(a)

1. (1) The following is a list of qualifications for the state competency exam:

   1. (A) Nursing assistants who were trained in approved nonfacility programs, for example, career colleges, vocational or technical schools, or proprietary schools, after January 1, 1989;
   2. (B) Nursing assistants who were trained in approved facility (nursing homes) programs after July 1, 1989;
   3. (C)

(i) Registered nurses or students who have finished the basic nursing course, for example, Introduction to Nursing or Fundamentals of Nursing.

1. (ii) The individual must provide a copy of their school transcript or documentation showing successful completion of the basic nursing course to qualify for the state competency examination;

   1. (D) Registered nurses or licensed practical nurses that have had disciplinary action resulting in suspension, revocation, or voluntary surrender of license due to disciplinary action shall not be allowed an exemption to training or be allowed to challenge the state examination;

   2. (E)

      1. (i) Home health aides who have met appropriate federal training or examination requirements for home health aide certification.
      2. (ii) Verification must show completion of a minimum of seventy-four (74) hours classroom training and sixteen (16) hours of supervised practical training or federal testing requirements as a home health aide.
      3. (iii) This provision does not apply to personal care aides as their training requirements of forty (40) hours do not meet the ninety-hour requirement for the Long-Term Care Facility Nursing Assistant Training Program;

   3. (F)

      1. (i) Individuals from other states who can verify completion of a state-approved geriatric nursing assistant training program but were not tested and registered.
      2. (ii) If registered in the other state, see 20 CAR § 403-505 for reciprocity transfers without further examination.
      3. (iii) Verification of course completion rests with the individual and must be submitted to the Department of Human Services-designated contractor for approval to take the Arkansas competency examination; and

   4. (G)

      1. (i) Nursing assistants whose certification has become inactive based on the recertification requirements (see 20 CAR § 403-603).
      2. (ii) These individuals shall be required to be retested for recertification.
      3. (iii) Permission for retesting shall require an admission slip obtained from the examination agency prior to the specified examination date.
      4. (iv) Note. Individuals listed on the long-term care facility Certified Nursing Assistant/Employment Clearance Registry with a disqualification status due to a substantiated administrative finding of abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property, or a disqualifying criminal record in accordance with Arkansas Code § 20-38-101 et seq., shall not be eligible to take the competency examination.

(b)

1. (1) All other individuals trained in programs that have not received approval from the department as a training provider shall not qualify and shall not be allowed to take the examination.
2. (2) Such programs may include hospitals, emergency medical technicians, medical assistant programs, personal care aides, correspondence courses, independent study, on-the-job training, or in-service training, as they are not acceptable in lieu of the approved training program.