The Board of Denturists occasionally makes changes to rules. The board determines rule changes are necessary for many reasons including: legislative law changes, request to change a rule, national standards change, and updating outdated rule language. The rules writing process is open to the public. The public is welcome to take part in helping us write rules. Rules are also known as regulations, Washington Administrative Code, or WAC. The rule making process includes public notices and workshops, and usually a public hearing before a rule becomes final.
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Denturist laws and rules are on our Laws webpage.
Rules in Progress
The rules writing process is open to the public. The public is welcome to take part in helping us write rules. Rules are also known as regulations, Washington Administrative Code, or WAC. The rule-making process includes public notices and workshops, and usually a public hearing before a rule becomes final.
To get updates about rule making and other topics related to denturists, subscribe for updates at the bottom of the page.
Recently Completed Rule Changes
There are no current rules in progress. The Board of Denturists open Chapter 246-812 WAC to revise the rules so they are clear, concise, and reflect current denturist practices. This revision is part of the five-year rule review process mandated by RCW 43.70.041. The adopted changes include:
- General housekeeping amendments;
- Updated portions of the chapter that have not been updated for several years to bring the standards up-to-date, meet current national standards, and clarify or eliminate ambiguities or redundant rules; and
- Added new sections on:
- Use of a professional title. This provides the profession guidance on the use of titles or description of services that may be used;
- Standards required for approval on online schools or programs of denturism. These rules establish the process the board will use when reviewing an application for approval of an online school or program of denturism;
- Denial or withdrawal of a denturist school or program. The rules give the board standards on how to address a program that doesn't meet the requirements for approval. It allows the board to conduct reviews or site visits to investigate reasons for denial, and determines that a program does not apply for renewal is automatically denied;
- Reinstatement of approval for a denturist school or program. These rules articulate what a program needs to do to seek re-approval if the board has withdrawn school or program approval;
- Appeal right for a denturist program. These rules articulate that a denturist school or program that has been denied or had approval withdrawn shall have the right to a hearing to appeal the board's decision;
- Hand hygiene. The rules require use of soap and water or alcohol based hand rub to cleanse hands after hands have been visibly soiled, handling equipment have been contaminated, before and after treating each patient, and before putting on gloves and after taking them off; and
- Respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. The rules require denturists to post signs to cover a cough or sneeze, use/dispose of tissue, and to wash your hands. The rule also requires denturists to provide tissues, a no-touch receptacle, and offer masks to patients and visitors.
The board adopted the rules at a public rules hearing held on October 25, 2019, in Tumwater, Washington. The board thanks everyone who participated in this rule-making process.
The board did not receive any comments to the rules. The board adopted the language as published with the Office of the Code Reviser under WSR 20-04-028 on January 28, 2020.