246-341-0365
How does Washington license each level of care?
- Outpatient: Outpatient services are added as certifications; the annual fee is set by service hours.
- Residential: Inpatient and residential services carry a per-bed fee.
- Withdrawal management: Withdrawal management services are a certified service type.
Citation: WAC 246-341-0365; RCW 71.24.037(9)
What does a Washington license cost?
- Initial: $2,250 new agency application (as of 2026-10-10)
- Renewal: Outpatient $1,650 to $5,800 a year by annual service hours, or $830 to $2,900 with deemed status (as of 2026-10-10)
- Per site: $1,150 per branch agency; $450 to add certifications
- Per bed: $125 per licensed bed with deemed status, $250 without
Citation: WAC 246-341-0365
How often does a Washington license renew?
- Renews every year
What does accreditation do for a Washington license?
DOH deems agencies accredited by a recognized behavioral health accreditor as meeting state minimum standards, and deemed agencies pay lower outpatient and per-bed fees.
- Accreditation deemed for the license
Citation: RCW 71.24.037(2); WAC 246-341-0365
What does Washington require for owners, sales and moves?
- Ownership change or relocation: A change of ownership is a $1,150 application.
Citation: WAC 246-341-0365(5)(a)
What does an opioid treatment program need in Washington?
DOH consults county and city authorities, gives public notice, and considers the population needing treatment, nearby OTPs and transportation before licensing. Cities and counties may not cap OTP capacity.
- State opioid treatment authority: No agency named on SAMHSA list (Olympia contact at hca.wa.gov)
- State license: DOH licensing or certification as an opioid treatment program; mobile and fixed-site medication units may be part of a licensed OTP.
- State need review
- 40 opioid treatment programs in 2024 (N-SUMHSS)
Citation: RCW 71.24.590
How does Washington treat recovery residences?
The Health Care Authority keeps a registry of approved recovery residences certified by an approved organization. Certification is required only for residences that join the state program activities.
- Voluntary certification
- NARR affiliate: Washington Alliance For Quality Recovery Residences
Citation: RCW 41.05.760
Opening or expanding a program in Washington?
We confirm what Washington requires for your services and levels of care, prepare the application and every attachment for your owner or officer to sign, and track it to a decision. An outpatient program license is $1,995 per site. Every fee is flat and never depends on admissions or census.