AGING & DISABILITY SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
BECOMING A NURSING ASSISTANT - CERTIFIED IN WASHINGTON IS A TWO-STEP PROCESS
Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC) responsibilities in Washington are shared by two separate state agencies. This is what each agency is responsible for:
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
- Assures that nursing assistants who want to work in a nursing facility (nursing home) meet the Federal work requirements.
- Approves, monitors, and supports NAC training programs. NAC candidates receive their training through DSHS approved and monitored training programs.
- Establishes and monitors an NAC testing process for nursing assistant candidates to be tested before becoming certified.
Department of Health (DOH)
- Assures that each NAC meets additional state requirements to work in any setting as a nursing assistant.
- A nursing assistant candidate receives their certification (license) from DOH.
Are You Newly Employed as a Nursing Assistant?
State law requires you to register as a Nursing Assistant Registered (NAR) within 3 days of hire in a nursing facility. You must fill out a DOH Nursing Assistant Registered (NAR) application, include the registration fee, and mail to DOH. For registration information, call DOH at (360) 236-4700. If employed in a nursing home, you must be enrolled in an NA training program or eligible to sit for the competency exam or already certified (NAC)
Were You Trained or Certified As An NA in Another State?
You must first contact DOH to see if your out-of-state certification or training meets Washington requirements and to request a application for endorsement.
Have You Already Trained as a NA in Washington?
If your nursing assistant certification lapses for more than 2 years, you must retrain and retest before you can again be certified.
Have you had Civilian (College, Technical School or University) or Military Nursing Training?
If you are a nursing student; have been trained as a nurse; completed a Naval Hospital Corps, Army 91-C, or Air Force Medical Services Specialist (Technician) School; You may send fax or email your transcripts to DSHS OBRA NA Registry to receive a testing packet.
Information About The Federal and State Laws.
- nursing assistant (who is not yet certified) must register with DOH as a Nursing Assistant Registered within 3 days of their employment.
- If employed in a nursing facility, you must complete training and OBRA testing through DSHS and become certified (licensed) through DOH all within 120 days from the day you start work.
- If you’re hired at a nursing home while you are in training, you cannot perform nursing skills on residents until you receive training on these skills.
- Unprofessional conduct of any kind may result in temporary or permanent loss of a nursing assistants certification (license).
- Loss of NA certification because of an action of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of funds or property makes a nursing assistant permanently ineligible to work in nursing facilities and they are listed as ineligible in the DSHS OBRA - NA Registry.
Still Have Questions About Your Particular Situation?
If your situation is not mentioned here, contact both DSHS and DOH to find out what you need to do to become a Nursing Assistant Certified.
Call DSHS OBRA-NA Registry at (360) 725-2570; or Call DOH Nursing Assistant Certification at: (360) 236-4700.
