Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.003
Regulation of health care professions—Criteria
See chapter 18.120 RCW.
Revised Code of Washington Chapter 18.29 — Dental Hygienists
Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 18.29 · 26 active provisions
Provisions
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.005
"Surfaces of the teeth" defined
The term "surfaces of the teeth" as used in this chapter means the portions of the crown and root surface to which there is no periodontal membrane attached.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.011
License required
No person may practice as a dental hygienist in this state without having a license as such and, after the first year, an unexpired license renewal certificate.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.021
Requirements for licensing
(1) The department shall issue a license to any applicant who, as determined by the secretary:(a) Has successfully completed an educational program approved by the secretary. This educational program shall include coursework encompassing the subject areas within the scope of the license to practice dental hygiene in th…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.045
Licensure by endorsement
An applicant holding a valid license and currently engaged in practice in another state may be granted a license without examination required by this chapter, on the payment of any required fees, if the secretary in consultation with the advisory committee determines that the other state's licensing standards are subst…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.050
Scope of licensee's functions—Employment—Supervision
Any person licensed as a dental hygienist in this state may remove deposits and stains from the surfaces of the teeth, may apply topical preventive or prophylactic agents, may polish and smooth restorations, may perform root planing and soft-tissue curettage, and may perform other dental operations and services delegat…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.053
Expanded function dental auxiliary services—Supervision
A person who holds a license under this chapter and who has met the requirements under RCW 18.260.050 and has been issued a license to practice as an expanded function dental auxiliary may perform those expanded function dental auxiliary services identified in RCW 18.260.070 under the specified supervision of a supervi…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.056
Employment by health care facilities authorized—Limitations—Requirements for services performed in senior centers
(1)(a) Subject to RCW 18.29.230 and (e) of this subsection, dental hygienists licensed under this chapter with two years' practical clinical experience with a licensed dentist within the preceding five years may be employed, retained, or contracted by health care facilities and senior centers to perform authorized dent…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.058
Delegated acts—Homebound patients
(1)(a) Any person licensed in this state as a dental hygienist with two years of practical clinical experience within the preceding five years may perform delegated acts specified in (b) of this subsection on a homebound patient under the general supervision of a dentist licensed under chapter 18.32 RCW if the patient…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.060
License issuance—Display
Upon passing an examination and meeting the requirements as provided in RCW 18.29.021, the secretary of health shall issue to the successful applicant a license as dental hygienist. The license shall be displayed in a conspicuous place in the operation room where such licensee shall practice.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.071
Renewals
The secretary shall establish the administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees for renewal of licenses as provided in this chapter and in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.076
Application of uniform disciplinary act
The uniform disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW, governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses, and the discipline of licensees under this chapter.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.100
Violations—Penalty—Prosecutions
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. It shall be the duty of the prosecuting attorney of each county to prosecute all cases involving a violation of this chapter arising within his or her county. The attorney general may assist in such prosecutions and shall appea…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.110
Dental hygiene examining committee—Generally
There shall be a dental hygiene examining committee consisting of four practicing dental hygienists and one public member appointed by the secretary, to be known as the Washington dental hygiene examining committee. Each dental hygiene member shall be licensed and have been actively practicing dental hygiene for a peri…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.120
Examinations—Secretary's authority—Consultation with examining authority
The secretary in consultation with the Washington dental hygiene examining committee shall:(1) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW necessary to prepare and conduct examinations for dental hygiene licensure;(2) Require an applicant for licensure to pass an examination consisting of written and practical tes…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.130
Secretary's authority—Generally—Continuing education
In addition to any other authority provided by law, the secretary may:(1) Adopt rules in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW necessary to implement this chapter;(2) Establish forms necessary to administer this chapter;(3) Issue a license to any applicant who has met the education and examination requirements for licensur…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.140
Approval of educational programs
The secretary shall establish by rule the standards and procedures for approval of educational programs and may contract with individuals or organizations having expertise in the profession or in education to report to the secretary information necessary for the secretary to evaluate the educational programs. The secre…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.150
Examinations
(1) The secretary shall establish the date and location of the examination. Applicants who meet the education requirements for licensure shall be scheduled for the next examination following the filing of the application. The secretary shall establish by rule the examination application deadline.(2) The examination sha…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.160
Immunity
The secretary, members of the committee, and individuals acting on their behalf are immune from suit in any action, civil or criminal, based on any acts performed in the course of their duties.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.170
Committee meetings—Quorum—Effect of vacancy
The committee shall meet at least once a year and at such times as may be necessary for the transaction of business.A majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum.A vacancy in the committee membership shall not impair the right of the remaining members of the committee to exercise any power or to perform any dut…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.180
Exemptions from chapter
The following practices, acts, and operations are excepted from the operation of this chapter:(1) The practice of dental hygiene in the discharge of official duties by dental hygienists in the United States armed services, coast guard, public health services, veterans' bureau, or bureau of Indian affairs;(2) Dental hyg…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.190
Initial temporary license
(1) The department shall issue an initial temporary license without the examination required by this chapter to any applicant who, as determined by the secretary:(a) Holds a valid license in another state or Canadian province that allows a substantively equivalent scope of practice in subsection (3)(a) through (j) of t…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.210
Rules
The secretary in consultation with the dental hygiene examining committee shall develop rules and definitions to implement this chapter.
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.220
Community-based sealant programs in schools
For low-income, rural, and other at-risk populations and in coordination with local public health jurisdictions and local oral health coalitions, a dental hygienist licensed in this state may assess for and apply sealants and apply fluoride, and may remove deposits and stains from the surfaces of teeth in community-bas…
Wash. Rev. Code § 18.29.230
Services at senior centers and community-based sealant programs—Dental hygienist duties
A dental hygienist participating in a program under RCW 18.29.056 that involves providing services at senior centers, as defined in RCW 18.29.056, or under RCW 18.29.220 that involves removing deposits and stains from the surfaces of teeth in a community-based sealant program must:(1) Provide the patient or, if the pat…
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