DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

(Podiatric Medical Board)

[Filed December 1, 2025, 9:24 a.m., effective January 1, 2026]

Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.

Purpose: Removing licensure barriers for podiatric physicians and surgeons. The podiatric medical board (board) has adopted amendments to WAC 246-922-055 Reciprocity requirements, that clarify and align the rule with RCW 18.130.077.

RCW 18.130.077 requires that disciplining authorities for licensed professionals waive education, training, experience, and exam requirements for applicants who have been credentialed in another state or states with substantially equivalent standards.

The adopted rule not only aligns the rule with RCW 18.130.077, but also restructures the rule to clearly lay out the requirements needed for out-of-state applicants. The amendments modernize and clarify rule language with the intent to reduce licensure barriers for podiatric physicians and surgeons entering in the Washington workforce.

Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-922-055.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.22.015 and 18.130.077.

Other Authority: RCW 18.22.082.

Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-18-054 on August 27, 2025.

Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: One technical edit was made to the proposed rule: WAC 246-922-055(4) updated an incorrect reference from "as described in subsection (1) and (2)" to "(1) and (3)."

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

Date Adopted: December 1, 2025.

Eric G. Powell, DPM, Chair

Podiatric Medical Board

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 18-14-089, filed 7/2/18, effective 8/2/18)

WAC 246-922-055Reciprocity requirements.

((An applicant licensed in another state must file with the secretary verification of the license certified by the proper authorities of the issuing state to include the issue date, license number, current expiration date, and whether any action has been taken to revoke, suspend, restrict, or otherwise sanction the licensee for unprofessional conduct or that the licensee may not be able to practice his or her profession with reasonable skill and safety to consumers as a result of a physical or mental condition. The applicant must document that the educational standards, eligibility requirements, and examinations of that state are substantially equivalent to those of this state.))(1) An applicant may qualify for licensure as a podiatric physician under this section if the applicant is currently licensed in a substantially equivalent state and meets the conditions listed under RCW 18.130.077(3).

(2) All applicants applying for licensure under this section must submit:

(a) A completed application on forms provided by the department; and

(b) The licensing fees required in WAC 246-922-990.

(3) If an applicant applying for licensure under this section meets the requirements in RCW 18.130.077(1), the board shall waive the education, training, experience, and exam requirements for the applicant.

(4) If an applicant does not meet the requirements described in subsection (1) or (3) of this section, the applicant shall apply for licensure under WAC 246-922-033.