Understanding DSHS-Approved Continuing Education Requirements for Long-Term Care Workers

Long-term care workers in Washington State are required to engage in ongoing professional development to ensure they provide the highest quality of care. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) sets the standards for this continuing education (CE), ensuring that caregivers stay updated on best practices and maintain their competency. This article will provide a detailed overview of DSHS-approved CE requirements, training programs, and resources available to long-term care workers.

The Importance of Continuing Education

Continuing education plays a crucial role in the long-term care sector. It ensures that caregivers are equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to meet the evolving needs of their clients. By participating in CE, caregivers can enhance their abilities in areas such as safety, patient care, and specialized medical procedures.

Most long-term care workers in Washington State must complete 12 hours of CE each year. This requirement underscores the state's commitment to maintaining high standards of care and promoting the professional growth of caregivers.

DSHS Approval and Curriculum Standards

To ensure the quality and relevance of CE, DSHS has established strict guidelines for approval. All facilities, home care agencies, or training programs that offer CE classes for long-term care workers must be approved by DSHS. Additionally, these programs must use DSHS-approved CE curriculum and instructors who have been vetted by DSHS.

DSHS does not approve self-study classes, such as materials or workbooks that are read or viewed without an instructor. This requirement emphasizes the importance of interactive learning and direct instruction in CE programs.

Approved Training Programs and Courses

Several organizations and institutions offer DSHS-approved training programs and courses for long-term care workers. These programs cover a wide range of topics and are designed to meet the diverse needs of caregivers.

75-Hour Home Care Aide Training

The 75-Hour Home Care Aide Training is a foundational program that prepares new caregivers for Washington State HCA certification. This comprehensive training combines online learning, specialty courses, and on-the-job skills training. It includes required orientation, safety protocols, core basic training, nurse delegation, and hands-on facility practice. This training is available through both on-the-job training facilities and assisted living facilities/adult family homes/home care agencies.

DSHS Safety and Orientation Training

The DSHS Safety and Orientation Training provides new caregivers with essential introductory and safety skills required by Washington State. Delivered through interactive video software, the training tracks engagement and includes embedded quizzes to support learning retention. Students receive personalized feedback.

Nurse Delegation Courses

Nurse delegation courses are designed to equip HCAs and NACs with the skills and knowledge necessary to perform specific nursing tasks under the supervision of a registered nurse. These courses include:

Nurse Delegation Core Basic: This 9-hour self-study course prepares HCAs and NACs to perform tasks such as medication assistance and patient-specific procedures.
Nurse Delegation: Special Focus Diabetes Course: This 3-hour course provides additional training for HCAs and nursing assistants who have completed the basic delegation course and need authorization to administer insulin injections.

CareAcademy

CareAcademy is a leading provider of DSHS-approved online 75-hour HCA training and caregiver certification courses. Its training platform is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, allowing caregivers to complete classes on smartphones, tablets, or computers without the need to download an app. CareAcademy's video-based training incorporates real-world scenarios that build critical thinking skills and set caregivers up for success.

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CareAcademy's training has been shown to speed up employee onboarding time by up to 60% and reduce turnover by up to 74%. The company also offers caregivers an easy way to access their training records after they leave their employer.

Submitting Curriculum for DSHS Approval

Facilities, home care agencies, businesses, and long-term care worker training programs can submit their own CE curriculum for DSHS approval. This allows organizations to tailor their training programs to meet the specific needs of their staff and clients. The material is used to enhance other material developed by you.

Resources for Instructors

DSHS provides a range of resources to support instructors in delivering high-quality long-term care worker training programs. These resources include:

New Instructor Webinars and Training Resources Page: This page is intended to help guide Community Instructors and Facility Instructors in building high-quality long-term care worker training programs.
Virtual Office Hours: Virtual office hours are held with Training Unit Program Managers as a live open forum using the Microsoft Teams videoconferencing platform. Instructors who have questions about their training programs are encouraged to join via computer, mobile app or call in by phone.
Fundamentals of Caregiving, 3rd edition: The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving (RFOC) textbook has undergone a major transformation and is now the Fundamentals of Caregiving, 3rd edition (FOC).

Minimum Content Areas

EMS rules have made CE accrual one of the options for renewal, NOT a requirement for maintaining your certification. If you choose to renew your certificate by completing CE hours, the hours you gain must be DSHS-approved and meet minimum content areas. CE hours can be completed anytime during your four-year certification period.

Additional Information for EMS Personnel

For Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, CE hours can be used as one of the options for renewing certification. However, it is not a requirement for maintaining certification. If EMS personnel choose to renew their certificate by completing CE hours, the hours must be DSHS-approved and meet minimum content areas. CE hours can be completed anytime during the four-year certification period.

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NREMT CE Requirements

Texas EMS Personnel that maintain NREMT certification only follow the NREMT CE model. When renewing your Texas certification or license you will choose the NREMT option.

The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) has developed the National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) to streamline the CE recertification process. The NCCP model divides CE into three strategic categories:

National
Local
Individual

Texas Jurisprudence Exam

The Texas Jurisprudence Exam is a CE course over Texas EMS laws and rules. This course is a requirement for the initial EMS courses in Texas. EMS personnel entering via reciprocity must complete this course. EMS personnel renewing their license must complete this course at each renewal cycle

The Texas Jurisprudence Exam is a CE course that covers Texas EMS laws and rules. It is a requirement for initial EMS courses in Texas, as well as for EMS personnel entering via reciprocity and those renewing their licenses.

Reporting CE Hours

EMS Personnel that choose the CE option at recertification will attest they have completed CE when filling out the renewal application. You will NOT submit any documents about CE during the renewal process. EMS personnel are audited to determine CE compliance.

EMS personnel who choose the CE option at recertification will attest that they have completed the required CE hours when filling out the renewal application. It is important to note that no documents about CE should be submitted during the renewal process. Instead, EMS personnel are subject to audits to determine CE compliance.

EMS Continuing Education Tracking Tool

An EMS Continuing Education Tracking Tool can be used to:*Calculate the total CE hours completed*Calculate the total number of CE hours completed for each content area*Determine how many hours you need to meet renewal licensing requirements.Keep this spreadsheet as part of your continuing education records. You should not submit this when completing an EMS certification/license renewal application.

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