Subject of Possible Rule Making: Adding minimum age requirements for dental assistant registration. The dental quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amending WAC 246-187-190 Dental assistant registration, to include a minimum age requirement for dental assistant registration.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission has been receiving an increased number of minors applying for dental assistant registration. Applicants as young as age 12 have applied for dental assistant registration. Each of these applications must be reviewed on an individual basis by the commission, which increases the workload for commission panel reviews. Dental assistant positions are often in areas where hazardous substances are present and there is a risk of possible exposure to bodily fluids or other infectious agents. Rule making is the best option to set clear expectations for dental assistant registration applicants.

On April 26, 2024, during the commission business meeting, the commission authorized rule making to amend WAC 246-817-190 to set a standard minimum age requirement for dental assistants. Updating this rule would prevent minors from applying for dental assistant registration.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Debbie Gardner, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA, 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4893, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 771 [711], email dental@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The commission will be conducting rules workshops with interested parties and subject matter experts. The commission will use existing GovDelivery lists and other known contact information to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language. To find out more information about our rulemaking, visit doh.wa.gov. To subscribe to GovDelivery, please visit doh.wa.gov and select the button titled "Sign up for Updates From DOH" at the bottom of the page. After signing in, select "Health Systems Quality Assurance" and "Health Professions" and "Dental." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions listed to received information related to that specific profession.