Subject of Possible Rule Making: Dietitians and nutritionists; removing barriers and updating rules to align with recent legislation. The department of health (department) is considering creating a new section in chapter 246-822 WAC and making amendments to dietitians and nutritionists application requirements in WAC 246-822-120, 246-822-132, and other related sections to comply with 2SHB 1724 (chapter 425, Laws of 2023), codified as RCW 18.130.077.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: RCW 18.130.077 directs disciplining authorities for licensed and credentialed professionals to waive education, training, experience, and exam requirements for applicants who have been credentialed in another state or states with substantially equivalent standards for at least two years immediately preceding their application with no interruption in licensure or credential for longer than 90 days. RCW 18.130.077(2) provides disciplining authorities with the option to waive education, training, experience, and exam requirements for applicants who have achieved a national certification for the profession, as determined by the disciplining authority in rule.

The intent of the bill is to make disciplining authorities review and adjust application and credential requirements to remove barriers to entering and remaining in the health care workforce, and to streamline and shorten the credentialing process. Rule making may be necessary to amend credential requirements in chapter 246-822 WAC to align with RCW 18.130.077.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Kim-Boi Shadduck, Program Manager, Office of Health Professions, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504, phone 360-236-2912, TTY 711, email kim-boi.shadduck@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in drafting the proposed rules. The department will be conducting rules workshops with the interested parties and subject matter experts. The department will use the GovDelivery dietitians and nutritionists program list to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language. To receive notices, please go to https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions" and then check "Dietitians and Nutritionists Programs." You may also check the box next to one or more of the other professions or facilities listed to receive information related to that specific topic.