• 126 questions

Washington Dental Jurisprudence Practice Test

Unofficial practice on Washington's dentistry statute and the commission's rules, every answer marked with its section.

How long must a dentist have been in active practice before appointment to the commission?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

Print covers the next 25 questions. Share this set copies a link to the same questions in the same order.

Exam mode: 25 questions, no time limit, 25 right to pass (100%).

More options

Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Washington State Department of Health. Bank checked October 16, 2026.

Spotted a mistake? Report a wrong answer. Every question has this link under its explanation.

Next step Another state law bank: Montana dental

All 126 questions

The commission and getting a license 24

  • A dentist in private practice in another state applies for a license without examination. What practice history must be shown? WAC 246-817-135(5)(d). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Besides the dentists, who fills the other seats on the Washington commission? RCW 18.32.0351. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • How long is a commission term, and how many may a member serve in a row? RCW 18.32.0351. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • How long must a dentist have been in active practice before appointment to the commission? RCW 18.32.0355. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • How long must the secretary keep examination papers and records on file? RCW 18.32.040(3)(a). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • How many members of the Washington commission must be dentists? RCW 18.32.0351. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • How many members sit on the Washington state dental quality assurance commission? RCW 18.32.0351. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • How recent must practical examination results be for the commission to accept them? WAC 246-817-120(4). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • In chapter 18.32 RCW, who is "the secretary"? RCW 18.32.010. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
Show all 126 questions (117 more)

The commission and getting a license, continued

  • May a temporary practice permit be renewed? WAC 246-817-186(3). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • What does the statute require of at least four of the twelve dentist members? RCW 18.32.0355. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • What ends a faculty license issued under RCW 18.32.195? RCW 18.32.195(1). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • What is a quorum of the commission? RCW 18.32.0357. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • What is the smallest panel the commission may appoint to do business it delegates? RCW 18.32.0357. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • When are commission members immune from suit over disciplinary proceedings? RCW 18.32.0357. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • When does a temporary practice permit expire if no credential decision comes first? WAC 246-817-186(2). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Where may the holder of a faculty license issued without examination practice dentistry? RCW 18.32.195(1). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Where must licenses be displayed in a Washington dental office? WAC 246-817-301. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Which act governs unlicensed practice, the issuance and denial of licenses and discipline under chapter 18.32 RCW? RCW 18.32.039. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Which item does WAC 246-817-110 require of every applicant for an initial dental license? WAC 246-817-110(9). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Which residency must the commission accept in place of the practical examination? RCW 18.32.040(3)(c). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Which restriction applies to the public members of the commission? RCW 18.32.0355. Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Which section must a practical examination contain for the commission to accept it? WAC 246-817-120(1)(b). Topic: The commission and getting a license.
  • Whom must a licensee notify of each address where the licensee practices, and of every change? RCW 18.32.190. Topic: The commission and getting a license.

Renewal, continuing education and license status 21

  • A license has been inactive more than three years and the dentist has not practiced elsewhere. How recent must the jurisprudence examination be? WAC 246-817-220(5)(f). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • Does the commission approve individual continuing education courses? WAC 246-817-440(1)(e). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How is online self-study from a continuing education provider counted, apart from interactive webinars? WAC 246-817-440(5)(b). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How long must the one-time suicide assessment training for dentists be? WAC 246-817-441. Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How many hours does the commission accept for a current specialty board certification obtained in the reporting period? WAC 246-817-440(5)(h). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How many hours may a dentist count in the year a paper is published in a peer review journal? WAC 246-817-440(5)(e). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How many hours of basic life support courses may count toward the requirement every three years? WAC 246-817-440(4)(c). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How many hours of practice management and billing courses may count every three years? WAC 246-817-440(4)(i). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How much commission approved health equity training must a dentist complete every three years? WAC 246-817-440(3). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How much continuing education credit does the jurisprudence examination earn? WAC 246-817-440(2). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How much continuing education must a licensed Washington dentist complete? WAC 246-817-440(1). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How much credit is granted for reading a book and writing the required two-page synopsis? WAC 246-817-440(5)(b). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How often must a licensed dentist complete the commission approved dental jurisprudence examination? WAC 246-817-440(2). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • How often must an inactive license be renewed? WAC 246-817-220(2). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • In which circumstances may a dentist with retired active status practice? WAC 246-817-230(2). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • What may a dentist with a retired active status license not receive? WAC 246-817-230(3). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • What may the holder of an inactive license not do? RCW 18.32.185(1). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • What must a dentist complete in order to prescribe opioids in Washington? WAC 246-817-909(1). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • What share of licensed dentists may the commission randomly audit for continuing education every three years? WAC 246-817-440(1)(c). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • When must an ordinary Washington dental license be renewed? WAC 246-817-990(1). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.
  • When must faculty and resident licenses be renewed? WAC 246-817-990(2). Topic: Renewal, continuing education and license status.

Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision 19

  • A condition for local anesthetic under general supervision is not met. What supervision does the hygienist then need? WAC 246-817-550(15)(e). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • A registered dental assistant performs a coronal polish. What must a licensed dentist do before the patient is dismissed? WAC 246-817-520(4)(e). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • For local anesthetic under general supervision, how recently must the delegating dentist have examined the patient? WAC 246-817-550(15)(b). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • How old must a patient be for a hygienist to administer local anesthetic under general supervision? WAC 246-817-550(15)(a). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Under what supervision may a registered dental assistant perform the listed supportive services? WAC 246-817-520(1). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Under what supervision may a Washington hygienist administer nitrous oxide analgesia? WAC 246-817-560(4). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Under what supervision may school sealant endorsed dental assistants apply sealants in community-based school programs? RCW 18.32.226(2). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • What does "close supervision" require of the supervising dentist in Washington? WAC 246-817-510(1). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • What does "general supervision" mean in the Washington delegation rules? WAC 246-817-510(5). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • What may a hygienist do with a cavity the dentist has prepared, under close supervision? WAC 246-817-560(3). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • What may a registered dental assistant do with a permanent restoration? WAC 246-817-520(4)(r). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • What may an unlicensed person do outside the treatment facility on a dentist's written order? WAC 246-817-530. Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • What part may a registered dental assistant take in nitrous oxide minimal sedation? WAC 246-817-520(4)(j). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Which act may a dental hygienist perform only under the dentist's close supervision? WAC 246-817-560(1). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Which act may a dentist not allow a dental hygienist to perform? WAC 246-817-570(12). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Which act may a dentist not allow a registered dental assistant to perform? WAC 246-817-540(22). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Which part of an oral prophylaxis may a registered dental assistant perform? WAC 246-817-540(5). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Which restorative act may a licensed EFDA perform that the rules bar a registered dental assistant from? WAC 246-817-545(1). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.
  • Which service may a dentist delegate to a registered dental assistant under close supervision? WAC 246-817-520(4)(n). Topic: Assistants, EFDAs and hygienists: delegation and supervision.

Records, prescriptions and reports 20

  • A dental office stocks Schedule II to V drugs for dispensing. What record must it keep? WAC 246-817-350. Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • After what period of opioid treatment for acute pain must the record show a transition to subacute pain? WAC 246-817-913(9). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • For acute pain, beyond what supply may a dentist not prescribe opioids without clinical documentation? WAC 246-817-913(3)(c). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • For acute pain, when at the least must a prescription monitoring program query be made? WAC 246-817-980(3)(a). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • How long must a dentist keep the copy of a prescription sent to a dental laboratory? WAC 246-817-330. Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • How long must a Washington dentist keep patient records readily accessible? WAC 246-817-310(1). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • How must a mistaken handwritten entry in the clinical record be corrected? WAC 246-817-305(4). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • How must prescriptions to a dental laboratory be written? WAC 246-817-330. Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • How soon must a dentist respond to a patient's written request to examine or copy the record? WAC 246-817-310(2). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • In the subacute phase, beyond what supply may a dentist not prescribe opioids without clinical documentation? WAC 246-817-916(3). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • Under WAC 246-817-320, how soon must the complete report of a patient death, or of an injury requiring hospitalization, be submitted? WAC 246-817-320. Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • What must a dentist who prescribes opioids in Washington do about the prescription monitoring program? WAC 246-817-980(1). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • What must be kept with an electronic patient record? WAC 246-817-305(4)(b). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • What must be marked on a complete denture a dentist fabricates or orders? RCW 18.32.695. Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • What must every opioid prescription include under WAC 246-817-911? WAC 246-817-911. Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • Which must each clinical record entry note carry? WAC 246-817-305(3)(a). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • Which right must the written opioid notification tell the patient about? WAC 246-817-907(3)(d). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • Who decides whether ordinary molds or study models are kept? WAC 246-817-305(3)(g). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • Who may perform a required prescription monitoring program query for the dentist? WAC 246-817-980(2). Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.
  • Within what time must a dentist be charged for failing to mark a prosthesis? RCW 18.32.715. Topic: Records, prescriptions and reports.

Infection prevention and office safety 19

  • Does a saliva ejector count as high volume evacuation under the Washington rules? WAC 246-817-655(9). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How long must documentation of the annual review of infection prevention policies be kept? WAC 246-817-615(2). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How long must records of biological spore tests and their results be maintained? WAC 246-817-655(4)(b). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How many water lines may be pooled into one water sample? WAC 246-817-660(2)(a). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How may a practitioner recap a used needle? WAC 246-817-650(2). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How much infection prevention standards education must each practitioner complete? WAC 246-817-615(3). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How must a heat-sensitive semicritical item be processed? WAC 246-817-655(10)(a). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How often must a dentist review the office infection prevention policies with all practitioners? WAC 246-817-615(2). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How often must sterilizers be tested by the biological spore test method? WAC 246-817-655(4). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • How soon after hire must new staff who give direct patient care obtain BLS certification? WAC 246-817-720(5). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • What do the rules require for low-speed handpiece motors after use on a patient? WAC 246-817-655(1)(a). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • What do the Washington rules say about gloves? WAC 246-817-640(1). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • What is the limit for water used in nonsurgical dental procedures? WAC 246-817-660(1). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • What must be used to disinfect a surface that is visibly contaminated with blood? WAC 246-817-655(7). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • What must both initial and renewal BLS certification of dental staff include? WAC 246-817-720(1). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • When anesthetic agents of any kind are administered, how close must an AED or defibrillator be? WAC 246-817-722. Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • When must the water delivery system be tested after a repair or change in the plumbing? WAC 246-817-660(2). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • Where must puncture-resistant containers for used sharps be placed? WAC 246-817-650(3). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.
  • Where the manufacturer gives no instructions, how often must the water delivery system be tested? WAC 246-817-660(2). Topic: Infection prevention and office safety.

Advertising, ownership and professional conduct 23

  • A dentist accepts an insurer's payment as payment in full and does not collect the contract's copayment. How does the statute treat this? RCW 18.32.533. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • A dentist lets a hygienist perform an operation the chapter requires a dentist to perform. What is the dentist guilty of? RCW 18.32.735. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • A dentist who is present in an office, or oversees it, for more than what share of its operating time must be named in public representations of it? WAC 246-817-400. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • A dentist withdraws from a patient of record in the middle of a procedure. How long must the dentist stay reasonably available for emergency care? RCW 18.32.683(1)(b). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • After a contested hearing ends in a sanction, what partial recovery hearing fee is assessed for each full hearing day? RCW 18.32.775(1)(a). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • An unlicensed owner limits the time a dentist may spend with each patient. How does RCW 18.32.677 treat the owner? RCW 18.32.677(1). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • How do the rules treat a dentist who claims membership in a dental society the dentist does not belong to? WAC 246-817-410. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • How long must the accredited postdoctoral program be for a dentist to advertise as a specialist? WAC 246-817-420(4). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • How soon after a written demand must a dental office manager give the names of everyone practicing there? RCW 18.32.745(1). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • In a group practice of two or more dentists, how must each licensed dentist be identified? WAC 246-817-420(5)(a). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • On what grounds may the commission waive the partial recovery hearing fee? RCW 18.32.775(1)(c). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • Under RCW 18.32.020, what is a person's use of a dental degree, card or sign that represents the person to be a dentist? RCW 18.32.020. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • What does RCW 18.32.530 add to the meaning of "unprofessional conduct" for dentists? RCW 18.32.530. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • What is the offense for violating a provision of chapter 18.32 RCW that carries no penalty of its own? RCW 18.32.390. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • What is the penalty for a corporation that violates RCW 18.32.675? RCW 18.32.675(4). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • What may a general dentist do about specialty services under WAC 246-817-420? WAC 246-817-420(3). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • What must a dentist who works in an office less than half the time do before treating a patient? WAC 246-817-400. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • What must an advertisement for dental services include for each office location it names? RCW 18.32.755(1). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • What must the owner of a dental practice that is closing arrange for active patients' records? RCW 18.32.683(3). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • When may a corporation employ dentists under RCW 18.32.675(1)? RCW 18.32.675(1). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • Which alteration of patient records does WAC 246-817-390 name as forbidden? WAC 246-817-390. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • Which asset of a dental practice may a person not licensed by the commission not own? RCW 18.32.675(2)(a). Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.
  • Which claim does the advertising section make unlawful? RCW 18.32.665. Topic: Advertising, ownership and professional conduct.

How this list was compiled: Our own questions on the law the Washington dentist jurisprudence examination covers. WAC 246-817-110(9) and 246-817-440(2), read on 2026-10-16, require a written jurisprudence examination for an initial license and once every three years after it; the Department of Health's page (https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/dentist/jurisprudence-examination-information, opened 2026-10-16) says the examination is free, online, open book and multiple choice, asks about Washington dental laws, rules, interpretive statements and guidelines, and needs 100 percent. It gives no question count, time limit or content outline, so the six topics here are this site's own sorting. Every fact was read on 2026-10-16 on the Washington State Legislature's site: chapter 18.32 RCW (https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.32) and chapter 246-817 WAC (https://app.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-817). Each question names its section and links to the text. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site, written from the public text of the Washington statutes and rules. Nothing is taken from the jurisprudence examination, a prep company or a review book.

How it works

An unofficial Washington dental jurisprudence practice test: 126 of our own questions on chapter 18.32 RCW and chapter 246-817 WAC. The Washington State Department of Health gives the real jurisprudence examination and is not affiliated with this page.

Read the full guide

What is left out

Statute and rules only. The real examination also asks about the commission's interpretive statements and guidelines, which are not here; nor are fees, the sedation and anesthesia permit rules or the chronic pain rules. Text is as it stood on the Legislature's site on October 16, 2026. Practice for an exam, not medical advice.

  • Dentists owe 63 hours of continuing education every three years, and the jurisprudence examination itself counts for one (WAC 246-817-440).
  • Patient records are kept at least six years from the last treatment; a written request for them is answered within fifteen working days (WAC 246-817-310).
  • A registered dental assistant works under close supervision; a hygienist may scale, root plane and place sealants under general supervision (WAC 246-817-520, 246-817-550).

Questions and answers

Is the Washington dental jurisprudence exam open book?

Yes. The Department of Health describes the examination as free, online, open book and multiple choice, with a web link to the law, rule, statement or guideline behind each question.

What score do you need on the Washington dental jurisprudence exam?

100 percent, the Department of Health's page says. A scored run on this page uses the same mark, so one miss fails it.

How often do Washington dentists take the jurisprudence exam?

At initial licensure and then once every three years. WAC 246-817-440(2) makes it part of continuing education and grants one hour toward the 63-hour requirement.

What does the Washington jurisprudence exam cover?

Washington dental laws, rules, interpretive statements and guidelines, the Department of Health says; it publishes no outline or question count.

More tests

Show 7 more

Browse Civics and Law