DOH: Additional Opportunities for Temporary Nurse Aide to Certified Nurse Aide Training

On August 23, 2021 the NYS Department of Health issued Dear Administrator Letter, DAL NH 21-18, DAL NH 21-18: Temporary Nurse Aide to Certified Nurse Aide outlining the Department’s temporary training program for TNAs to become CNAs. The program can be provided by nursing homes up through four months after the end of the Section 1135 waiver.

As an update to other educational opportunities for a TNA to become a CNA, the Department has collaborated with representatives from the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Career and Technical Education (CET) Program that have an approved Nurse Aid Training Program (NATP). The Department has provided NYSED with the approved TNA to CNA curriculum.

Nursing home providers or other industry leaders who have an interest in collaborating with one of the approved NATPs may reach out to directly to the NYSED programs to determine if they have the capability and capacity to conduct a TNA to CNA class. Training would be conducted at those specific educational sites.

If the approved NATP is able to accommodate the training, the NATP will require the nursing provider to provide an attestation signed by the nursing home’s Director of Nursing and the Administrator indicating that the TNA has met the minimum training eligibility requirements. TNAs are eligible for the TNA to CNA training program if they have performed a minimum of 30 days or 150 hours of employment as a TNA. The Department will issue the temporary Prometric code to the approved NATP for testing.

Please be advised that there may be a fee and other contractual arrangements required between the nursing home provider and the approved NATP.

Inquiries about on-line requirements or additional questions should be directed to NATP.DOH@health.ny.gov.

NYSHFA/NYSCAL CONTACTS:

Lisa Volk, RN, B.P.S., LNHA
Director, Clinical & Quality Services
518-462-4800 x15

Jackie Pappalardi, RN, BSN
Executive Director
518-462-4800 x16