Section 246-980-070. Who is 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 must successfully pass the entry level training required by RCW 74.39A.074, successfully complete the home care aide certification examination and meet all other requirements of WAC 246-980-080(1).

(a) An individual provider caring only for a biological, step, or adoptive child or parent.

(b) An individual hired prior to July 1, 2014, as an individual provider who provides twenty hours or less of care for one person in any calendar month. An individual provider hired after July 1, 2014, will be required to complete the required training and obtain certification.

(c) An individual employed by a community residential service provider.

(d) 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.

(e) A direct care employee who is not paid by the state or by a private agency or facility licensed by the state to provide personal care services.

(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 successfully pass the home care aide certification examination and meet all other requirements of WAC 246-980-080(2). 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 one hundred twenty calendar days of the date of hire and that the nursing assistant-certified credential has been issued within two hundred 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.

(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 over three years.

The department may require the exempt long-term care worker who is employed 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. 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.

[Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.88B and 18.130 RCW, 2012 c 164, and 2013 c 259. WSR 13-19-087, § 246-980-070, filed 9/18/13, effective 10/19/13. Statutory Authority: 2012 c 1 (Initiative 1163) and chapter 18.88B RCW. WSR 12-08-043, § 246-980-070, filed 3/30/12, effective 4/4/12. Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.88B and 74.39A RCW. WSR 10-15-103, § 246-980-070, filed 7/20/10, effective 1/1/11.]

Chapters 18.88B and 18.130 RCW, 2012 c 164, and 2013 c 259. WSR 13-19-087, § 246-980-070, filed 9/18/13, effective 10/19/13. Statutory Authority: 2012 c 1 (Initiative 1163) and chapter 18.88B RCW. WSR 12-08-043, § 246-980-070, filed 3/30/12, effective 4/4/12. Statutory Authority: Chapters 18.88B and 74.39A RCW. WSR 10-15-103, § 246-980-070, filed 7/20/10, effective 1/1/11.

Rules

246-980-080,246-980-080,