(1) A health care facility in a rural or medically underserved community may allow a person to practice as a surgical technologist at the health care facility who does not meet the requirements of ORS 676.875 while the person is attending an educational program for surgical technologists accredited by a national accreditation organization approved by the Oregon Health Authority by rule.
(2) A person described in subsection (1) of this section is exempt from the requirements of ORS 676.875 for three years from the date on which the person began practicing as a surgical technologist at the health care facility. [2015 c.373 §3]