WSR 26-05-070
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Dental Quality Assurance Commission)
[Filed February 17, 2026, 2:38 p.m., effective March 20, 2026]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Continuing education and training requirements for dentists administering sedation. The dental quality assurance commission is adopting amendments to WAC 246-817-773 to ensure clear continuing education and training requirements for dentists administering sedation.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 246-817-773.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.32.0365 and 18.32.640.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 25-24-079 on December 1, 2025.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Debbie Gardner, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4893, TTY 711, email dental@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Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.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: January 16, 2026.
Bryan Swanson, DDS, Chair
Dental Quality Assurance Commission
RDS-6437.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 24-01-033, filed 12/11/23, effective 1/11/24)
WAC 246-817-773Continuing education for dentists administering sedation.
Continuing education must contribute to the professional knowledge and development of the licensed dentist to enhance sedation services provided to patients.
(1) The continuing education reporting period for a licensed dentist that administers sedation in Washington before December 31, 2023, begins January 1, 2024.
(2) The five-year continuing education reporting period for a licensed dentist that administers minimal sedation with nitrous oxide or minimal sedation in Washington on January 1, 2024, or later begins the date of first administration of sedation.
(3) The three-year continuing education reporting period for a licensed dentist initially issued a moderate sedation with enteral agents, moderate sedation with parenteral agents, pediatric sedation endorsement, or general anesthesia permit in Washington on January 1, 2024, or later begins the date of permit issuance.
(4) A licensed dentist who holds a valid permit ((or)), endorsement, or administers minimal sedation with or without nitrous oxide shall complete required hours of continuing education in one or more of the subject categories as required in ((below))Table 1. A licensed dentist who holds a valid permit and pediatric sedation endorsement shall complete required hours of continuing education in the pediatric sedation endorsement column, which may count toward moderate sedation continuing education requirements.
((WAC 246-817-740 Minimal sedation with nitrous oxide - 7 hours
WAC 246-817-745 Minimal sedation - 7 hours
WAC 246-817-755 Moderate sedation with enteral agents - 7 hours
WAC 246-817-760 Moderate sedation with parenteral agents - 14 hours
WAC 246-817-765 Pediatric sedation endorsement - 14 hours
WAC 246-817-770 General anesthesia and deep sedation - 18 hours
Appropriate use of immobilization devices
 
 
 
 
X
 
ACLS
X
X
X
 
 
 
Behavioral management
 
 
 
 
 
X
General anesthesia
 
 
 
 
 
X
Inhalation analgesia
 
 
 
 
 
X
Medical emergencies
X
X
X
X
X
X
Nitrous oxide analgesia
X
X
X
X
X
 
Oral or intravenous sedation
 
 
 
X
 
 
Oral sedation
X
X
X
 
 
 
PALS
X
X
X
X
 
X
Patient evaluation
X
X
X
X
X
X
Patient monitoring
X
X
X
X
X
X
Pediatric behavioral management
 
 
 
 
X
 
Pediatric pharmacology
 
 
 
 
X
 
Pediatric physiological
 
 
 
 
X
 
Pediatric sedation
 
 
 
 
X
 
Pharmacology
 
 
 
X
 
X
Physiology
X
X
X
X
 
X))
Table 1
 WAC 246-817-740 Minimal sedation with nitrous oxide - 7 hours
WAC 246-817-745 Minimal sedation - 7 hours
 
WAC 246-817-755 Moderate sedation with enteral agents - 7 hours
WAC 246-817-760 Moderate sedation with parenteral agents - 14 hours
WAC 246-817-770 General anesthesia and deep sedation - 18 hours
 
WAC 246-817-765 Pediatric sedation endorsement - 14 hours
Appropriate use of immobilization devices
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
Behavioral management
X
X
 
X
X
X
 
X
General anesthesia
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
Inhalation
anesthetic
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
 
Medical emergencies
X
X
 
X
X
X
 
X
Nitrous oxide
sedation
X
X
 
X
X
X
 
X
Intravenous sedation
 
 
 
 
X
X
 
 
Oral sedation
 
X
 
X
X
X
 
 
Patient evaluation
X
X
 
X
X
X
 
X
Patient monitoring
X
X
 
X
X
X
 
X
Pediatric behavioral management
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
Pediatric pharmacology
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
Pediatric physiology
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
Pediatric sedation
 
 
 
 
 
X
 
X
Pharmacology
X
X
 
X
X
X
 
 
Physiology
X
X
 
X
X
X
 
 
Venipuncture
 
 
 
 
X
X
 
 
Three-year CE reporting period
 
 
 
X
X
X
 
X
Five-year CE reporting period
X
X
 
 
 
 
 
 
(5) ((Verification))A licensed dentist shall submit a written declaration of completion of continuing education hours ((will be due)) on the dentist's sedation permit or endorsement renewal date beginning in 2027.
(6) Continuing education in subject categories identified in Table 1 in subsection (4) of this section may be completed using any of the activities or methods authorized in WAC 246-817-440(((4)))(5).
(7) Proof of continuing education requirements are listed in WAC 246-817-440(((5)))(6).
(8) Hourly credits earned from certification in basic life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) may not be used to meet the educational requirements in subsection (4) of this section. However, the hourly credits earned in BLS, ACLS, or PALS certification may be used to meet the requirements of WAC 246-817-440 to renew the dentist license.
(9) Initial and renewal BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification must include both didactic and hands-on components.
(10) Hourly credits earned from sedation continuing education requirements for licensed dentists who hold a moderate sedation with enteral agents permit, moderate sedation with parenteral agents permit, general anesthesia and deep sedation permit, or pediatric sedation endorsement are in addition to the educational requirements of WAC 246-817-440 to renew the dentist license.