MDH Releases BCA Transition Details

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released a notice via GovDelivery indicating a transition pathway for Basic Care Aides (BCA) to become Nursing Assistants through an expedited process before the end of the 1135 Waiver.

In this process, MDH will allow facilities to credit training received while working in a long-term care facility under the waiver towards the required 75-hours of training. This concept is only available for the duration of the waiver, and the opportunity will expire when it expires. 

Although initial documentation for this pathway has been released, process details are yet to be determined. The Minnesota State nursing assistant training programs have asked provider members not to register staff members for training and testing if they choose to utilize this expedited pathway until the colleges and universities have had an opportunity to determine internal processes. The full, 75-hour programs are still available through Minnesota State at this time.

LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation’s OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training Program, Powered by EduCare, will also be offering solutions for providers who would like to utilize the expedited pathway as outlined by MDH. We are currently designing this process and encourage you to reach out to the OnTrack team if you’d like to explore how OnTrack can assist in this transition. As the designers of the Basic Care Aide curriculum, our partners at EduCare are uniquely positioned to support this important training.

We encourage all members to work toward transitioning BCAs to Nursing Assistants before the end of the 1135 waiver to prevent bottlenecks in the system. Please reach out to Jenna Kellerman, Director of Workforce Solutions, if you’d like assistance in this process.