Temporary Nurse Aides Now Have Until Jan. 11 to be on the Registry
With the recent extension of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), Minnesota nurse aides have until Jan. 11, 2023, to be placed on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry. Nurse aide candidates hired after the waiver expired on June 6 also qualify for the recent waiver extension.
Waiver Extension Applies to Nurse Aides Hired after June 6
Earlier this month, CMS approved Minnesota's waiver extension request, allowing providers more time and flexibility to transition caregivers to be placed on the Nursing Assistant Registry. CMS has confirmed to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) that the waiver extension applies to individuals hired after June 6 if training and testing backlogs prohibit these individuals from meeting the training and testing requirements for certification within four months. Individuals working under these waivers must continue attempts to complete training and testing.
Continue Transitioning Caregivers
Caregivers should continue transitioning to the registry as soon as possible. MDH provides three different pathways for this transition:
- Pathway 1: Enroll in and complete a state-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) and pass the exam.
- Pathway 2: Enroll in a NATCEP training program, but take advantage of the MDH Transition Pathway. This pathway allows facilities to credit training received while working under the waiver towards the required 75-hour training. Individuals must still enroll in a NATCEP program to meet the training requirements and pass the exam.
- Pathway 3: Choose not to enroll in a NATCEP program but challenge and pass the exam.
For questions regarding this waiver extension or nursing assistant training and testing, please reach out to Anna Mowry, Director of Workforce Solutions at LeadingAge Minnesota.
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