Purpose: Amendments are necessary to accurately reflect and provide clear exam standards for the exam of dental hygienists and to reflect the current approval process for the expanded functions education programs. The Dental Hygiene Examining Committee recently adopted the central regional dental testing service exam for endorsement applicants. Removing time restrictions will streamline the application process for applicants and expanded function education programs.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-815-020, 246-815-050, 246-815-100, 246-815-110, and 246-815-115.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 43.70.280.

     Other Authority: RCW 18.29.120, 18.29.140, and 18.29.150.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 04-12-122 on June 2, 2004.

     Changes Other than Editing from Proposed to Adopted Version: Changes were made to clarify which parts of the examinations are required by did not change exam requirements. Standards for examiners were retained.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Vicki Brown, P.O. Box 47867, Olympia, WA 98504-7867, phone (360) 236-4865, fax (360) 664-9077, e-mail vicki.brown@doh.wa.gov.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 5, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: October 1, 2004.

Bill White

Deputy Secretary

for Mary C. Selecky

Secretary

OTS-6154.5

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 98-05-060, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98)

WAC 246-815-020   Dental hygiene examination eligibility.   (1) To be eligible to take the ((Washington)) approved dental hygiene examination, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

     (a) The applicant must have successfully completed a dental hygiene education program approved by the secretary of the department of health pursuant to WAC 246-815-030.

     (b) Applicants must complete seven clock hours of AIDS education as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 8.

     (c) The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of Washington law pertaining to the practice of dental hygiene including the administration of legend drugs.

     (d) The applicant must complete the required application materials and pay the required fee.

     (2) ((Applications for the dental hygiene examination are available from the department of health dental hygiene program. The completed application must be received by the department of health sixty days prior to the examination.)) The application must include:

     (a) The required examination fee.

     (b) Either the national board IBM card reflecting a passing score or a notarized copy of the national board certificate.

     (c) ((Two)) One photograph((s)) of the applicant taken within one year preceding the application.

     (3) An official transcript or certificate of completion constitutes proof of successful completion from an approved dental hygiene education program. ((Applicants who will successfully complete the dental hygiene education program within forty-five days preceding the examination for which they are applying may provide documentation of successful completion by inclusion of their names on a verified list of students successfully completing the program from the dean or director of the education program.)) No other proof of successful completion is acceptable. ((An applicant may complete the application and be scheduled for the examination, but will not be admitted to the examination if the department of health has not received the required proof of successful completion.))

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-815-020, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.29 RCW and RCW 18.20.150(4). 95-16-102, § 246-815-020, filed 8/1/95, effective 9/1/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.29.130. 92-02-018 (Order 224), § 246-815-020, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-815-020, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.29 RCW, RCW 18.29.021, [18.29.]045 and [18.29.]130. 90-23-011 (Order 098), § 308-25-011, filed 11/13/90, effective 12/14/90.]

     (a) The dental hygiene national board examination.

     (b) The Washington ((written)) drug and law examination.

     (c) ((The Washington restorative examination.

     (d) The Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) dental hygiene patient evaluation/prophylaxis and local anesthetic examinations.

     (2))) The ((successful completion of the)) Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) dental hygiene practical examinations from May 8, 1992((, and thereafter will be accepted)).

     (i) Patient evaluation clinical competency;

     (ii) Prophylaxis clinical competency;

     (iii) Anesthesia clinical competency; and

     (iv) Restorative clinical competency.

     (d) In lieu of the WREB examination (or any of its subparts), the secretary may accept a substantially equivalent examination (or substantially equivalent subparts).

     (((3))) (2) The committee may, at its discretion, give a test in any other phase of dental hygiene. Candidates will receive information concerning each examination.

     (((4))) (3) The applicant will comply with all written instructions provided by the department of health.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.29 RCW and RCW 18.20.150(4). 95-16-102, § 246-815-050, filed 8/1/95, effective 9/1/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.29.120(2). 95-07-003, § 246-815-050, filed 3/2/95, effective 4/2/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-815-050, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.29 RCW, RCW 18.29.021, [18.29.]045 and [18.29.]130. 90-23-011 (Order 098), § 308-25-015, filed 11/13/90, effective 12/14/90. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.29.031. 86-09-014 (Order PL 585), § 308-25-015, filed 4/7/86.]

     (1) The applicant has successfully completed a dental hygiene education program which is approved by the secretary of the department of health pursuant to WAC 246-815-030.

     (2) The applicant has been issued a valid, current, nonlimited license by successful completion of a dental hygiene examination in another state. The other state's current licensing standards must be substantively equivalent to the licensing standards in the state of Washington. The other state's examination must have included the following portions and minimum level of competency standards.

     (a) Written tests - the written tests include:

     (i) The National Board of Dental Hygiene examination.

     (ii) A state written test covering the current dental hygiene subjects that are tested for Washington state.

     (b) Practical tests - all portions shall be graded anonymously by calibrated practicing dental hygienists or dental hygienists and dentists. The calibration process shall consist of training sessions which include components to evaluate and confirm each examiners ability to uniformly detect known errors on pregraded patients and/or dentoforms. Examiners will be calibrated to the established standard of minimum level of competency. The examination must have equivalent patient selection criteria for the patient evaluation, prophylaxis and anesthesia portions. ((The current Washington state patient selection criteria for examination will be used as the basis of comparison at the time of application for licensure by interstate endorsement of credentials.)) The Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) practical tests. In lieu of the WREB practical tests, the secretary may accept substantially equivalent tests. The practical tests include:

     (i) Patient evaluation clinical competency ((test which includes what is currently tested for the Washington state dental hygiene examination.));

     (ii) Prophylaxis clinical competency ((test which includes what is currently tested for the Washington state dental hygiene examination.));

     (iii) Anesthesia clinical competency ((test which includes what is currently tested for the Washington state dental hygiene examination.)); and

     (iv) Restorative ((test which includes what is currently tested for the Washington state dental hygiene examination)) clinical competency.

     (3) The applicant holds a valid current license, and has been currently engaged in clinical practice at any time within the previous year as a dental hygienist in another state or in the discharge of official duties in the United States Armed Services, Coast Guard, Public Health Services, Veterans' Bureau, or Bureau of Indian Affairs. Verification of licensure must be obtained from the state of licensure, and any fees for verification required by the state of licensure must be paid by the applicant.

     (4) The applicant has not engaged in unprofessional conduct as defined in the Uniform Disciplinary Act in RCW 18.130.180 or is not an impaired practitioner under RCW 18.130.170 in the Uniform Disciplinary Act.

     (5) Applicants must complete seven clock hours of AIDS education as required in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 8.

     (6) The applicant demonstrates to the secretary knowledge of Washington law pertaining to the practice of dental hygiene.

     (7) The applicant completes the required application materials and pays the required application fee. Applications for licensure by interstate endorsement are available from the department of health dental hygiene program.

     (8) If the secretary of the department of health finds that the other state's licensing standards are substantively equivalent except for a portion(s) of the examination, the applicant may take that portion(s) to qualify for interstate endorsement. That portion(s) of the exam must be successfully completed to qualify for interstate endorsement and an additional examination fee as well as the licensure by interstate endorsement fee shall be required.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.280. 98-05-060, § 246-815-100, filed 2/13/98, effective 3/16/98. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.29 RCW and RCW 18.20.150(4). 95-16-102, § 246-815-100, filed 8/1/95, effective 9/1/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.29.045. 93-06-042A (Order 332), § 246-815-100, filed 2/24/93, effective 3/27/93. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.29.130. 92-02-018 (Order 224), § 246-815-100, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-815-100, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.29 RCW, RCW 18.29.021, [18.29.]045 and [18.29.]130. 90-23-011 (Order 098), § 308-25-041, filed 11/13/90, effective 12/14/90.]

     (2) Applications for approval of dental hygiene expanded functions education programs are available from the department of health, ((professional licensing services,)) dental hygiene program.

     (3) The application shall include but is not limited to a self study guide which reflects WAC 246-815-120 and 246-815-130.

     (4) The application may include a site visit and evaluation at the discretion of the secretary of the department of health.

     (5) An approved dental hygiene expanded function education program shall report in writing all modifications of the approved program to the department of health and shall be required to pay the nonrefundable evaluation fee if the secretary of the department determines that the modification(s) substantially affects an area included in WAC 246-815-120.

     (((6) An approved dental hygiene expanded function education program shall apply for evaluation sixty days prior to the month and day of the initial approval date every four years and shall pay the required nonrefundable evaluation fee. Provided, That the approved dental hygiene expanded function education program has not been required to be evaluated due to modifications within one year prior to the required four year evaluation date.))

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.29.130. 92-02-018 (Order 224), § 246-815-110, filed 12/23/91, effective 1/23/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.70.040. 91-02-049 (Order 121), recodified as § 246-815-110, filed 12/27/90, effective 1/31/91. Statutory Authority: Chapter 18.29 RCW, RCW 18.29.021, [18.29.]045 and [18.29.]130. 90-23-011 (Order 098), § 308-25-072, filed 11/13/90, effective 12/14/90.]

     (a) Currently accredited by the American Dental Association Commission on Dental Accreditation; and

     (b) With accredited program curriculum that includes the administration of local anesthetic, administration of nitrous oxide analgesia and restorative dentistry.

     (2) A program representative may apply for approval of a dental hygiene expanded function(s) education program by submitting to the department:

     (a) An application on forms available from the department of health, ((professional licensing services,)) dental hygiene program((, Olympia, Washington)).

     (b) The current and the proposed expanded function course outlines and syllabuses, and:

     (i) An identification of the differences between the current and proposed courses;

     (ii) Documentation of the differences between the current and proposed courses.

     (3) The program representative shall not submit a self study guide or an application fee.

     (4) The department may, at the secretary's discretion, conduct a site visit and evaluation.

     (5) The representative of an approved expanded function education program shall((: (a))) report all modifications of the approved program to the department in writing((; and

     (b) Apply for evaluation every four years, sixty days prior to the month and day of the initial approval date. Provided, that the program has not been evaluated due to modifications within the year previous to the required evaluation date)).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.29.130(6) and 18.29.021 (1)(a). 92-03-126 (Order 236), § 246-815-115, filed 1/21/92, effective 2/21/92.]

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