The short answer Washington has the nation's strictest home care training regime: most long-term care workers at licensed in-home services agencies must become certified Home Care Aides — 75 hours of training (5 hours orientation/safety plus 70 hours basic), a state certification exam, certification within 200 calendar days of hire, and 12 hours of continuing education every year.
What Washington requires
Washington
75-hour training requirement. Long-term care workers must complete 75 hours of entry-level training through DSHS-approved programs: 2 hours of orientation and 3 hours of safety training before providing care, plus 70 hours of basic training (RCW 74.39A.074; WAC 246-980).
Source ↗
HCA certification and exam. Under RCW 18.88B.021, workers must pass the state Home Care Aide certification examination (administered through Prometric) and become certified by the Department of Health within 200 calendar days of their date of hire.
Source ↗
12 hours annual CE. Certified Home Care Aides must complete 12 hours of continuing education each year (RCW 74.39A.341; WAC 246-980-110), documented at each certification renewal.
Source ↗
Applies at licensed agencies. In-home services agencies licensed under WAC 246-335 (home care, home health, hospice) must ensure their long-term care workers meet these training and HCA certification requirements; exemptions exist for RNs, LPNs, and CNAs under RCW 18.88B.041.
Source ↗
Specialty dementia/mental health training. Washington additionally requires specialty training for workers serving clients with dementia, mental illness, or developmental disabilities (RCW 74.39A.076), on top of the 75-hour basic requirement.
Source ↗
☆ Rules change. We watch them for you.
Get one short email when Washington's home care requirements change. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Reviewed quarterly by Vitable Health.
The federal baseline (applies in every state)
Federal
75-hour HHA training standard. Under 42 CFR 484.80(b), home health aides at Medicare-certified home health agencies must complete a training program of at least 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of classroom training completed before beginning at least 16 hours of supervised practical (hands-on) training.
Source ↗
Competency evaluation / CNA pathway. 42 CFR 484.80(a) allows aides to qualify by completing the 75-hour training and competency evaluation program, by passing a competency evaluation alone, or by completing a state nurse aide training and competency evaluation program (CNA) and being in good standing on the state nurse aide registry.
Source ↗
12-hour annual in-service. 42 CFR 484.80(d) requires home health aides to receive at least 12 hours of in-service training during each 12-month period, which may occur while the aide is furnishing care and must be supervised by a registered nurse.
Source ↗
RN trainer requirements. Under 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3) and (c)(2), classroom and supervised practical training must be performed by or under the general supervision of a registered nurse with at least 2 years of nursing experience, at least 1 year of which must be in home health care; competency evaluations must likewise be performed by an RN in consultation with other professionals.
Source ↗
Primary sources for this page
- https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/ALTSA/hcs/documents/LTC%20Worker%20Training%20Requirements.pdf
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=18.88B.021
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-980-110
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=246-335
- https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=74.39A.076
More Washington guides