DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Dental Quality Assurance Commission)

[Filed August 10, 2020, 8:30 a.m., effective August 10, 2020, 8:30 a.m.]

Effective Date of Rule: Immediately upon filing.

Purpose: WAC 246-817-120 Examination content, this emergency rule will supersede WSR 20-13-059 filed June 15, 2020. The dental quality assurance commission (commission) adopted WSR 20-13-059 to add the Joint Commission on National Dental Examination's (JCNDE) Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE) to the list of allowable practical/clinical examinations in WAC 246-817-120. This emergency rule retains the use of the DLOSCE. The commission is also amending WAC 246-17-120 to allow an applicant to pass components of the practical examination using one or more testing agencies, rather than only one agency.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-817-120.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.32.0365.

Other Authority: RCW 18.32.040 and 18.32.002.

Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.

Reasons for this Finding: In response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, all regional, patient-based clinical dentist examinations are cancelled for 2020 in the United States.

The commission received a request from the University of Washington School of Dentistry and other dental organizations to approve a new nonpatient-based clinical exam. The DLOSCE is a practical/clinical examination that is computer-based and does not use live patients. Adding DLOSCE to the list of allowable practical/clinical examinations will allow current graduates the opportunity to obtain Washington state dentist licensure while other examinations are temporarily unavailable.

On June 5, 2020, the dental commission also determined additional change was necessary to WAC 246-817-120 to allow graduates to obtain nonpatient-based clinical examination from more than one testing agency. Regional examination testing agencies have developed nonpatient-based clinical dentist examinations to replace patient-based. However, one or more of the testing agencies are unable to offer all required sections through nonpatient-based examination. Removing the requirement for all examination content sections to be passed with a single testing agency will provide additional options for new graduates to obtain clinical examinations for Washington state dentist licensure.

Standard rule making takes approximately nine to twelve months. Current patient-based clinical dentist examinations are cancelled for 2020 in the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Computer-based and nonpatient-based examinations are needed so that 2020 dentist student graduates have the opportunity to obtain Washington state dentist licensure.

The immediate amendment of this existing rule is necessary for the preservation of public health, safety, and general welfare. Observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to protecting immediate public interests.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: June 5, 2020.

Aaron Stevens, DMD, Chairperson

Dental Quality Assurance Commission

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 19-15-094, filed 7/22/19, effective 8/22/19)

WAC 246-817-120Examination content.

(1) An applicant seeking dentist licensure in Washington by examination, must successfully pass a written and practical examination approved by the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (commission).

The examination will consist of:

(a) A written examination. The Integrated National Board Dental Examination, Parts I and II of the National Board Dental Examination, or the Canadian National Dental Examining Board examination will be accepted, except as provided in subsection (4) of this section.

(b) A practical examination containing at least the following sections:

(i) Restorative;

(ii) Endodontic;

(iii) Periodontal;

(iv) Prosthodontic; and

(v) Comprehensive treatment planning or diagnostic skills.

(2)(a) The commission accepts the following practical examinations provided the testing agency offers at least the sections listed in subsection (1)(b) of this section:

(i) The Western Regional Examining Board's (WREB) clinical examination;

(ii) The Central Regional Dental Testing Services (CRDTS) clinical examination;

(iii) The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) formally known as Northeast Regional Board (NERB) clinical examination;

(iv) The Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA) clinical examination;

(v) The Council of Interstate Testing Agency's (CITA) clinical examination;

(vi) U.S. state or territory with an individual state board clinical examination;

(vii) The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations dental licensure objective structured clinical examination (DLOSCE); or

(b) The commission will accept the complete National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) of Canada clinical examination as meeting its standards if the applicant is a graduate of an approved dental school defined in WAC 246-817-110 (2)(a).

(3) The applicant must pass all sections listed in subsection (1)(b) of this section of the practical examination with ((the same))one or more testing ((agency))agencies.

(4) The commission will only accept results of approved practical examinations taken within the preceding five years from the date of an application for licensure.

(5) The commission may, at its discretion, give or require an examination in any other subject under subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section, whether in written or practical form or both written and practical.