The Department of Health is enrolling and activating emergency volunteer health practitioners for the COVID-19 response. While an emergency proclamation of the Governor is in effect, health practitioners licensed in another state may practice in Washington without obtaining a Washington license if he or she is in good standing in all states of licensure and is registered in the volunteer health practitioner system. Health practitioners licensed in Washington can also enroll to be an emergency volunteer health practitioner. These emergency volunteers will help meet emerging demands for health practitioners in areas impacted by COVID-19. The department can do this under the authority of the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioner Act (Chapter 70.15 RCW).

The Department of Health has the authority under RCW 70.15.030 to regulate any matters necessary to coordinate the provision of health services during an emergency with respect to volunteer health practitioners, including where they work, for how long they work, and what types of practitioners may volunteer.