Suspensions and Emergency Rule Filings
Per COVID-19 Proclamation 20-10, Training RCW/WACs remain suspended. This means that 70 hour CORE/BASIC and Population Specific training, and 12 hours Continuing Education Training remain suspended.
Trainings Still Required: Nurse Delegation, and 5 hours Orientation and Safety Trainings
***CPR Remains Waived at this time.***
More information on Proclamation 20-10 is available here
DSHS has filed emergency rules for certification deadlines and resumption of training.
House Bill 1120 gave DSHS statutory authority to extend timelines for training requirements during a State of Emergency. DSHS, including ALTSA/HCS/RCS and DDA, in collaboration with with the Department of Health (DOH), has reached agreement on training and certification timelines.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND DO:
Unless a worker is exempt from training as described in WAC 388-71-0839 or WAC 388-112A-0090, employees hired during the COVID-19 emergency must complete basic training, and required specialty training, as follows. Please encourage all employees who need training/certification to begin the process as soon as possible.
| Worker hired or rehired during the time frame of: |
Must complete basic training no later than: |
| 8/17/2019 to 9/30/2020 |
4/30/2022 |
| 10/1/2020 to 4/30/2021 |
6/30/2022 |
| 5/1/2021 to 3/31/2022 |
8/31/2022 |
| After 3/31/2022 |
Standard training requirement |
For workers who are required to be certified as home care aides, certification must be obtained as follows:
| Worker hired or rehired during the time frame of: |
Must be certified as a home care aide no later than: |
| 8/17/2019 to 9/30/2020 |
7/19/2022 |
| 10/1/2020 to 4/30/2021 |
9/18/2022 |
| 5/1/2021 to 3/31/2022 |
11/19/2022 |
| After 3/31/2022 |
Based on hire date |
(*A long-term care worker is considered “rehired” if they held previous employment as a long-term care worker and did not have an active home care aide credential when hired during the time frames outlined above.)
If a long-term care worker is limited-English proficient, the worker may request an additional sixty days to obtain certification.
We know that there are workers who were unable to complete required CE since training requirements were suspended. The department also recognizes that long-term care workers employed during the COVID-19 pandemic required emergent, intensive, and ongoing on-the-job training in the use of PPE, sanitation, health screening and more.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
All long-term care workers employed for any duration between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021 are granted twelve hours of DSHS-approved continuing education credit for the training entitled "COVID-19 On-The-Job Training Protocols," bearing the DSHS approval code CE2135218.
No physical certificate for this training will be issued or required.
The hours must be applied as any other continuing education hours and to a single renewal period as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC.
ADDITIONALLY: All long-term care workers will have one hundred-twenty days from the end of the public health emergency to complete any additional CE that may have become due while training waivers were in place in excess of the twelve hours of CE granted for on-the-job training.
EXAMPLE: Caregiver with birthday in December
December 2018-December 2019 = Caregiver was in compliance
December 2019 – December 2020 = 6 hours earned somehow = caregiver has 120 days after the PHE ends to make up the other six.
December 2020 – 2021 = Covered completely by COVID CE
December 2021-2022 = Twelve more hours needed.
If you have questions, contact:
Dave Chappell
david.chappell@dshs.wa.gov
(360) 725-2516
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