Most long‑term care workers who are paid to provide direct care must complete 12 hours of Continuing Education each year before their birthday. These CE hours help caregivers stay current in their skills and meet state training requirements. For details about your specific CE timeline, view the chart below.
Find an approved Continuing Education training class to meet your requirement.
Long Term Care Worker Continuing Education Training Requirements:
| Long-Term Care Worker Category | Initial Requirement | Ongoing Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Individual or Agency Provider: Hired after 1/6/2012 with no credential. | Before your birthdate one year from your first Home Care Aide credential issuance date. | By your birthdate each year. |
| Standard Individual or Agency Provider: Hired after 1/6/2012 with Home Care Aide credential. | Before your birthdate following your first HCA credential renewal date. | By your birthdate each year. |
| Exempt Individual or Agency Provider: Between 1/1/2011 and 1/6/2012 , worked in a long term care setting* and completed basic training requirements at that time. | Before your birthdate when you are working or returning to work. | By your birthdate each year. Once you return to work after 1/6/12 you must complete 12 hours of CE each year, even if you are not working. |
| Exempt Individual or Agency Provider: With active Registered Nurse, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Licensed Practical Nurse, or Nurse Technician credential. | Not required. You must maintain your RN or LPN credential as active and in good standing. | Not required. You must maintain your RN or LPN credential as active and in good standing. |
| Exempt Individual or Agency Provider: With active Nursing Assistant, Certified credential | Before your birthdate in your first year of work. | By your birthdate each year |
| Exempt Individual or Agency Provider: With special education endorsement from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction | Before your birthdate in your first year of work. | By your birthdate each year. |
| Parent Individual Provider: Individual caring for his/her biological, step or adoptive child | Not required, unless you voluntarily obtain your HCA credential. | Not required, unless you voluntarily obtain your HCA credential. |
| Parent DD Individual Provider: Individual caring for his/her developmentally disabled biological, step or adoptive child | Not required, unless you voluntarily obtain your HCA credential. | Not required, unless you voluntarily obtain your HCA credential. |
| Limited Service Individual Provider: Provides 20 hours (or less) of care a month for one person | After 7/1/14: by your next birthdate. Before 6/30/14: not required. | After 7/1/14: By your birthdate each year. Before 6/30/14: not required. |
| Adult Child Individual Provider: Adult child caring for his/her biological, step or adoptive parent | Before your birthdate in next calendar year after completing Accelerated Basic Training. | By your birthdate each year |
| Assisted Living Facility Administrator or Designee | Before your birthdate in your first year of work. | By your birthdate each year. |
| Adult Family Home Provider | Before your birthdate in your first year of work. | By your birthdate each year. |
*Examples of work in a long-term care setting include providing paid personal care services for elderly or persons with disabilities in a state licensed assisted living facility (boarding home), adult family home, Home Care Agency, or as an Individual Provider for a client of DSHS.
If you have not completed the Continuing Education requirement for your category, you cannot be paid to provide care until you complete the required CE hours.
You will have to complete any remaining CE hours needed (at your own expense) from an approved DSHS community instructor before you can be paid again.