RCW 74.39A.341 Continuing education requirements for long-term care workers.

(1) All long-term care workers shall complete twelve hours of continuing education training in advanced training topics each year. This requirement applies beginning July 1, 2012.

(2) Completion of continuing education as required in this section is a prerequisite to maintaining home care aide certification under chapter 18.88B RCW.

(3) Unless voluntarily certified as a home care aide under chapter 18.88B RCW, subsection (1) of this section does not apply to:

(a) An individual provider caring only for his or her biological, step, or adoptive child;

(b) Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW;

(c) Before January 1, 2016, a long-term care worker employed by a community residential service business;

(d) A person working as an individual provider who provides twenty hours or less of care for one person in any calendar month; or

(e) A person working as an individual provider who only provides respite services and works less than three hundred hours in any calendar year.

(4) Only training curriculum approved by the department may be used to fulfill the training requirements specified in this section. The department shall only approve training curriculum that:

(a) Has been developed with input from consumer and worker representatives; and

(b) Requires comprehensive instruction by qualified instructors.

(5) Individual providers under RCW 74.39A.270 shall be compensated for training time required by this section.

(6) The department of health shall adopt rules to implement subsection (1) of this section.

(7) The department shall adopt rules to implement subsection (2) of this section.

[ 2015 c 152 § 3; 2014 c 139 § 8; 2013 c 259 § 3; 2012 c 164 § 405; 2012 c 1 § 112 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

NOTES:

Reviser's note: The language of this section, as enacted by 2012 c 1 § 112, was identical to RCW 74.39A.340 as amended by 2009 c 580 § 12, which was repealed by 2012 c 1 § 115.

Finding—Intent—Program development—Implementation—Program funding—2014 c 139: See notes following RCW 71A.16.050.

Finding—Intent—Rules—Effective date—2012 c 164: See notes following RCW 18.88B.010.

Intent—Findings—Performance audits—Spending limits—Contingent effective dates—Application—Construction—Effective date—Short title—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): See notes following RCW 74.39A.056.