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WAC 388-71-0985

What is continuing education and what topics may be covered in continuing education?

(1) Continuing education is annual training designed to promote professional development and increase a person's knowledge, expertise, and skills. DSHS must approve continuing education curricula and instructors.
(2) Continuing education courses may be repeated for credit, however:
(a) The same course may not be repeated within an individual's current continuing education compliance year as defined in WAC 388-71-0836 and 388-112-0010; and
(b) If a course becomes available in an individual's preferred language, the translated course will be considered a new course.
(3) Continuing education must be on a topic relevant to any of the following options:
(a) The care setting;
(b) Care needs of clients;
(c) Caregiver self-care;
(d) Long-term care worker professional development as defined in WAC 388-71-0836 and 388-112A-0010.
(4) Nurse delegation core and nurse delegation specialized diabetes training hours when not applied to basic training hours may count toward continuing education.
(5) Specialty training, except if completed through a challenge test or counted toward basic training requirements, may be used to meet continuing education requirements.
(6) Successful completion of a department of health approved home care aide certified alternative bridge program may be applied for up to 12 hours of continuing education in the year it was completed.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.39A.009, 74.39A.070, 74.39A.074, 74.39A.076, 74.39A.341, 18.88B.010, 18.88B.021, and 18.88B.041. WSR 26-08-045, s 388-71-0985, filed 3/25/26, effective 4/25/26; WSR 25-16-084, s 388-71-0985, filed 8/5/25, effective 10/1/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 18.20.270, 70.128.230, 74.08.090, 74.39A.070, and 74.39A.074. WSR 23-01-022, § 388-71-0985, filed 12/9/22, effective 1/9/23. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.520, 43.43.832, 74.39A.270, 74.39A.056, 74.39A.074, 43.20A.710, 74.39A.525, 43.43.842, 74.39A.326, 74.39A.515, 74.39A.505, 18.88B.021, 43.43.837 and 2018 c 278. WSR 21-18-081, § 388-71-0985, filed 8/30/21, effective 10/1/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.09.520. WSR 13-02-023, § 388-71-0985, filed 12/20/12, effective 1/20/13.]