WASHINGTON DENTAL JURISPRUDENCE EXAM
GUIDE 2026 | ACCURATE Q&A + EXAM
BOOSTER
1. QUESTION: Which Washington State agency is primarily responsible for
licensing dentists and enforcing dental practice regulations?
A. Washington Department of Health
B. Washington State Dental Association
C. Washington State Board of Dentistry
D. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Washington State Board of Dentistry
RATIONALE: The Washington State Board of Dentistry licenses dental professionals
and enforces state dental practice laws and rules.
2. QUESTION: Under Washington law, which of the following is required before a
dentist may delegate irreversible procedures to a dental assistant?
A. Written protocols only
B. Direct supervision on-site
C. Dentist availability by phone
D. No requirement; assistants may perform all delegated tasks
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Direct supervision on-site
RATIONALE: Irreversible procedures generally require the dentist’s direct supervision,
meaning the dentist must be on-site and immediately available.
3. QUESTION: What is the minimum number of continuing education (CE) hours
required for dentist license renewal in Washington every two years (unless
otherwise updated by statute)?
A. 12 hours
B. 30 hours
C. 50 hours
D. 20 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 30 hours
RATIONALE: Washington historically requires 30 hours of continuing education
biennially for dentists; licensees should confirm current statutes and Board rules for
updates.
4. QUESTION: Which of the following controlled substance schedules contains
drugs with accepted medical use and low potential for abuse?
A. Schedule I
B. Schedule II
, C. Schedule III
D. Schedule V
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Schedule V
RATIONALE: Schedule V substances have accepted medical uses and lower potential
for abuse compared to Schedules I–IV.
5. QUESTION: In Washington, a dentist prescribing controlled substances must
register with which federal agency?
A. FDA
B. DEA
C. CDC
D. SAMHSA
CORRECT ANSWER: B. DEA
RATIONALE: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registers practitioners to
prescribe controlled substances.
6. QUESTION: Washington law requires that dental records be maintained for a
minimum period of how many years after the last patient entry for an adult
patient?
A. 3 years
B. 6 years
C. 10 years
D. Indefinitely
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 6 years
RATIONALE: Washington rules generally require retention of patient records for at
least six years after the last entry for adult patients.
7. QUESTION: Which of the following is true regarding informed consent in
Washington?
A. Consent may be implied for invasive procedures
B. Verbal consent is never adequate
C. Dentists must disclose risks, benefits, and alternatives to obtain informed
consent
D. Only written consent is legally valid
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Dentists must disclose risks, benefits, and alternatives to
obtain informed consent
RATIONALE: Informed consent requires disclosure of material risks, benefits, and
alternatives so patients can make informed decisions.
, 8. QUESTION: A dentist in Washington suspects patient abuse of a dependent
adult. What is the dentist’s legal obligation?
A. Report to local law enforcement only if certain
B. No obligation unless mandated by employer
C. Mandatory reporting to the appropriate state agency
D. Notify only the patient’s family
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Mandatory reporting to the appropriate state agency
RATIONALE: Washington law mandates reporting suspected abuse of vulnerable
adults to designated agencies.
9. QUESTION: Which of the following actions by a dentist would most likely
constitute unprofessional conduct under Washington rules?
A. Providing services within scope of training
B. Advertising services factually
C. Charging a reasonable fee
D. Practicing while impaired by alcohol or drugs
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Practicing while impaired by alcohol or drugs
RATIONALE: Practicing while impaired endangers patients and is defined as
unprofessional conduct.
10. QUESTION: Which document provides the primary statutory authority for the
practice of dentistry in Washington?
A. Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
B. Washington State Constitution
C. Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
D. U.S. Code
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
RATIONALE: The RCW contains state statutes—including those establishing the
Board and regulating dental practice; WAC contains administrative rules.
11. QUESTION: Under Washington supervision levels, which of the following best
describes “general supervision” for dental hygienists?
A. The dentist must be physically present
B. The dentist need not be on-site but must authorize procedures
C. The dentist provides remote supervision only
D. No authorization is required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The dentist need not be on-site but must authorize procedures
RATIONALE: General supervision typically means the dentist authorizes treatment,
which may be carried out without the dentist physically present according to rules.
, 12. QUESTION: When is it permissible for a Washington dentist to release patient
records without patient authorization?
A. To any third party who requests them
B. For a court order or subpoena
C. Never — only with patient written consent
D. To advertise services
CORRECT ANSWER: B. For a court order or subpoena
RATIONALE: Records may be released as required by law, such as court orders or
subpoenas, without patient authorization.
13. QUESTION: What is the primary federal law that governs patient privacy of
health information, including dental records?
A. ADA
B. HIPAA
C. HITECH
D. FERPA
CORRECT ANSWER: B. HIPAA
RATIONALE: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets
federal standards for protecting patient health information.
14. QUESTION: Under Washington rules, who may perform local anesthesia
injections?
A. Only licensed dentists
B. Dentists and dental hygienists with expanded certification as permitted
C. Any dental assistant
D. Unlicensed staff under supervision
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Dentists and dental hygienists with expanded certification as
permitted
RATIONALE: Washington permits properly trained hygienists (and other licensees
with authorization) to administer local anesthesia under specified rules.
15. QUESTION: Which of the following is required on a dentist’s display advertising
in Washington?
A. No requirements exist
B. Must include the dentist’s license number and city of practice
C. Must not be false, misleading, or deceptive
D. Must list all fees for services
GUIDE 2026 | ACCURATE Q&A + EXAM
BOOSTER
1. QUESTION: Which Washington State agency is primarily responsible for
licensing dentists and enforcing dental practice regulations?
A. Washington Department of Health
B. Washington State Dental Association
C. Washington State Board of Dentistry
D. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Washington State Board of Dentistry
RATIONALE: The Washington State Board of Dentistry licenses dental professionals
and enforces state dental practice laws and rules.
2. QUESTION: Under Washington law, which of the following is required before a
dentist may delegate irreversible procedures to a dental assistant?
A. Written protocols only
B. Direct supervision on-site
C. Dentist availability by phone
D. No requirement; assistants may perform all delegated tasks
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Direct supervision on-site
RATIONALE: Irreversible procedures generally require the dentist’s direct supervision,
meaning the dentist must be on-site and immediately available.
3. QUESTION: What is the minimum number of continuing education (CE) hours
required for dentist license renewal in Washington every two years (unless
otherwise updated by statute)?
A. 12 hours
B. 30 hours
C. 50 hours
D. 20 hours
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 30 hours
RATIONALE: Washington historically requires 30 hours of continuing education
biennially for dentists; licensees should confirm current statutes and Board rules for
updates.
4. QUESTION: Which of the following controlled substance schedules contains
drugs with accepted medical use and low potential for abuse?
A. Schedule I
B. Schedule II
, C. Schedule III
D. Schedule V
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Schedule V
RATIONALE: Schedule V substances have accepted medical uses and lower potential
for abuse compared to Schedules I–IV.
5. QUESTION: In Washington, a dentist prescribing controlled substances must
register with which federal agency?
A. FDA
B. DEA
C. CDC
D. SAMHSA
CORRECT ANSWER: B. DEA
RATIONALE: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registers practitioners to
prescribe controlled substances.
6. QUESTION: Washington law requires that dental records be maintained for a
minimum period of how many years after the last patient entry for an adult
patient?
A. 3 years
B. 6 years
C. 10 years
D. Indefinitely
CORRECT ANSWER: B. 6 years
RATIONALE: Washington rules generally require retention of patient records for at
least six years after the last entry for adult patients.
7. QUESTION: Which of the following is true regarding informed consent in
Washington?
A. Consent may be implied for invasive procedures
B. Verbal consent is never adequate
C. Dentists must disclose risks, benefits, and alternatives to obtain informed
consent
D. Only written consent is legally valid
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Dentists must disclose risks, benefits, and alternatives to
obtain informed consent
RATIONALE: Informed consent requires disclosure of material risks, benefits, and
alternatives so patients can make informed decisions.
, 8. QUESTION: A dentist in Washington suspects patient abuse of a dependent
adult. What is the dentist’s legal obligation?
A. Report to local law enforcement only if certain
B. No obligation unless mandated by employer
C. Mandatory reporting to the appropriate state agency
D. Notify only the patient’s family
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Mandatory reporting to the appropriate state agency
RATIONALE: Washington law mandates reporting suspected abuse of vulnerable
adults to designated agencies.
9. QUESTION: Which of the following actions by a dentist would most likely
constitute unprofessional conduct under Washington rules?
A. Providing services within scope of training
B. Advertising services factually
C. Charging a reasonable fee
D. Practicing while impaired by alcohol or drugs
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Practicing while impaired by alcohol or drugs
RATIONALE: Practicing while impaired endangers patients and is defined as
unprofessional conduct.
10. QUESTION: Which document provides the primary statutory authority for the
practice of dentistry in Washington?
A. Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
B. Washington State Constitution
C. Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
D. U.S. Code
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
RATIONALE: The RCW contains state statutes—including those establishing the
Board and regulating dental practice; WAC contains administrative rules.
11. QUESTION: Under Washington supervision levels, which of the following best
describes “general supervision” for dental hygienists?
A. The dentist must be physically present
B. The dentist need not be on-site but must authorize procedures
C. The dentist provides remote supervision only
D. No authorization is required
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The dentist need not be on-site but must authorize procedures
RATIONALE: General supervision typically means the dentist authorizes treatment,
which may be carried out without the dentist physically present according to rules.
, 12. QUESTION: When is it permissible for a Washington dentist to release patient
records without patient authorization?
A. To any third party who requests them
B. For a court order or subpoena
C. Never — only with patient written consent
D. To advertise services
CORRECT ANSWER: B. For a court order or subpoena
RATIONALE: Records may be released as required by law, such as court orders or
subpoenas, without patient authorization.
13. QUESTION: What is the primary federal law that governs patient privacy of
health information, including dental records?
A. ADA
B. HIPAA
C. HITECH
D. FERPA
CORRECT ANSWER: B. HIPAA
RATIONALE: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets
federal standards for protecting patient health information.
14. QUESTION: Under Washington rules, who may perform local anesthesia
injections?
A. Only licensed dentists
B. Dentists and dental hygienists with expanded certification as permitted
C. Any dental assistant
D. Unlicensed staff under supervision
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Dentists and dental hygienists with expanded certification as
permitted
RATIONALE: Washington permits properly trained hygienists (and other licensees
with authorization) to administer local anesthesia under specified rules.
15. QUESTION: Which of the following is required on a dentist’s display advertising
in Washington?
A. No requirements exist
B. Must include the dentist’s license number and city of practice
C. Must not be false, misleading, or deceptive
D. Must list all fees for services
