Subject of Possible Rule Making: WAC 246-933-250, the veterinary board of governors (board) is considering amending this rule to remove unnecessary barriers to licensure.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board is considering rule making to remove unnecessary barriers to licensure.

The board has observed that occasionally, veterinarians from other states who apply in Washington state face unnecessary barriers to licensure. Licensees must "successfully complete either the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), or the National Board Examination for Veterinary Medical Licensing (NBE), with the Clinical Competency Test (CCT)" (WAC 246-933-250(1)). However, CCT was not required prior to 1982.

Applicants who took their exam prior to 1982 must use the board's reciprocity statute to apply for licensure in Washington (RCW 18.92.130). The reciprocity statute is cumbersome and outdated, and requires applicants to do extensive work with a state in which they are currently licensed to prove that the state in which they are licensed offers reciprocity in the same way Washington does.

The board discussed this issue at its September 2018 business meeting, and would like to consider whether CCT is an unnecessary burden for licensure. Applicants who took the licensure exam without CCT have likely had an extensive career in veterinary medicine and CCT requirement may no longer be relevant. The board would also like to evaluate this rule to identify and remove any other barriers that exist.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Loralei Walker, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4947, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email loralei.walker@doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested persons may sign up for the veterinary email list by visiting https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new, then provide an email address, select (+)"Health Systems Quality Assurance (HSQA)," select (+)"Health Professions," then select "Veterinary Board." Registrants will be notified of public rule-making meetings and asked to participate or submit written comments for consideration.