Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Health Care & Wellness Committee

HB 1740

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

Dentists are licensed and disciplined by the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC). In order to be licensed, a dentist must:

submit proof of graduation from a dental college, school, or dental department of an institution approved by the DQAC;
submit a recent picture; and
pass an examination.

A dentist may forego the examination requirement if he or she completes a post-doctoral dental residency program accredited by the American Dental Association and the DQAC. The residency must:

last from one to three years;
be located in a community health clinic that serves predominantly low-income patients or that is located in a dental care health professional shortage area; and
include an outcome assessment evaluation that assesses the resident's competence to practice dentistry.

The DQAC may issue a limited license to practice dentistry for a person to participate in the post-doctoral residency program. The license may only permit the dentist to provide dental care in connection with his or her duties in the program.

Summary of Bill:

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) may issue a limited license to practice dentistry for a person to participate in any post-doctoral dental residency program approved by the DQAC (as opposed to only the residency program authorized to substitute for the examination requirement).