WA Autism Center of Excellence (COE) Certification Training

Experts from the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Autism Center provide the Autism Center of Excellence (COE) Certification trainings through a contract with the Health Care Authority (HCA).

Purpose of the COE Training

• To increase the number of qualified clinicians (COEs) across Washington State who can appropriately diagnose children and youth with autism
• Help children and families access needed services as appropriate, including writing a Medicaid/Apple Health prescription for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). COE required for Managed Care Organization (MCO) prescription approval.

Who is Eligible to Become a COE

• The HCA determines which primary care and other clinicians can become COEs. Currently the list includes medical physicians working in primary care, specialty physicians, clinical psychologists, ARNPs and pediatric naturopaths.
• As of Oct 17, 2019 , an autism diagnosis from a COE provider (except for naturopath physicians) can also be used by a family for Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) eligibility.

What the Online Training Covers

• Evaluation and diagnosis of children exhibiting signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and determining which evidence –based treatments, including ABA, are likely to be helpful for individual children
• Community and state resources for children and youth with autism and their families
• How to write an approved prescription for ABA treatment
• Billing Tips
• Paperwork and process to complete to become a HCA recognized COE after the training

Who is the Training for?

• The target audience for the COE certification training are those primary care clinicians and psychiatric ARNPs eligible to become COEs.
• Neurologists, psychiatrists, PhD/PsyD psychologists and developmental-behavioral pediatricians are automatically  able to diagnose autism for many insurances including Medicaid but may find the Washington specific focus of the training helpful.
• Additionally, clinical and community partners collaborating with  COES in the evaluation and connection of children and youth and their families to service are welcome to register.
• Providers from outside of Washington State are welcome on a limited space available basis.

More information about the COE training.

• Register directly for the Sept 23, 2022 COE training: https://redcap.link/COE_training_Sept23_2022

• Questions?  Email Kate Orville at orville@uw.edu