20 CAR § 403-603 – Certification renewal

(a)
1. (1) The initial certification period is valid for twenty-four (24) months.
2. (2) Each certificate contains an expiration date.
3. (3) The Department of Human Services will develop a plan and procedure to renew each nursing assistant certification listed in the Certified Nursing Assistant/Employment Clearance Registry on a biennial basis (every two (2) years).
4. (4) The renewal process will require the nursing assistant to document having worked as a nursing assistant for monetary compensation during the prior two (2) years.
5. (5) This provision shall be defined by at least one (1) documented day (meaning eight (8) hours) of employment providing nursing or nursing-related services for monetary compensation in any setting.
(b) Certified nursing assistants who provide services for private pay clients must include a check stub and a notarized letter from the employer, which should include certified nursing assistant duties performed within the twenty-four-month period to verify current employment or employment within the last twenty-four-month period.
(c)
1. (1) Employing facilities and/or individuals shall be required to submit updated information to the Certified Nursing Assistant/Employment Clearance Registry to establish ongoing eligibility for active status.
2. (2) The Certified Nursing Assistant/Employment Clearance Registry shall make inactive those individuals who cannot document having worked in an aide capacity within a twenty-four-month period.
3. (3) Nursing assistants who are currently employed as a nursing assistant at the time of their renewal will be renewed for twenty-four (24) months.
4. (4) Nursing assistants who are not currently employed will be renewed for twenty-four (24) months beginning with the last day employed as a nursing assistant.
5. (5) A certification that has been expired for a period longer than twenty-four (24) months cannot be renewed and the individual shall retest and complete sixteen (16) hours of clinical training to recertify to an active status.
(d) An individual will be required to successfully complete a new competency evaluation test to become recertified (see 20 CAR § 403-504(a)(1)(G)), if documentation of having worked in an aide capacity within the previous twenty-four-month period cannot be provided, or for any certification that has been expired for over twenty-four (24) months.
(e)
1. (1) The process to renew a nursing assistant certification shall be overseen by the department or its agent.
2. (2) Each certified nursing assistant shall be responsible for renewing their certification online approximately sixty (60) calendar days before the expiration of their certification.
(f)
1. (1) Individuals listed on the Adult and Long-term Care Facility Resident Maltreatment Central 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 renew their certification.
2. (2) Individuals approved for removal of a neglect finding pursuant to 20 CAR § 403-604 shall be eligible to renew their certification.
(g) Nursing assistant certifications may not be renewed more than sixty (60) calendar days prior to the expiration date.
(h)
1. (1) Renewals may be completed through the online website.
2. (2) The department or its designated agent shall provide instructions for the online renewal process.
(i)
1. (1) The Certified Nursing Assistant/Employment Clearance Registry renewal must be fully completed by the certified nursing assistants and the information must be accurate to the best of their knowledge.
2. (2) Failure to fully complete the renewal or provide false or inaccurate information shall constitute the basis for denial of certification renewal.
(j) When a nursing assistant renewal is processed and the nursing assistant is determined to be eligible for renewal, a new certificate showing the new expiration date will be available online for the certified nursing assistant to print and their Certified Nursing Assistant/Employment Clearance Registry record shall be updated to reflect the new certification period.