Skip to main content

We've changed our name!

We are now the Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON). Learn more about our name change...

Nursing Assistant Education Programs in Washington

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.

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:

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.