D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 29, § 5009
Personal Care Aide Qualifications
Effective Nov 8, 201360 DCR 15537Authority: Section 6(6) of the Department of Health Care Finance Establishment Act of 2007, effective February 27, 2008 (D.C. Law 17-109; D.C. Official Code § 7-771.05(6)), An Act To enable the District of Columbia to receive Federal financial assistance under title XIX of the Social Security Act for a medical assistance program, and for other purposes, approved December 27, 1967 (81 Stat. 744; D.C. Official Code § 1-307.02), and Mayor’s Order 2024-115, dated July 1, 2024. Source: Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 3957 (May 23, 2003); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 6643 (July 2, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 1696 (March 10, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 1760, 1774 (March 2, 2012); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 15537 (November 8, 2013); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 63 DCR 14134 (November 18, 2016); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 72 DCR 004996 (April 25, 2025).District of Columbia, Office of the Secretary
5009.1
Each PCA, whether an employee of the Provider or secured through a staffing agency, shall meet the following qualifications:
- (a) Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;
- (b) Be a citizen of the United States or an alien who is lawfully authorized to work in the United States;
- (c) Be mentally, physically and emotionally competent to provide services as certified by a physician;
- (d) Be able to accept instruction from an R.N.;
- (e) Be certified and meet all of the qualifications, including training requirements, in accordance with the Practice of Nursing Amendment Act of 2009, effective July 7, 2009 (D.C. Law 18-18; 56 DCR 3624).
- (f) Be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and maintain current CPR certification;
- (g) Complete three (3) hours of continuing education at quarterly intervals, in addition to annual CPR recertification and be trained on the beneficiary's plan of care;
- (h) Be able to read and write the English language at least at the fifth (5th) grade level and carry out instructions and directions in English;
- (i) Be able to recognize an emergency and be knowledgeable about emergency procedures;
- (j) Be knowledgeable about infection control procedures;
- (k) Confirm on an annual basis that he or she is free from tuberculosis by undergoing an annual purified protein derivative (PPD) skin test;
- (l) Confirm, on an annual basis, that he or she is free from communicable disease by undergoing an annual physical examination by a physician, and obtaining written and signed documentation from the examining physician confirming freedom from communicable disease;
- (m) Pass a criminal background check pursuant to the Health-Care Facility Unlicensed Personnel Criminal Background Check Act of 1998, effective April 20, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-238; D.C. Official Code, §§ 44-551 et seq. (2005 Repl. & 2012 Supp.));
- (n) Pass a reference check and a verification of prior employment;
(o) Provide documentation of acceptance or declination of the hepatitis vaccine; and
(p) Have an individual NPI number obtained from NPPES.
SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 3957 (May 23, 2003); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 51 DCR 6643 (July 2, 2004); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 1696 (March 10, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 1760, 1774 (March 2, 2012); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 15537 (November 8, 2013).