Congratulations on earning your bachelor’s degree and applying for the new Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BHSS) credential!
Applying for the BHSS Certification
To apply for BHSS certification, visit the Department of Health (DOH) BHSS website.
Apply for Partial Fee Reimbursement
Since UW is a state school, there are certain rules we need to follow for reimbursement. You are asked to complete the following survey and upload relevant attachments. UW can only reimburse the person or group that paid the fee. If someone is paying on your behalf, that is fine. The person paying the fee to DOH will need to fill out the form. Please allow 6-8 weeks to receive payment via mail.
Voluntary BHSS Graduate Survey
You are invited to participate in a UW survey to better understand BHSS graduates by completing information in this graduate survey. The survey is voluntary. You do not need to complete the graduate survey to apply for BHSS credential reimbursement.
Information about BHSS Certification Fees
One of the challenges in starting a new profession is the cost associated with start-up. The Department of Health is required by Washington law to cover costs associated with the management of the profession through fees to the persons seeking certification or licensure. For a new profession, this requirement elevates the cost. To offset the cost, UW has reserved funds provided by Ballmer Group to partially reimburse new BHSSs for the cost of the credential. In 2025, UW will reimburse $200 of the $285 fee. This means the BHSS is paying $85 toward the initial credential fee.
If you have questions, please contact bhsswa@uw.edu. Thank you!