Requirements

Requirements for Volunteering

If you have any questions about these requirements, please contact the Volunteer Office at 360.313.1399.

1.  Identification

All volunteers are required to show a valid piece of identification for our files.
(State ID, Drivers License, or Passport.)

2.  Commitment

In the interests of sustainability and continuity, we ask our clinic volunteers to make a total commitment of 50 hours.  Initially, we ask that volunteers serve at least once per month (2-4 hr shift) for six months, to determine if this is a good fit.   Many of our volunteers have been with us for more than 15 years and are still passionate about it!

• 6 Months minimum duration (minimum of one shift or 2.5 hrs per month)
• 50 Hours - requested total over the course of service (may exceed six months)

Exceptions:

• Health Professionals, Medical Specialists, Dentists, or other providers who have difficult schedules, may commit to one shift per quarter (4x/year). 

• Board or committee members will meet the terms of service set by the Free Clinic Executive Committee.

• Interns (academic or other) may serve more hours or a different time span depending on external and/or internal program requirements.

3.  Licensing

For those professionals who have credentials not regulated by the WA DOH, verification will be made through the national organization which does have oversight.  Volunteers should provide copies of the credential and contact information for the verifying organization.

4.  Liability Insurance

Dentists & Physicians must provide their own liability insurance. All health professionals may obtain FREE insurance for volunteering.  All other volunteers are covered by Free Clinic's policy.  

5.  Physician Assistants

PA's are encouraged to volunteer, but must file a practice plan (under our medical director) with the WA Department of Health.  We will send you the paperwork once you submit your application.

6.  Background check 

Policy
New volunteer applicants must consent to, and pass, a criminal background investigation before being accepted as Free Clinic volunteer. The Vancouver School District (VSD), a Free Clinic partner, will implement these background checks on our behalf according to their own policy and procedure guidelines. We receive a pass/no pass notice from VSD generally 3-5 days after submitting the paperwork.

A $10 processing fee is collected prior to screening of applicants from Oregon in order to access the Oregon State Criminal Background Check database.

Health Professionals who are licensed (registered or certified) in Washington State are exempt from this procedure because the state conducts a criminal background check before issuing a license.

Download the Background Check Packet

Process
You may download the Background Check Packet, with instructions, once you have submitted your application to volunteer.  Please complete the form in full, and send it to the Volunteer Manager by fax, email, or post.  A digital file can begin the process, but the original signature is eventually required for our files.  Please call the office with any questions about this policy.

The process to become a volunteer