H-0066.1 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1479
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Representatives Braddock and Peery.
Read first time January 30, 1991. Referred to Committee on Health Care.
AN ACT Relating to dental licensure; adding new sections to chapter 18.32 RCW; and repealing RCW 18.32.215.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 18.32 RCW to read as follows:
The purpose of section 2 of this act is to promote access by the public to quality dental services by providing for the licensure of dentists licensed in other states, waiving the examination requirement under certain conditions, and recognizing the validity of their credentials for practicing dentistry in this state. Consistent with the policy of the American dental association, the legislature finds that an evaluation of a practicing dentists's theoretical knowledge and clinical skills under certain conditions can provide as much protection to the public as would an evaluation based on examination.
The assurance of access by the public to affordable quality health care services, including dental services, is a paramount interest of the state in pursuing its obligation to protect and promote the public health and safety. In the interests of quality however, some regulatory policies are unduly restricting competition by limiting the number of practitioners available to serve the public, especially those licensed by other states. These restrictive policies tend to increase the costs of health care services that even further limit access. The legislature finds and declares that the quality of health care services is compatible with, and need not be compromised by, policies to promote public access to the needed health care services.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 18.32 RCW to read as follows:
(1) An applicant holding a valid license to practice dentistry in another state of the United States shall be granted a license by the department of health to practice dentistry in the state of Washington, without examination required by this chapter, on the payment of the required fees, if the applicant: (a) Has engaged in active practice or full-time dental education in the state of origin or under the auspices of the United States government for a minimum of five years; (b) has graduated from an accredited dental school; (c) is not currently the subject of final or pending disciplinary action for unprofessional conduct related to the practice of dentistry under the laws of the jurisdiction of origin; (d) demonstrates a basic knowledge of Washington law pertaining to the practice of dentistry in this state; and (e) has not failed the clinical examination of the state of Washington within the last three years.
(2) This section does not affect the authority for denial of licensure for unprofessional conduct under the uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. RCW 18.32.215 and 1989 c 202 s 30 are each repealed.