OBRA Registry

OBRA Registry

A nursing assistant-certified (NAC) must be active on the OBRA Registry in order to be eligible to work in skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes.

About OBRA Registry

OBRA stands for “Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act,” relating to the 1987 federal legislation that established it.

The OBRA Registry is a database that includes the names of all individuals who meet the federal requirements to provide caregiving to residents residing in skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes in Washington State.

The OBRA Registry also informs skills nursing facilities of persons who are ineligible to work in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home due to findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property.

OBRA Registry Operation

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is the state agency that operates the OBRA Registry.

• The DSHS webpage for the OBRA Registry has helpful information for you, including how you become active on the OBRA Registry.

OBRA Registry – Frequently Asked Questions

How does a nursing assistant’s name get added to the registry?

A nursing assistant’s name gets added to the registry when the nursing assistant:

• Completes nursing assistant training and passes the online written and skills portions of the state exams; or
• Completes inter-state endorsement to Washington from another state; or
• Becomes ineligible to work in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home due to state disciplinary action or findings of abuse or neglect in Washington or another state.

Once my name is active on the OBRA Registry--showing I am eligible to work in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home--does my name stay on the OBRA Registry forever?

Under federal requirements, your activation on the OBRA Registry expires with a break in the performance of paid nursing-related services of twenty-four (24) consecutive months or more.

This means that – even if you have an active NAC credential with the Department of Health – you can become ineligible to work in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home until you are re-activated on the OBRA Registry.

How do I re-activate my OBRA Registry status if it expires due to a break in my work history of >24 months and I want to work in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home?

You have 2 options to proceed:

• Re-take and pass the online written and skills portions of the state exam for nursing assistants (you must pass on 1st attempt; if you do not, then you must re-train before re-testing); or
• 
  Re-train and re-test, successfully completing training again and passing the online written and skills portions of the state exam for nursing assistants (after re-training, you would have four attempts to pass).

Please review the information on nursing assistant testing to be sure you follow the proper application steps to receive an Authorization to Test for OBRA re-activation.  You will not be able to register for the test without an Authorization to Test.

Can I work as a nursing assistant if my certification is active, but my OBRA Registry status is expired?

 You can't work in a skilled nursing facility or nursing home, but you may be able to work in other care settings.

Questions? 

Please go to the DSHS webpage and use the “Contact Us” link or contact the OBRA Registry message line:  360-725-2597.