RN authority with COVID-19 CLIA-waived tests in school settings
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration ended on May 11, 2023.
However, COVID-19 continues to pose a credible risk of a future public health emergency.
Administering CLIA-waived COVID-19 tests in schools
Registered Nurses (RNs) may still administer Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-waived tests in school settings.
- RNs may administer tests that don’t puncture skin without an order from a health care provider.
- RNs should refer to the test instructions, or the FDA website, to confirm if a test is CLIA-waived.
See our RN Commonly Asked Questions, under Infusion Therapy, Phlebotomy, and Laboratory Tests for more information.
Delegating COVID-19 rapid tests to unlicensed personnel in schools
- School RNs have the authority to delegate routine and non-complex nursing tasks.
- This includes administering CLIA-waived COVID-19 tests.
- RNs can delegate these tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) employees of k-12 public or private schools.
More guidance:
PREP Act liability immunities extended through end of 2024
The PREP Act liability immunities, including testing for COVID-19, has been extended through December 31, 2024.