(1) The continuing education training requirements that apply to certain individuals working in adult family homes are described below.

(a) The following long-term care workers must complete 12 hours of continuing education by their birthday each year:

(i) A certified home care aide;

(ii) A long-term care worker who is exempt from the 70-hour home care aide basic training under WAC 388-112A-0090 (1) and (2);

(iii) A certified nursing assistant, and a person with special education training and an endorsement granted by the Washington state office of superintendent of public instruction, as described in RCW 28A.300.010; and

(iv) An adult family home provider, entity representative, and resident manager as provided under WAC 388-112A-0050.

(b) A long-term care worker who is a certified home care aide, must comply with continuing education requirements under chapter 246-980 WAC.

(c) The continuing education requirements of this section do not apply to a registered nurse, a licensed practical nurse, and an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed under chapter 18.79 RCW, even if voluntarily certified as a home care aide under chapter 18.88B RCW.

(d) If exempt from certification under RCW 18.88B.041, a long-term care worker must complete 12 hours of continuing education within 45 calendar days of being hired by the adult family home or by the long-term care worker's birthday in the calendar year hired, whichever is later; and

(i) Must complete 12 hours of continuing education by the long-term care worker's birthday each calendar year worked thereafter; or

(ii) If the 45 calendar day time period allows the long-term care worker to complete continuing education in January or February of the following year, the hours of credit earned will be applied to the calendar year in which the long-term care worker was hired.

(e) If the birthday following initial certification as a home care aide or nursing assistant (NA-C) is less than a full year from the date of certification, no continuing education will be due for the first renewal period.

(f) A long-term care worker who completed basic or modified basic training after June 30, 2005, is not required to have a food handler's permit. For a long-term care worker who completed basic or modified basic caregiver training before June 30, 2005, and does not maintain a food handler's permit, continuing education must include one half hour per year on safe food handling in adult family homes as described in RCW 70.128.250.

(2) A long-term care worker who does not complete continuing education as required under this chapter must not provide care until the required continuing education is completed.