Subject of Possible Rule Making: Licensure requirements for expanded function dental auxiliaries. The dental quality assurance commission (commission) is considering amending WAC 246-817-195 Licensure requirements for expanded function dental auxiliaries (EFDA), to allow the amalgam clinical patient requirement to be optional. The commission may consider amendments to other relevant licensure requirement rule sections in chapter 246-817 WAC.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The commission has received feedback from various EFDA programs in Washington state pertaining to the challenges students face finding clinical patients for amalgam restorations due to a reduction of amalgam procedures in the community.

On October 11, 2024, during the commission business meeting, the commission authorized rule making to consider amending WAC 246-817-195 making the amalgam clinical patient requirement optional. Updating this rule could modernize the requirements and remove barriers for EFDAs pursuing licensure in Washington state.

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 rule making, visit doh.wa.gov. To subscribe to GovDelivery, please visit doh.wa.gov and select the button titled "Sign up for Updates From DOH" button 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 receive information related to that specific profession.