Subject of Possible Rule Making: Acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners; expanding opportunities for English-based examination requirements. The department of health (department), in consultation with the acupuncture and Eastern medicine advisory committee (committee), is considering amending WAC 246-803-103 Application requirements for applicants from foreign schools and 246-803-240 Examinations, to allow the acceptance of the occupational English test (OET).

Expanding English-based examination may provide more options for Washington state acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioner licensing applicants who have completed the required National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine examinations in languages other than English. English-based examinations are necessary as acupuncture and Eastern medicine practitioners are required to demonstrate sufficient fluency in reading, speaking, and understanding English. The department, in consultation with the committee, may consider amendments to other relevant application and examination requirement rule sections in chapter 246-803 WAC.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The department received a petition on March 6, 2024, requesting rule making for the acceptance of the OET. After careful consideration, the department agreed to explore potential rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Adriana Barcena, Program Manager, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4865, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 711, email Adriana.Barcena@doh.wa.gov, website www.doh.wa.gov.

Additional comments: Interested parties can participate in the drafting of the proposed rules. The department will use existing GovDelivery lists and other known contact information to inform interested parties of opportunities to provide input on proposed rule language. To find out more information about our rule making, visit www.doh.wa.gov. To subscribe to GovDelivery, please visit www.doh.wa.gov, and select the "Subscribe" button at the bottom of the page. After signing in, please click open the box labeled "Health Systems Quality Assurance." Next, click open the box labeled "Health Professions" and then click on "Acupuncture and Eastern Medicine Practitioners."