AGING AND DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

ADSA > Professionals & Providers > Nursing Assistant Program > Approval Guidelines

NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM APPROVAL GUIDELINES

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) - Aging and Disability Services Administration (ADSA) and The Department of Health (DOH) - Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC) are the agencies that each approves nursing assistant (NA) training programs in Washington State.

DSHS approves and monitors NA training programs for compliance with the Federal Codes 42 CFR 483.151-154. Nursing assistants need to train and test from these approved programs to qualify to be listed on the Federal OBRA Registry as "active". Active status is required for a nursing assistant to work in a nursing home.

DOH approves and monitors NA training programs for compliance with Washington State laws listed in RCW 18.88A and rules set forth in WAC 246-841. Nursing Assistants need to train in approved programs to obtain certification to work as a nursing assistant in Washington.

All nursing assistant training programs must be re-approved by both agencies every two years.

Nursing Assistant Training Programs currently approved include:

• Nursing Homes
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Hospitals
• High Schools
• Colleges
• Vocational Skill Centers
• Job Corps
• Private Vocational Schools

GETTING STARTED AS A NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM

Step 1:

Review the Federal and State of Washington regulations for nurse aide training and competency evaluation.

Federal requirements are found in the Code of Regulations (CFR) 483.151-154. State requirements are found in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW): Nursing Assistants, Chapter 18.88A RCW - WAC 246-841.

Federal regulations established in 1990 require all nursing assistant training programs nationwide to meet minimum training expectations. Each training program will have no less than 25 hours classroom and 50 hours of clinical training. Washington State added ten hours to the minimum classroom requirement to include 7 hours of HIV/AIDS education and 3 hours of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training. In Washington State, the nursing assistant training program must be no less than 35 hours of Classroom instruction and 50 hours of clinical training.

Step 2:

Review the key elements of a nursing assistant training program.

• Program Director requirements
• Program instructor and guest lecturer requirements
• Minimum hourly requirements including the clinical laboratory setting
• Instructional requirements necessary prior to a trainee having direct contact with a resident
• Federal and State minimum curriculum requirements
• Record keeping requirements

Step 3:

Establish specific elements of proposed training program.

• Locate prospective training program staff
• Identify classroom and clinical space
• Choose training manual, videos, and other supportive training material
• Develop training curriculum, lesson plans, etc.

Step 4:

The following forms and documents must be completed prior to program approval:

• Application For Nursing Assistant Training Program Approval, DSHS 14-371.
• Application for Nursing Assistant Training Program Director, DSHS 14-370.
• Declaration of The Program Director, DSHS 09-961.
• Instruction Staff Applications, DSHS 14-369 (Note: Do not submit this application if the program director is the sole instructor).
• A list of course objectives for your training program
• The curriculum outline using the Nursing Assistant Training Program Curriculum Verification of Requirements ? 42 CFR 483.152 and WAC 246-841-400 and 246-841-490 (NATCEP), DSHS 16-170 (11/2003) and a schedule of class and clinical presentations. The applicant must provide evidence of content that will lead to the achievement of all required nursing assistant competencies listed in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 248-841 and CFR 483.152. In completing the DSHS 16-170 identify the page and location in the student manual that you plan to use where each curriculum item will be covered.
• All above forms are available for download here.
• A schedule of all class and clinical presentations.
• A sample lesson plan for one core unit of the curriculum. This includes the lesson plan objective and any supporting sub-objectives.
• The skills checklist that your program will use for skills achievement verification.
• A description of the evaluation methods and your program requirements for passing.

Step 5:

Submit your original completed program approval packet to:

Nursing Assistant Training Program
Aging and Disability Services Administration
PO Box 45600
Olympia, WA 98504-5600

At the same time submit a copy of the completed application packet to:

Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission
Department of Health
P.O. Box 47864
Olympia, WA 98504

AGENCY CONTACTS

To request an application packet to be approved as a nursing assistant training program or for questions regarding State of Washington requirements for approval of nursing assistant training programs contact:

Kendra Pitzler
NA Training Program Manager
(360) 236-4723
Kendra.Pitzler@doh.wa.gov

To request an application packet to be approved as a nursing assistant training program or for questions regarding Federal requirements for nursing assistant training, the competency evaluation process, or the OBRA registry contact:

Sandy Kerrigan
NATCEP Program Manager
(360) 725-2596