Nursing Assistant Education Programs in Washington
- Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR) Verification of Clinical Hours and Competency
- Curriculum Implementation Materials and Integration of Knowledge and Skills
- Nursing Assistant Skills Presentation by Credentia video (YouTube)
- Nursing Assistant Skills Presentation by Credentia (PDF)
- Form Templates for New Program Applications
- Train the Trainer
- Equipment
- Other Approvals
- Changes Requiring Nursing Commission Approval
- Medication Assistant Endorsement Certification
Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR) Verification of Clinical Hours and Competency (PDF)
In accordance with WAC Chapter 246-841A, the Washington State Board of Nursing continues to allow most approved nursing assistant training programs to count students’ nursing assistant-registered (NAR) employment hours as clinical hours when qualifying criteria are met and documentation instructions are followed.
Please see WAC 246-841A(430 and 440(8)) and the form “Nursing Assistant-Registered (NAR) Work Experience and Verification of Clinical Hours and Competency” for qualifying criteria and documentation instructions for programs, students, and employment sites.
This is the required form for documenting NAR employment experiences for clinical hours’ credit in an approved nursing assistant training program.
Curriculum Implementation Materials and Integration of Knowledge and Skills (YouTube)
This video provides tools to help structure a program to meet requirements and support optimal teaching and learning. The target audience includes traditional, home care aide alternative (bridge), and medical assistant alternative (bridge) nursing assistant training programs. This video is not intended for use by medication assistant certification endorsement programs, which uses a national curriculum.
Form templates for new program applications
New program applicants may use these templates as part of a program application packet.
- Course Objectives (Word)
- Curriculum Content Outline (Word)
- Evaluation Methods (Word)
- Lesson Plan (Word)
- Lesson Planning Tips (PDF)
- Nursing Assistant Skills Lab Checklist and Competency Evaluation (PDF)
- Nursing Assistant Clinical Skills Checklist and Competency Evaluation (PDF)
- Program Schedule (Word)
- Student Record (Word)
Train the trainer
Program directors in nursing assistant training programs must complete a course in adult education or have one year of experience teaching adults.
Equipment
Other approvals
Programs must have Nursing Commission approval in order to operate. Nursing assistant programs must also have approval from other agencies as appropriate:
- The State Board of Community and Technical Colleges must approve programs in community and technical colleges.
State Board of Community and Technical Colleges
Phone: 360-704-4400 - The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction must approve high school programs.
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
Phone: 360-725-6000 - The Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board must approve private vocational school programs.
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
Phone: 360-709-4600
Changes requiring nursing commission approval
Certain changes programs make require approval from the Nursing Commission. These changes are in WAC 246-841-420. You must notify and get approval from the Nursing Commission before making these changes:
- Program Director
- Instructors
- Curriculum
Please see our forms page for more information.
Medication assistant endorsement certification
Medication assistant endorsement certification allows nursing assistants-certified (NAC) who have completed additional training to administer medications and certain treatments to residents in nursing homes under the direct supervision of a designated registered nurse.
This program is different from the current training for NACs because:
- The facility offering the training must be an already approved nursing assistant training program or nursing education program.
- The instructors in the program must be registered nurses.
- The curriculum must be 100 hours minimum and must meet the standards set by the National Council State Boards of Nursing.