Fla. Admin. Code R. 59A-36.011 – Staff Training Requirements and Competency Test

(1) ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY CORE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS AND COMPETENCY TEST.
1. (a) The assisted living facility core training requirements established by the department pursuant to Section 429.52, F.S., shall consist of a minimum of 26 hours of training plus a competency test.
2. (b) Administrators and managers must successfully complete the assisted living facility core training requirements within 3 months from the date of becoming a facility administrator or manager. Successful completion of the core training requirements includes passing the competency test. The minimum passing score for the competency test is 75%. Administrators who have attended core training prior to July 1, 1997, and managers who attended the core training program prior to April 20, 1998, shall not be required to take the competency test. Administrators licensed as nursing home administrators in accordance with Chapter 468, Part II, F.S., are exempt from this requirement.
3. (c) Administrators and managers shall participate in 12 hours of continuing education in topics related to assisted living every 2 years.
4. (d) A newly hired administrator or manager who has successfully completed the assisted living facility core training and continuing education requirements, shall not be required to retake the core training. An administrator or manager who has successfully completed the core training but has not maintained the continuing education requirements will be considered a new administrator or manager for the purposes of the core training requirements and must:
  1. Retake the assisted living facility core training; and,
  2. Retake and pass the competency test.
5. (e) The fees for the competency test shall not exceed $200.00. The payment for the competency test fee shall be remitted to the entity administering the test. A new fee is due each time the test is taken.
(2) STAFF PRESERVICE ORIENTATION.
1. (a) Facilities must provide a preservice orientation of at least 2 hours to all new assisted living facility employees who have not previously completed core training as detailed in subsection (1).
2. (b) New staff must complete the preservice orientation prior to interacting with residents.
3. (c) Once complete, the employee and the facility administrator must sign a statement that the employee completed the preservice orientation which must be kept in the employee’s personnel record.
4. (d) In addition to topics that may be chosen by the facility administrator, the preservice orientation must cover:
  1. Resident’s rights; and,
  2. The facility’s license type and services offered by the facility.
(3) STAFF IN-SERVICE TRAINING. Facility administrators or managers shall provide or arrange for the following in-service training to facility staff:
1. (a) Staff who provide direct care to residents, other than nurses, certified nursing assistants, or home health aides trained in accordance with Rule 59A-8.0095, F.A.C., must receive a minimum of 1 hour in-service training in infection control, including universal precautions and facility sanitation procedures, before providing personal care to residents. The facility must use its infection control policies and procedures when offering this training. Documentation of compliance with the staff training requirements of 29 CFR 1910.1030, relating to blood borne pathogens, may be used to meet this requirement.
2. (b) Staff who provide direct care to residents must receive a minimum of 1 hour in-service training within 30 days of employment that covers the following subjects:
  1. Reporting adverse incidents.
  2. Facility emergency procedures including chain-of-command and staff roles relating to emergency evacuation.
3. (c) Staff who provide direct care to residents, who have not taken the core training program, shall receive a minimum of 1 hour in-service training within 30 days of employment that covers the following subjects:
  1. Resident rights in an assisted living facility.
  2. Recognizing and reporting resident abuse, neglect, and exploitation. The facility must use its abuse prevention policies and procedures when offering this training.
4. (d) Staff who provide direct care to residents, other than nurses, CNAs, or home health aides trained in accordance with Rule 59A-8.0095, F.A.C., must receive 3 hours of in-service training within 30 days of employment that covers the following subjects:
  1. Resident behavior and needs.
  2. Providing assistance with the activities of daily living.
5. (e) Staff who prepare or serve food, who have not taken the assisted living facility core training must receive a minimum of 1-hour-in-service training within 30 days of employment in safe food handling practices.
6. (f) All facility staff shall receive in-service training regarding the facility’s resident elopement response policies and procedures within thirty (30) days of employment.
  1. All facility staff shall be provided with a copy of the facility’s resident elopement response policies and procedures.
  2. All facility staff shall demonstrate an understanding and competency in the implementation of the elopement response policies and procedures.
(4) HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS/ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (HIV/AIDS). Pursuant to Section 381.0035, F.S., all facility employees, with the exception of employees subject to the requirements of Section 456.033, F.S., must complete a one-time education course on HIV and AIDS, including the topics prescribed in the Section 381.0035, F.S. New facility staff must obtain the training within 30 days of employment. Documentation of compliance must be maintained in accordance with subsection (12) of this rule.
(5) FIRST AID AND CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR). A staff member who has completed courses in First Aid and CPR and holds a currently valid card documenting completion of such courses must be in the facility at all times.
1. (a) Documentation that the staff member possess current CPR certification that requires the student to demonstrate, in person, that he or she is able to perform CPR and which is issued by an instructor or training provider that is approved to provide CPR training by the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the National Safety Council, or an organization whose training is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education satisfies this requirement.
2. (b) A nurse shall be considered as having met the training requirement for First Aid. An emergency medical technician or paramedic currently certified under Chapter 401, Part III, F.S., shall be considered as having met the training requirements for both First Aid and C.P.R.
(6) ASSISTANCE WITH THE SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT. Unlicensed persons who will be providing assistance with the self-administration of medications as described in Rule 59A-36.008, F.A.C., must meet the training requirements pursuant to Section 429.52(6), F.S., prior to assuming this responsibility. Courses provided in fulfilment of this requirement must meet the following criteria:
1. (a) Training must cover state law and rule requirements with respect to the supervision, assistance, administration, and management of medications in assisted living facilities; procedures and techniques for assisting the resident with self-administration of medication including how to read a prescription label; providing the right medications to the right resident; common medications; the importance of taking medications as prescribed; recognition of side effects and adverse reactions and procedures to follow when residents appear to be experiencing side effects and adverse reactions; documentation and record keeping; and medication storage and disposal. Training shall include demonstrations of proper techniques, including techniques for infection control, and ensure unlicensed staff have adequately demonstrated that they have acquired the skills necessary to provide such assistance.
2. (b) The training must be provided by a registered nurse or licensed pharmacist who shall issue a training certificate to a trainee who demonstrates, in person and both physically and verbally, the ability to:
  1. Read and understand a prescription label;
  2. Provide assistance with self-administration in accordance with Section 429.256, F.S., and Rule 59A-36.008, F.A.C., including:
  a. Assist with oral dosage forms, topical dosage forms, and topical ophthalmic, otic and nasal dosage forms;
  b. Measure liquid medications, break scored tablets, and crush tablets in accordance with prescription directions;
  c. Recognize the need to obtain clarification of an “as needed” prescription order;
  d. Recognize a medication order which requires judgment or discretion, and to advise the resident, resident’s health care provider or facility employer of inability to assist in the administration of such orders;
  e. Complete a medication observation record;
  f. Retrieve and store medication;
  g. Recognize the general signs of adverse reactions to medications and report such reactions;
  h. Assist residents with insulin syringes that are prefilled with the proper dosage by a pharmacist and insulin pens that are prefilled by the manufacturer by taking the medication, in its previously dispensed, properly labeled container, from where it is stored, and bringing it to the resident for self-injection;
  i. Assist with nebulizers;
  j. Use a glucometer to perform blood glucose testing;
  k. Assist residents with oxygen nasal cannulas and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, excluding the titration of the oxygen levels;
  l. Apply and remove anti-embolism stockings and hosiery;
  m. Placement and removal of colostomy bags, excluding the removal of the flange or manipulation of the stoma site; and,
  n. Measurement of blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, and respiratory rate.
3. (c) Unlicensed persons, as defined in Section 429.256(1)(b), F.S., who provide assistance with self-administered medications and have successfully completed the initial 6 hour training, must obtain, annually, a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education training on providing assistance with self-administered medications and safe medication practices in an assisted living facility. The 2 hours of continuing education training may be provided online.
4. (d) Trained unlicensed staff who, prior to the effective date of this rule, assist with the self-administration of medication and have successfully completed 4 hours of assistance with self-administration of medication training must complete an additional 2 hours of training that focuses on the topics listed in sub-subparagraphs (6)(b)2.h.-n. of this section, before assisting with the self-administration of medication procedures listed in sub-subparagraphs (6)(b)2.h.-n.
(7) NUTRITION AND FOOD SERVICE. The administrator or person designated by the administrator as responsible for the facility’s food service and the day-to-day supervision of food service staff must obtain, annually, a minimum of 2 hours continuing education in topics pertinent to nutrition and food service in an assisted living facility. This requirement does not apply to administrators and designees who are exempt from training requirements under paragraph 59A-36.012(1)(b), F.A.C. A certified food manager, licensed dietician, registered dietary technician or health department sanitarian is qualified to train assisted living facility staff in nutrition and food service.
(8) EXTENDED CONGREGATE CARE (ECC) TRAINING.
1. (a) The administrator and ECC supervisor, if different from the administrator, must complete core training and 4 hours of initial training in extended congregate care prior to the facility receiving its ECC license or within 3 months of beginning employment in a currently licensed ECC facility as an administrator or ECC supervisor. Successful completion of the assisted living facility core training shall be a prerequisite for this training. ECC supervisors who attended the assisted living facility core training prior to April 20, 1998, shall not be required to take the assisted living facility core training competency test.
2. (b) The administrator and the ECC supervisor, if different from the administrator, must complete a minimum of 4 hours of continuing education every two years in topics relating to the physical, psychological, or social needs of frail elderly and disabled persons, or persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders.
3. (c) All direct care staff providing care to residents in an ECC program must complete at least 2 hours of in-service training, provided by the facility administrator or ECC supervisor, within 6 months of beginning employment in the facility. The training must address ECC concepts and requirements, including statutory and rule requirements, and the delivery of personal care and supportive services in an ECC facility.
(9) LIMITED MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING.
1. (a) Pursuant to Section 429.075, F.S., the administrator, managers and staff, who have direct contact with mental health residents in a licensed limited mental health facility, must receive the following training:
  1. (I) Mental health needs, services, behaviors and appropriate interventions;
  2. (II) Resident progress in achieving treatment goals;
  3. (III) How to recognize changes in the resident’s status or condition that may affect other services received or may require intervention; and,
  4. (IV) Crisis services and the Baker Act procedures.
    3. For administrators and managers, the continuing education requirement under this subsection will satisfy 3 of the 12 hours of continuing education required biennially pursuant to Section 429.52(5), F.S., and subsection (1) of this rule.
    4. Administrators, managers and direct contact staff affected by the continuing education requirement under this subsection shall have up to 6 months after the effective date of this rule to meet the training requirement.
  1. A minimum of 6 hours of specialized training in working with individuals with mental health diagnoses.
  a. The training must be provided or approved by the Department of Children and Families and must be taken within 6 months of the facility’s receiving a limited mental health license or within 6 months of employment in a limited mental health facility.
  b. Training received under this subparagraph may count once for 6 of the 12 hours of continuing education required for administrators and managers pursuant to Section 429.52(5), F.S., and subsection (1) of this rule.
  2. A minimum of 3 hours of continuing education, which may be provided by the ALF administrator, online, or through distance learning, biennially thereafter in subjects dealing with one or more of the following topics:
  a. Mental health diagnoses; and,
  b. Mental health treatment such as:
2. (b) Administrators, managers and staff do not have to repeat the initial training should they change employers provided they present a copy of their training certificate to the current employer for retention in the facility’s personnel files. They must also ensure that copies of the continuing education training certificates, pursuant to subparagraph (9)(a)2. of this subsection, are retained in their personnel files.
(10) ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS (“ADRD”) TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. Facilities which advertise that they provide special care for persons with ADRD, or who maintain secured areas as described in Chapter 4, Section 464.4.6 of the Florida Building Code, as adopted in Rule 61G20-1.001, F.A.C., Florida Building Code Adopted, must ensure that facility staff receive training in accordance with Section 430.5025, Florida Statutes.
(11) DO NOT RESUSCITATE ORDERS TRAINING.
1. (a) Currently employed facility administrators, managers, direct care staff and staff involved in resident admissions must receive at least one hour of training in the facility’s policies and procedures regarding Do Not Resuscitate Orders.
2. (b) Newly hired facility administrators, managers, direct care staff and staff involved in resident admissions must receive at least one hour of training in the facility’s policy and procedures regarding DNROs within 30 days after employment.
3. (c) Training shall consist of the information included in Rule 59A-36.009, F.A.C.
(12) TRAINING DOCUMENTATION AND MONITORING.
1. (a) Except as otherwise noted, certificates, or copies of certificates, of any training required by this rule must be documented in the facility’s personnel files. The documentation must include the following:
  1. The title of the training program,
  2. The subject matter of the training program,
  3. The training program agenda,
  4. The number of hours of the training program,
  5. The trainee’s name, dates of participation, and location of the training program,
  6. The training provider’s name, dated signature and credentials, and professional license number, if applicable.
2. (b) Upon successful completion of training pursuant to this rule, the training provider must issue a certificate to the trainee as specified in this rule.
3. (c) The facility must provide the Department of Elder Affairs and the Agency for Health Care Administration with training documentation and training certificates for review, as requested. The department and agency reserve the right to attend and monitor all facility in-service training, which is intended to meet regulatory requirements.

Rulemaking Authority 429.178, 429.41, 429.52 FS. Law Implemented 429.07, 429.075, 429.178, 429.41, 429.52 FS. History–New 9-30-92, Formerly 10A-5.0191, Amended 10-30-95, 6-2-96, 4-20-98, 11-2-98, 10-17-99, 7-5-05, 7-30-06, 10-9-06, 7-1-08, 4-15-10, 5-10-18, Formerly 58A-5.0191, Amended 6-5-24.