Washington Dental Occupation Titles, Descriptions and Clinical Capacity

Occupations Comprising Washington’s Oral Health Workforce

Several occupations comprise Washington’s oral health workforce. Not all occupations require formal licensing in the state, although most require at least a certification or registration. Click the links for more specific state requirements by provider type from the Washington State Department of Health.

Provider Type	Years and Type of Education Required	Credential Required to Practice in Washington
Dentists	DDS or DMD via 4 years of dental school post-bachelor’s degree; specialists receive additional education; 63 hours CE every 3 years	License; residents can obtain a limited license for practice within approved educational settings
Dental Hygienists	Associate degree (2 years following prerequisites) or bachelor’s (4 years) or master’s in dental hygiene from an accredited program; pass the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam; 15 hours CE annually	License
Expanded Function Dental Auxiliaries (EFDAs)	EFDA certificate following completion of nationally accredited dental assistant program	License
Dental Therapists	Associates degree	2023 WA law granted authority to practice in community health clinics (House Bill 1678), expanding 2017 law allowing dental therapists to practice on federally designated tribal lands (Senate Bill 5079). Licensing information forthcoming.
Dental Assistants	Range: from on-the-job training to associate’s degree; No CE required for state but 12 hours annually for national certification	Registration – annual renewal
Denturists	1-2 years, associate degree, or completion of an approved technical program; 15 hours CE annually	License
Dental Laboratory Assistants/Technician	High school, 4 years’ experience or 2 years’ experience and completion of a dental lab tech education program	Certification
Dental Anesthesia Assistant	Approved dental anesthesia assistant training course that includes IV access or phlebotomy; 12 hours CE every 3 years to maintain certification	Certification and valid anesthesia permit of oral and maxillofacial surgeon or a dental anesthesiologist.
Primary Care Medical Providers (Physicians, Physician Assistants [PAs], Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioners [APRNs])	No specific oral health education required beyond medical degree; to be reimbursed by Medicaid, must have training through Washington Dental Service Foundation	Professional medical license
Supporting Caregivers (i.e., in-home caregivers for people with disabilities and older adults)	Oral health is a component of initial short-term training for in-home caregivers; 10 hours CE in oral health available	None

Clinical Capacity of Oral Health Providers

This table displays the scope of practice by provider type, showing how the roles and responsibilities of the different oral health occupations compare in the state of Washington. Updated from the UW CHWS 2009 Washington State Oral Health Workforce Report.