WSR 26-15-046
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Dental Quality Assurance Commission)
[Filed July 9, 2026, 7:19 a.m., effective August 9, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The dental quality assurance commission is adopting amendments to WAC 246-817-120 to update approved testing agency names for practical examinations for dental licensure.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-817-120.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 26-08-057 on March 27, 2026.
Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: In subsection (2)(a)(vi), the word "formally" has been changed to "formerly."
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: July 9, 2026.
Bryan Swanson, DDS, Chair
Dental Quality Assurance Commission
RDS-7027.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 21-09-011, filed 4/8/21, effective 5/9/21)
WAC 246-817-120Examination content.
(1) An applicant seeking dentist licensure in Washington by examination((,)) must successfully pass a written and practical examination approved by the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (commission).
The examination will consist of:
(a) A written examination. The Integrated National Board Dental Examination, Parts I and II of the National Board Dental Examination, or the Canadian National Dental Examining Board examination will be accepted, except as provided in subsection (4) of this section.
(b) A practical examination containing at least the following sections:
(i) Restorative;
(ii) Endodontic;
(iii) Periodontal;
(iv) Prosthodontic; and
(v) Comprehensive treatment planning or diagnostic skills.
(2)(a) The commission accepts the following practical examinations provided the testing agency offers at least the sections listed in subsection (1)(b) of this section:
(i) The Western Regional Examining Board(('s)) (WREB) clinical examination;
(ii) The Central Regional Dental Testing Services (CRDTS) clinical examination;
(iii) The Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA) ((formally known as Northeast Regional Board (NERB))) clinical examination;
(iv) The Southern Regional Testing Agency (SRTA) clinical examination;
(v) The Council of Interstate Testing ((Agency's))Agencies (CITA) clinical examination;
(vi) The American Board of Dental Examiners (ADEX), formerly known as CDCA-WREB-CITA, clinical examination;
(vii) U.S. state or territory with an individual state board clinical examination;
(((vii)))(viii) The Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations dental licensure objective structured clinical examination (DLOSCE); or
(b) The commission will accept the complete National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) of Canada clinical examination as meeting its standards if the applicant is a graduate of an approved dental school defined in WAC 246-817-110 (2)(a).
(3) The applicant must pass all practical examination sections listed in subsection (1)(b) of this section with the following:
(a) The same testing agency; or
(b) A maximum of two testing agencies listed in subsection (2)(a) of this section administering all the practical examination sections in coordination with each other.
(4) The commission will only accept results of approved practical examinations taken within the preceding five years from the date of an application for licensure.
(5) The commission may, at its discretion, give or require an examination in any other subject under subsection (1)(a) and (b) of this section, whether in written or practical form or both written and practical.