Part II. Certification of Nurse Aides
18VAC90-25-70. Initial certification for the nurse aide registry.
A. The board shall issue a certificate as a certified nurse aide to each applicant who qualifies for such a certificate under §§ 54.1-3024, 54.1-3025, 54.1-3026, and 54.1-3028 of the Code of Virginia and provisions of this chapter.
B. Nurse aide competency evaluation.
1. The board may contract with a test service for the development and administration of a competency evaluation, which shall be a state examination.
2. All individuals completing a nurse aide education program in Virginia shall successfully complete the state examination required by the board prior to being certified and to using the title Certified Nurse Aide.
3. The board shall determine the minimum passing standard on the state examination.
C. Initial certification shall be for two years.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 24, eff. September 8, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. July 25, 2007; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.
18VAC90-25-71. Certification by examination.
A. To be placed on the registry and certified by examination, the nurse aide must:
1. Have satisfactorily completed:
a. A nurse aide education program approved by the board;
b. At least one clinical nursing course that includes at least 40 hours of clinical experience involving direct client care within the past 12 months while enrolled in a nursing education program preparing for registered nurse or practical nurse licensure; or
c. A nursing education program preparing for registered nurse licensure or practical nurse licensure;
2. Pass the state examination required by the board; and
3. Submit the required application and testing fee as prescribed by the board.
B. An applicant who fails to take the board-approved skills and written portions of the state examination within two years of completion of the training or who has failed the examination in three attempts shall reenroll and successfully complete another approved nurse aide training program before reapplying.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. July 25, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2014; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.
18VAC90-25-72. Certification by endorsement.
To be placed on the registry and be certified by endorsement, the nurse aide shall:
1. Be a graduate of a state-approved nurse aide education program that meets the requirements for clinical training and competency set forth in 42 CFR 483.152;
2. Have satisfactorily completed a competency evaluation program;
3. Be currently registered in another state, with no finding of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property;
4. Submit the required application; and
5. Submit the required verification form to the credentialing agency in each state in which the applicant has been registered, certified, or licensed, unless electronic verification is available.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. July 25, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2014.
18VAC90-25-80. Renewal or reinstatement of certification.
A. Renewal of certification.
1. No less than 30 days prior to the expiration date of the current certification, a notice for renewal shall be sent by the board to the address of record of each currently certified nurse aide.
2. The certified nurse aide shall annually submit a completed renewal application with the required fee and attestation of performance of nursing-related activities for compensation within the two years immediately preceding the expiration date.
3. Failure to receive the application for renewal shall not relieve the certificate holder of the responsibility for renewing the certification by the expiration date.
4. A certified nurse aide who has not performed nursing-related activities for compensation during the two years preceding the expiration date of the certification shall repeat and pass the nurse aide state examination prior to applying for renewal of certification.
B. Reinstatement of certification.
1. An individual whose certification has lapsed for more than 90 days shall submit the required application and renewal fee and provide:
a. Verification of performance of nursing-related activities for compensation in the two years prior to the expiration date of the certificate and within the preceding two years; or
b. Evidence of having repeated and passed the nurse aide state examination.
2. An individual who has previously had a finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property is not eligible for reinstatement of his certification, except as provided in 18VAC90-25-81, which provides a process for removal of the finding of neglect based on a single occurrence.
C. A certified nurse aide whose certification has been suspended or revoked by the board and who is eligible for reinstatement may apply for reinstatement by filing a reinstatement application and fulfilling requirements of subsection B of this section.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 24, eff. September 8, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 22, Issue 8, eff. January 25, 2006; Volume 22, Issue 12, eff. March 22, 2006; Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. July 25, 2007; Volume 27, Issue 20, eff. July 6, 2011; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.
18VAC90-25-81. Removal of a finding of neglect.
A. If a finding of neglect was made against a certificate holder based on a single occurrence, an individual may petition for removal of the finding of neglect provided:
1. A period of at least one year has passed since the finding was made; and
2. The individual demonstrates sufficient evidence that employment and personal history do not reflect a pattern of abusive behavior or neglect.
B. A certificate holder can petition the board only once for removal of a finding of neglect.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. July 25, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.
18VAC90-25-90. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 24, eff. September 8, 2004; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 30, Issue 10, eff. February 27, 2014.
18VAC90-25-100. Disciplinary provisions for nurse aides.
The board has the authority to deny, revoke, or suspend a certificate issued, or to otherwise discipline a certificate holder upon proof that the certificate holder has violated any of the provisions of § 54.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia. For the purpose of establishing allegations to be included in the notice of hearing, the board has adopted the following definitions:
1. Fraud or deceit in order to procure or maintain a certificate shall mean but shall not be limited to:
a. Filing false credentials;
b. Falsely representing facts on an application for initial certification, reinstatement or renewal of a certificate; or
c. Giving or receiving assistance in taking the state examination.
2. Unprofessional conduct shall mean but shall not be limited to:
a. Performing acts beyond those authorized for practice as a nurse aide or an advanced certified nurse aide as defined in Chapter 30 (§ 54.1-3000 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia, and beyond those authorized by the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) or by provisions for delegation of nursing tasks in Part VI (18VAC90-19-240 et seq.) of 18VAC90-19.
b. Assuming duties and responsibilities within the practice of a nurse aide or an advanced certified nurse aide without adequate training or when competency has not been maintained;
c. Obtaining supplies, equipment or drugs for personal or other unauthorized use;
d. Falsifying or otherwise altering client or employer records, including falsely representing facts on a job application or other employment-related documents;
e. Abusing, neglecting, or abandoning clients;
f. Having been denied a license or certificate or having had a license or certificate issued by the board revoked or suspended;
g. Giving to or accepting from a client property or money for any reason other than fee for service or a nominal token of appreciation;
h. Obtaining money or property of a client by fraud, misrepresentation, or duress;
i. Entering into a relationship with a client or the client's family that constitutes a professional boundary violation in which the nurse aide uses his professional position to take advantage of the vulnerability of a client or his family, to include actions that result in personal gain at the expense of the client, an inappropriate personal involvement or sexual conduct with a client;
j. Violating state laws relating to the privacy of client information, including § 32.1-127.1:03 of the Code of Virginia; or
k. Providing false information to staff or board members during the course of an investigation or proceeding.
3. For the purposes of interpreting provisions of subdivision 7 of § 54.1-3007 of the Code of Virginia, a restriction on nurse aide certification shall be interpreted as having a finding of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of patient property made in another state or being placed on the abuse registry in another state.
Statutory Authority
§§ 54.1-2400 and 54.1-3005 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 20, Issue 24, eff. September 8, 2004; amended, Virginia Register Volume 21, Issue 9, eff. March 26, 2005; Volume 23, Issue 21, eff. July 25, 2007; Volume 35, Issue 20, eff. July 15, 2019.