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

     Purpose: Prior to 1974, each state used their own medical licensure examination to determine a minimum level of competency of applicants. According to the current rule Washington state accepts all other state examinations with the exception of Hawaii and Florida. The medical quality assurance commission (commission) is amending WAC 246-919-360 to repeal the exclusionary language regarding Hawaii and Florida state examinations. The new rule will allow all applicants who met all licensure requirements and have taken and passed a state examination to be licensed in Washington state. This will provide greater access to health care practitioners.

     Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-919-360.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.130.050.

     Other Authority: RCW 18.71.090 and [18.71.]095.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 06-09-029 on April 12, 2006.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Beverly A. Thomas, P.O. Box 47866, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 236-47866 [236-4788], fax (360) 236-4768, e-mail beverly.thomas@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     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: July 14, 2006.

Blake T. Maresh

Executive Director

OTS-8398.1

AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 04-04-067, filed 2/2/04, effective 3/4/04)

WAC 246-919-360   Examinations accepted for reciprocity or waiver.   (1) The commission may accept certain examinations as a basis for licensure. These examinations include USMLE, FLEX, NBE, or those given by the other states, or territories of the United States((, with the exception of Florida and Hawaii)). Those who have taken the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (L.M.C.C.) and holds a valid LMCC certification obtained after 1969, may be granted a license without examination.

     (2) Examination combination acceptable. Any applicant who has successfully completed Part I (NBE) or Step 1 (USMLE) plus Part II or Step 2 plus Part III or Step 3; or FLEX Component 1 plus Step 3; or Part I or Step 1, plus Part II or Step 2, plus FLEX Component 2 shall be deemed to have successfully completed a medical licensure examination as required by RCW 18.71.070. (For clarification, see Table 1.)

Accepted Examinations taken in Sequence	Other Acceptable Combinations
NBME Part I plus NBME Part II plus NBME Part III	NBME Part I or USMLE Step 1 plus NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2 plus NBME Part III or USMLE Step 3
FLEX Component 1 plus FLEX Component 2	FLEX Component 1 plus USMLE Step 3 or NBME Part I or USMLE Step 1 plus NBME Part II or USMLE Step 2 plus FLEX Component 2
USMLE Step 1 plus USMLE Step 2 plus USMLE Step 3

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017. 04-04-067, § 246-919-360, filed 2/2/04, effective 3/4/04. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017 and 18.71A.020. 96-03-073, § 246-919-360, filed 1/17/96, effective 2/17/96.]

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