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    Career and Technical Education

    Guidelines for Attaining Approval Status As An Instructor For Nurse Aide Training In Pennsylvania

    Effective July 1, 2022

    1. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987,  42 CFR 483.152(a)(5)(i), requires that training in a nurse aide training and competency evaluation program (NATCEP) must be performed by or under the general supervision of a registered nurse (RN) with a minimum of two years’ nursing experience and at least one year of which must be in the provision of long-term care facility1 services.

      Each PDE-approved NATCEP must employ at least one individual who is an RN and meets these qualifications. This qualified individual may serve as either the NATCEP instructor who performs all or most of the training, or as the RN supervisor who generally supervises2 the training of nurse aide students and is available to offer instruction.

      If a NATCEP chooses to structure its training program with an RN supervisor, an RN or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) instructor may perform all or most of the training of nurse aide students.

    2. All instructors must have an unrestricted license.3

    3. All instructors must maintain evidence of an acceptable PA Criminal History Record Information Report according to Act 13 of 1997.

    4. All instructors must maintain evidence of a negative test for tuberculosis according to the policy of the nursing facility where students complete their clinical experience.

    5. All instructors must submit a resume that shows:

      a. Nursing experience in meeting resident’s psychosocial, behavioral, cognitive, and physical needs to include direct care, supervision, and/or education.

      b. Minimum two years’ experience as an RN or LPN that includes at least one year or 12 months of employment in a long-term care facility.

      c. All state-approved NATCEP instructors must complete the Teaching-the-Educator(TTE) workshop offered through Pennsylvania State University.

      Nurses who possess a current teaching certificate issued by PDE or evidence of being an instructor in an approved practical nursing program or a professional school of nursing may be permitted to attend only the days when the rules and regulations pertaining to nurse aide training in Pennsylvania are presented. This option only applies if a verification of teaching form is first submitted to and approved by PDE.

    6. Due to secondary teacher certification requirements, all NATCEP instructors in a high school setting must be qualified under both the OBRA regulations and CTE teacher requirements to teach any portion of NATCEP hours offered to high school students that count as part of their secondary instructional time.

    7. All LPN instructors must work under an RN supervisor. 

    8. All NATCEP must provide the state-approved nurse aide training curriculum.

      RN Supervisor Guidelines

    9. The RN supervisor must meet the following criteria:

      a. RN supervisor must fulfill the same requirements as the RN instructor and be PDE approved.

      b. RN supervisor must be available where NATCEP instruction is taking place and be prepared to provide instruction for the whole or any part of the NATCEP, if necessary.

      c. RN supervisor must be permitted to cease nursing duties when NATCEP instruction is taking place should the instructor require assistance.

      d. RN supervisor is responsible to sign and date the Performance Checklist to verify students were taught and demonstrated proficiency in the knowledge and skills required by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA), also known as the Nursing Reform Act of 1987, and Pennsylvania Act 14 of 1997.

      NOTE: A Director of Nursing (DON) may coordinate a nurse aide training program; however, the DON may not participate in instructing a class while also functioning as the DON.

      Resource Instructor Guidelines

    10. A resource instructor4 provides supplemental instruction on a specific topic included in the state-approved nurse aide training curriculum under the supervision of the RN or LPN instructor or RN supervisor. A resource instructor must have at least one year of experience in their field of expertise. See 42 C.F.R. 483.152(a)(5)(iv). A resource instructor serves a role similar to guest speaker and is not responsible to sign off, evaluate, grade, or maintain any records related to any aspect of the NATCEP.

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    1 A long-term care facility is an institution licensed by the Department of Health as a long-term care facility. This includes a distinct unit of a hospital that possesses a separate license by the Department of Health (transitional care or skilled care unit) and geriatric units at a Veterans Administration institution. This does not include the following: institutions that provide care for the chronically disabled or mentally challenged, geriatric psychiatry, hospice care, home care, and general medical units in a hospital.

    2 Supervision means the action or state of overseeing a person, group of people, project, task or other activity, and checking that work is being completed correctly or that everything is as it should be.

    3 No practice limitation imposed on the professional Pennsylvania license. 

    4 Other categories of professionals, such as pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, and sanitarians, may supplement the instruction as limited content specialists but may only provide instruction limited to their specialized area and must have at least one year of experience in their fields. See 42 C.F.R. 483.152(a)(5)(iv).