Section 18.88B.021. Certification requirements.

(1) Beginning January 7, 2012, except as provided in RCW 18.88B.041, any person hired as a long-term care worker must be certified as a home care aide as provided in this chapter within two hundred calendar days after the date of being hired. In computing the time periods in this subsection, the first day is the date of hire.

(2)(a) No person may practice or, by use of any title or description, represent himself or herself as a certified home care aide without being certified as provided in this chapter.

(b) This section does not prohibit a person: (i) From practicing a profession for which the person has been issued a license or which is specifically authorized under this state's laws; or (ii) who is exempt from certification under RCW 18.88B.041 from providing services as a long-term care worker.

(c) In consultation with consumer and worker representatives, the department shall, by January 1, 2013, establish by rule a single scope of practice that encompasses both long-term care workers who are certified home care aides and long-term care workers who are exempted from certification under RCW 18.88B.041.

(3) The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.

[ 2013 c 259 § 1; 2012 c 164 § 301; 2012 c 1 § 103 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).]

NOTES:

Reviser's note: The language of this section, as enacted by 2012 c 1 § 103, was identical to RCW 18.88B.020 as amended by 2009 c 580 § 18, which was repealed by 2012 c 1 § 115.

Finding—Intent—Rules—Effective date—2012 c 164: See notes following RCW 18.88B.010.

Intent—Findings—Performance audits—Spending limits—Contingent effective dates—Application—Construction—Effective date—Short title—2012 c 1 (Initiative Measure No. 1163): See notes following RCW 74.39A.056.

2013 c 259 § 1; 2012 c 164 § 301; 2012 c 1 § 103 (Initiative Measure No. 1163, approved November 8, 2011).