PDFWAC 388-71-1068
What are the minimum qualifications for community instructors for dementia specialty training?
(1) The minimum qualifications for community instructors for mental health specialty training, in addition to the general qualifications in chapter 388-71-1055 (1) and (2), include:
(a) The instructor must be experienced in dementia caregiving practices and capable of demonstrating competency in the entire course content;
(b) Education:
(i) Bachelor's degree, registered nurse, or mental health specialist, with at least one year of education in seminars, conferences, continuing education, or college classes, in dementia or subjects directly related to dementia, such as, but not limited to, psychology (one year of education equals 24 credits in a semester system, 36 credits in a quarter system, or at least 80 hours of seminars, conferences, or continuing education); and
(ii) Successful completion of the dementia specialty training, prior to beginning to train others;
(c) Work experience: Two years full-time equivalent direct work experience with people who have dementia;
(d) Teaching experience:
(i) 200 hours experience teaching long-term care related subjects;
(ii) Successful completion of an adult education class that meets the requirements of WAC 388-71-1066;
(iii) Successful completion of the DSHS instructor qualification/demonstration process; and
(iv) The instructor has been approved and contracted by the department as a community instructor; and
(e) Instructors who will administer tests must have experience or training in assessment and competency testing.
(2) Five years of full-time equivalent direct work experience with people who have dementia may substitute for either:
(a) The credential (bachelor's degree, registered nurse, or mental health specialist) described in subsection (1)(b)(i) of this section; or
(b) The one year of education in college classes or 80 hours in seminars, conferences, continuing education described in subsection (1)(b)(i) of this section.
(3) If your status is an approved instructor for dementia specialty training, you may instruct a new dementia specialty training curriculum after submitting to the department a copy of a certificate of completion for that curriculum and a copy of a certificate of completion of an adult education class that meets the requirements of WAC 388-71-1066.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.270, 70.128.230, 74.08.090, 74.39A.070, and 74.39A.074. WSR 23-01-022, ยง 388-71-1068, filed 12/9/22, effective 1/9/23.]