Subject of Possible Rule Making: Nursing assistant (NA) rules, chapter 246-841A WAC. The Washington state board of nursing (board) is considering amendments to NA rules to implement skills testing in training programs, make changes to the specialty curricula rule requirements, and other related rules as appropriate. The board will also consider updates to this chapter resulting from legislation passed in the 2025 legislative session.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The board is initiating rule making to amend chapter 246-841A WAC to:

This rule making is necessary to ensure NA training programs comply with state and federal requirements and to address areas for improvement identified since the adoption of chapter 246-841A WAC.

In 2023, the board introduced chapter 246-841A WAC and launched a voluntary training program skills testing initiative. These changes have increased efficiency in the NA certification process, expanded testing capacity, improved student confidence, and raised pass rates. However, the board has identified the need for further rule making to streamline processes, formally integrate skills testing into training programs, and make changes to the specialty curricula rule requirements in order to address issues such as trainer backlog, increased program cost, and settings where the specialty curricula is currently not required in rule.


•	Integrate skills testing into NA training programs;
•	Make changes to the specialty curricula rule requirements; and
•	Address any impacts resulting from legislation passed during the 2025 legislative session and other related priorities.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Jessilyn Dagum, P.O. Box 47864, Olympia, WA 98504-7864, phone 360-236-3538, fax 360-236-4738, TTY 711, email WABONRules@doh.wa.gov, website www.nursing.wa.gov.

Additional comments: The board will notify interested parties of rule making by posting information on the department of health website, the board website, and by use of GovDelivery. Interested parties may sign up to receive board rule-making notices at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/subscriber/new. The board will hold virtual meetings at varying times to encourage participation.