The Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) released the following update following its June 5, 2020 virtual business meeting.

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Update from DQAC

The Dental Quality Assurance Commission met June 5, 2020 to review changes to clinical examinations for dentist licensure. The current examination content rule, WAC 246-817-120, requires five sections to be completed for a clinical examination; restorative; endodontic; periodontal; prosthodontic; and comprehensive treatment planning or diagnostic skills. The rule also requires all sections to be passed with the same testing agency.

All manikin examination sections reviewed today as offered by WREB, CRDTS, CDCA, CITA, and SRTA were approved for licensure in Washington.  However, not all examination testing agencies are offering all five of the required clinical sections. To address the fact that WREB and SRTA are not offering all five sections, the dental commission approved the adoption of an emergency rule that would allow applicants to take the required sections from more than one testing agency.

• The dental commission approved the manikin sections of the WREB examination as acceptable. WREB does not have a manikin periodontal examination section. The dental commission authorized an emergency rule that will remove a requirement in the rule that requires all examination section to be completed with the same testing agency. Washington state dentist licensure applicants may take the WREB manikin examination, but will be required to take a periodontal examination from another testing agency to meet the requirements for clinical examination.
• The dental commission approved the manikin sections of CRDTS examination as acceptable. All required sections are available by CRDTS.
• The dental commission approved the manikin sections of CDCA – ADEX examination as acceptable. All required sections are available by CDCA-ADEX.
• The dental commission approved the manikin sections of CITA – ADEX examination as acceptable. All required sections are available by CITA-ADEX.
• The dental commission approved the manikin sections of SRTA. SRTA does not have a manikin periodontal examination. Additionally, SRTA does not have a comprehensive treatment planning or diagnostic skills examination section. The dental commission authorized an emergency rule that will remove a requirement in the rule that requires all examination section to be completed with the same testing agency. Washington state dentist licensure applicants may take the SRTA manikin examination, but will be required to take a periodontal examination and a comprehensive treatment planning or diagnostic skills examination from another testing agency to meet the requirements for clinical examination.
• The dental commission approved the DLOSCE on April 2, 2020. An emergency rule change will be filed June 15^th adding DLOSCE as an allowable clinical examination. Additionally, the commission is pursuing permanent rule-making to include DLOSCE as a permanent allowable clinical examination.

An emergency rule will be valid for 120 days. Notice will be provided once the emergency rules have been filed.