DQAC Update - Dentist Clinical Examinations
The following is an update from the Dental Quality Assurance Commission (DQAC) on dentist clinical examinations:
As you are aware, the dental commission meeting for May 15, 2020 was cancelled due to overcapacity. We recognize the need to address the dentist licensure clinical examination topic and plan to address this topic at our next meeting, June 5, 2020.
Currently, WAC 246-817-120 provides requirements associated to examinations for dentist licensure.
The rule requires all portions of the examination to be taken through one organization. The portions include; restorative, endodontic, periodontal, prosthodontic, and comprehensive treatment planning or diagnostic skills.
The rule also, approves WREB, CRDTS, CDCA, CITA, and SRTA organizations as acceptable examinations, if all required portions are taken and passed.
Additionally, the rule approves the National Dental Examining Board of Canada clinical examination and recently we approved the Joint Commission on Dental Examination Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE). The DLOSCE was approved as an emergency rule and the rule is ready to be filed. Emergency rules are only valid for 120 days, so it will be filed on June 15, 2020 to take advantage of the full 120 days. The dental commission approved initiating a CR 101 to address permanently adding DLOSCE to the rule. Permanent rule making may take up to 12 months or longer.
Although the current rule does not distinguish between patient and manikin formats, the dental commission will evaluate all significant changes to examinations. Additionally, we are aware that there are examination organizations not providing a manikin-based periodontal portion of the examination. We will be evaluating this as well.
We have received requests related to provisional or temporary dentist licensing. The dental commission does not have specific statutory authority to create a rule to allow for a provisional or temporary license for individuals that have not met all the licensing requirements, which includes the clinical examination.
We apologize for the inconvenience and the time it is taking to hold a meeting to address this important topic.
