There's a WAC for That!
HCA Training and Certification Requirements
HCA certificates are a hot topic – what are the rules for obtaining a certificate while working as a caregiver? Well, There’s a WAC for that! More specifically… there are multiple WACs for that.
Here are some things you may have overlooked:
- Caregivers have 200 days from date of hire to obtain their HCA certificate, however the WAC also requires the caregiver to submit their HCA application within 14 calendar days of hire.
- Caregivers have 120 days from date of hire to complete their 70-hour training, however they have to work under direct supervision until the training is completed.
"Direct Supervision" Definition from WAC 388-112A-0010:
(14) “Direct supervision” means oversight by a person who has demonstrated competency in basic training and if required, specialty training, or has been exempted from the basic training requirements, and is on the premises and quickly available to the caregiver.
If a caregiver has worked for 200 days and has not obtained their HCA certificate, DSHS recommends terminating the employee for 24 hours and re-hiring to reset the date of hire and “restart” the 200-day clock. Keep in mind, this means the caregiver is a NEW HIRE and needs to have a new TB test (within 3 days of hire date) and facility orientation.
Guidance from DOH: How do I update my date of hire? A caregiver who is not currently certified may receive a new date of hire when beginning work with either a new employer or returning to a former employer. You will need to print and complete the Long Term Care Employment Verification Form (PDF) and email to the home care aide credentialing team. This will restart the 200-day period and the caregiver may continue to work.
Long-term care workers may perform nurse delegation if they meet one of the following requirements:
- A long-term care worker with a current home care aide certification:
Must also have the appropriate nurse delegation certificate of completion to perform nurse delegation. - A long-term care worker with a current nursing-assistant certified credential:
Must also have the appropriate nurse delegation certificate of completion to perform nurse delegation. - Long-term care workers who are exempt from the requirement for a home care aide certification:
Must have a nursing assistant-registered credential, a certificate of completion for either the revised fundamentals of caregiving or the core basic training and the appropriate nurse delegation certificate of completion. - Long-term care workers who are still within 200 days of their date of hire May perform nurse delegation only if they have a nursing assistant-registered credential, a certificate of completion for either the revised fundamentals of caregiving or the core basic training and the appropriate nurse delegation certificate of completion.
Related WAC
WAC 388-112A-0080
Who is required to complete the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training and by when?
The following individuals must complete the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training unless exempt as described in WAC 388-112A-0090:
Adult family homes.
(1) Adult family home applicants must complete the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training and become certified before the adult family home is licensed.
(2) Adult family home entity representatives and resident managers before they assume the duties of their position in the adult family home.
(3) Long-term care workers in adult family homes within one hundred twenty days of date of hire. Long-term care workers must not provide personal care without direct supervision until they have completed the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training.
Assisted living facilities.
(4) Assisted living facility administrators or their designees within one hundred twenty days of date of hire.
(5) Long-term care workers in assisted living facilities within one hundred twenty days of their date of hire. Long-term care workers must not provide personal care without direct supervision until they have completed the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training.
Enhanced services facilities.
(6) Enhanced services facility applicants must complete the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training and become certified before the enhanced services facility is licensed.
(7) Enhanced services facility administrators or their designees must complete the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training within one hundred twenty days of date of hire.
(8) Long-term care workers in enhanced services facilities must complete the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training within one hundred twenty days of their date of hire. Long-term care workers must not provide personal care without direct supervision until they have completed the seventy-hour long-term care worker basic training.
(9) For certification requirements for individuals in subsections (2) through (8) in this section refer to WAC 388-112A-0105.
WAC 388-112A-0090
Which long-term care workers are exempt from the 70-hour long-term care worker basic training requirement?
The following long-term care workers are exempt from the 70-hour long-term care worker basic training requirement:
(1) An individual employed as a long-term care worker on January 6, 2012, who complied with the basic training requirements in effect on the date of hire;
(2) An individual previously employed as a long-term care worker who complied with the basic training requirements in effect on the date of hire and was employed as a long-term care worker at some time between January 1, 2011, and January 6, 2012;
(3) A registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 18.79 or 18.80 RCW;
(4) A nursing assistant certified under chapter 18.88A RCW and a person in an approved training program for certified nursing assistants under chapter 18.88A RCW provided they complete the training program within 120 days of the date of hire and the department of health has issued the nursing assistant certified credential within 200 days of the date of hire;
(5) A home health aide who was employed by a medicare certified home health agency within the year before the individual was hired as a long-term care worker and who has met the requirements of 42 C.F.R. Sec. 484.36;
(6) An individual with special education training with an endorsement granted by the Washington state superintendent of public instruction as described in RCW 28A.300.010; and
(7) A home care aide (HCA) certified under chapter 18.88B RCW.
WAC 388-112A-0110
May a home employ a long-term care worker who has not completed the 70-hour home care aide training or certification requirements?
(1) If an individual previously worked as a long-term care worker, but did not complete the training or certification requirements under RCW 18.88B.041, 74.39A.074, 74.39A.076, and this chapter, an adult family home, enhanced services facility, or assisted living facility must not employ the individual to work as a long-term care worker until the individual has completed the required training or certification unless the date of hire has been reset as described under subsection (2) of this section.
(2) The original date of hire may be reset according to WAC 388-112A-0115. A long-term care worker who is not currently certified or eligible to reactivate an expired credential shall receive a new date of hire when beginning work with either a new employer or returning to a former employer after prior employment has ended.
(3) Individuals who meet the criteria in subsection (2) of this section are allowed a new 120 days to complete the orientation, safety, and 70-hour home care aide basic trainings and a new 200 days to become certified as a home care aide, if required by WAC 246-980-020.
(4) Individuals who meet the criteria in subsection (2) of this section must submit an application and fee to the department of health.
WAC 388-112A-0115
How does DSHS determine a long-term care worker's date of hire and when may a long-term care worker be eligible to have the date of hire reset?
(1) The department determines a long-term care worker’s date of hire according to the first day the long-term care worker is employed by any employer.
(2) The date of hire is specific to each long-term care worker. A long-term care worker, including an individual who has worked as a long-term care worker in the past, but who did not complete the training or certification that was required at the time, and a worker who is not currently certified or eligible to reactivate an expired credential, shall receive a new date of hire when beginning work with either a new employer or returning to a former employer after prior employment has ended.
(3) This section does not apply to background check requirements under this chapter.
WAC 246-980-030
Working while obtaining certification as a home care aide.
(1) A long-term care worker may provide care before receiving certification as a home care aide if all the following conditions are met:
(a) Before providing care, the long-term care worker must complete the training required by RCW 74.39A.074 (1)(d)(i)(A) and (B).
(b) The long-term care worker must submit an application for home care aide certification to the department within fourteen calendar days of hire. An application is considered to be submitted on the date it is post-marked or, for applications submitted in person or online, the date it is accepted by the department.
(2) A long-term care worker is no longer eligible to provide care without a credential under the following circumstances:
(a) The long-term care worker does not successfully complete all of the training required by RCW 74.39A.074(1) within one hundred twenty calendar days from their date of hire;
(b) The long-term care worker has not obtained their certification within two hundred calendar days from their date of hire, or two hundred sixty calendar days if granted a provisional certificate under RCW 18.88B.041.
(3) This section does not apply to long-term care workers exempt from certification under WAC 246-980-025.
WAC 246-980-020
Long-term care workers and home care aide certification.
Any person who is hired on or after January 7, 2012, as a long-term care worker for the elderly or persons with disabilities, regardless of the employment title, must obtain certification as a home care aide, unless exempt under WAC 246-980-025. This includes, but is not limited to:
(1) An individual provider of home care services who is reimbursed by the state;
(2) A direct care employee of a home care agency;
(3) A provider of home care services to persons with developmental disabilities under Title 71A RCW;
(4) A direct care worker in a state licensed assisted living facility;
(5) A direct care worker in a state licensed adult family home;
(6) A respite care provider who is reimbursed by the state or employed by a private agency or facility licensed by the state to provide personal care services; and
(7) Any other direct care workers providing home or community-based services to the elderly or persons with developmental disabilities.
WAC 246-980-025
Individuals exempt from obtaining a home care aide certification.
(1) The following individuals are not required to obtain certification as a home care aide. If they choose to voluntarily become certified, they shall successfully pass the entry level training required by RCW 74.39A.074 and meet the requirements of WAC 246-980-040.
(a) An individual provider caring only for a biological, step, or adoptive child or parent.
(b) An individual provider caring only for a sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew, grandparent, or grandchild (including by marriage or domestic partnership).
(c) A long-term care worker providing approved services only for a spouse or registered domestic partner and funded through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs home and community-based programs.
(d) An individual provider who provides 20 hours or less of care for one person in any calendar month.
(e) An individual employed by a community residential service business.
(f) An individual employed by a residential habilitation center licensed under chapter 71A.20 RCW or a facility certified under 42 C.F.R. Part 483.
(g) A direct care worker who is not paid by the state or by a private agency or facility licensed by the state to provide personal care services.
(h) A person working as an individual provider who only provides respite services and works less than 300 hours in any calendar year.
(i) Any direct care worker exempt under RCW 18.88B.041(1).
(2) The following long-term care workers are not required to obtain certification as a home care aide. If they choose to voluntarily become certified, they must meet the requirements of WAC 246-980-040. The training requirements under RCW 74.39A.074(1) are not required.
(a) An individual who holds an active credential by the department as a:
(i) Registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, or advanced registered nurse practitioner under chapter 18.79 RCW; or
(ii) Nursing assistant-certified under chapter 18.88A RCW.
(b) A home health aide who was employed by a medicare certified home health agency within the year before being hired as a long-term care worker and has met the requirements of 42 C.F.R. Part 484.36.
(c) A person who is in an approved training program for certified nursing assistant under chapter 18.88A RCW, provided that the training program is completed within 120 calendar days of the date of hire and that the nursing assistant-certified credential has been issued within 200 calendar days of the date of hire.
(d) An individual with special education training and an endorsement granted by the superintendent of public instruction under RCW 28A.300.010 and is approved by the secretary.
(e) An individual employed as a long-term care worker on January 6, 2012, or who was employed as a long-term care worker between January 1, 2011, and January 6, 2012, and who completed all of the training requirements in effect as of the date of hire. This exemption expires if the long-term care worker has not provided care for three consecutive years.
(i) The department may require the exempt long-term care worker who was employed as a long-term care worker between January 1, 2011, and January 6, 2012, to provide proof of that employment. Proof may include a letter or similar documentation from the employer that hired the long-term care worker between January 1, 2011, and January 6, 2012, indicating the first and last day of employment, the job title, a job description, and proof of completing training requirements. Proof of training will also be accepted directly from the approved instructor or training program, if applicable.
(ii) For an individual provider reimbursed by the department of social and health services, the department will accept verification from the department of social and health services or the training partnership.
WAC 246-980-100
Examination and reexamination for home care aide certification.
(1) The certification examination will consist of both a written knowledge test and a skills demonstration.
(2) The certification examination will test the core competencies including, but not limited to:
(a) Communication skills;
(b) Worker self-care;
(c) Problem solving;
(d) Maintaining dignity;
(e) Consumer directed care;
(f) Cultural sensitivity;
(g) Body mechanics;
(h) Fall prevention;
(i) Skin and body care;
(j) Home care aide roles and boundaries;
(k) Supporting activities of daily living; and
(l) Food preparation and handling.
(3) The department will notify the examination contractor once an applicant meets requirements to take the certification examination.
(4) The applicant shall contact the examination contractor to schedule the examination and submit payment, if required. The examination fees are set by the vendor.
(5) The examination contractor will notify both the department and an applicant of the examination results.
(6) An applicant who does not successfully pass any portion of the examination may follow the examination contractor’s procedures for review and appeal.
(7) An applicant who does not successfully pass any portion of the examination may retake that portion of the examination three times.
(a) To retake the examination, an applicant shall contact the examination contractor to:
(i) Schedule a new exam; and
(ii) Pay the reexamination fee.
(b) An applicant may schedule a reexamination any time after notice of not successfully completing any portion of the certification examination.
(c) An applicant who does not successfully pass both portions of the certification examination after four consecutive times:
(i) Shall retake and successfully complete the core competencies portion of the entry-level training as required by RCW 74.39A.074 before retaking both portions of the certification examination; and
(ii) Cannot continue to provide care as a long-term care worker until the certification has been issued.
WAC 246-980-115
Renew or reinstate an expired certification.
(1) To renew a home care aide certification the practitioner shall:
(a) Renew the certification every year by the home care aide’s birthday as provided in WAC 246-12-020 through 246-12-051;
(b) Submit a completed application as provided by the department; and
(c) Provide verification of 12 hours of continuing education as required by RCW 74.39A.341 and WAC 246-980-110 with the renewal application.
(2) To reinstate an expired certification:
(a) If the certification has been expired for five years or less, the practitioner shall meet the requirements of WAC 246-12-040.
(b) If the certification has been expired for more than five years, the practitioner shall successfully repeat the training requirements or the examination requirements in WAC 246-980-040 and meet the requirements of WAC 246-12-020 through 246-12-051.
WA Department of Health HCA information page: https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/home-care-aide
WA Department of Health FAQ: https://doh.wa.gov/licenses-permits-and-certificates/professions-new-renew-or-update/home-care-aide/frequently-asked-questions
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