Nursing Assistant Registry

The Nursing Assistant Registry lists nursing assistants who have met Minnesota training and/or testing standards to work in nursing homes and certified boarding care homes. The registry also has information about nursing assistants who have substantiated findings of abuse, neglect, and theft.

This is an online registry. Nursing assistants, employers, and others can check the registry by using MDH's online system and the nursing assistant's certificate number.

Announcements

January 20,2023: Nurse Aide Competency Skills Test-Focused Training recording now available.

MDH and D&SDT Headmaster hosted training sessions in December 2022 for RN Test Observers and test site coordinators focused on the following topics:

• Positioning skills documentation
• Dressing resident with affected (weak) side documentation
• Completion and transmission of recording forms
• Challenge candidate best practices
• Closing test events

Slides for the presentation and a recording are available at the links below, and will be available on the Nursing Assistant Registry Calls page until April 2023.

• 2022-12-13 Nurse Aide Competency Skills Test-Focused Training (PDF)
• Nurse Aide Competency Skills Exam-Focused Training (YouTube 54:48)

December 9, 2022: Test Advisory Panel review of Nurse Aide Competency Test questions complete; Updated test questions will be used beginning Jan. 2, 2023

Earlier this month, MDH convened a group of experts, called a Test Advisory Panel (TAP), which included a diversified group of nurse aide instructors, nurse aides, long-term care leadership professionals, and individuals with academic and content area expertise.

The goal of the TAP process was to develop a customized test that aligns with Minnesota approved Nurse Aide/Certified Nurse Aide curriculums and Nurse Aide Training Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) practices, while meeting all State and Federal regulations. In addition, we want to ensure the test provides a fair and balanced assessment of knowledge and skills for all learners. The TAP process was a success and upcoming changes reflecting the TAP process will be updated in the candidate handbook and finally the nurse aide competency test.

The Candidate Handbook was updated to align with the revised nurse aide competency test as an outcome of the TAP process. The new nurse aide competency test will begin on Jan. 2, 2023.

November 2, 2022: CMS 1135 waiver extended to April 5, 2023, or end of public health emergency, whichever comes first; nurse aides have 4 months from waiver expiration to be added to the Nurse Aide Registry

MDH received an extension for the Federal Emergency 1135 Regulatory Waiver of Training and Certification of Nurse Aides (referred to as the CMS 1135 Waiver), which allows nurse aides who are not yet registered on the Nurse Aide Registry to work in skilled nursing facilities during the public health emergency. The CMS 1135 Waiver has been extended to April 5, 2023, or the end of the public health emergency, whichever comes first.

Per CFR § 483.35 (d), nurse aides have four (4) months to meet the training requirements once the waiver expires, which means that nurse aides need to be on the registry by August 5, 2023, or four months after the public health emergency is over, whichever comes first.

Nurse aides who are not currently on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry must pass the competency evaluations and be added to the Registry before the waiver ends. There are three options available:

• Get credit towards your training for the time you’ve worked: Have your employer complete the Skills Checklist for Nurse Aides Working under the 1135 Waiver and pass the competency evaluation.
• Challenge the Exam: Register for and pass the competency exam.
• Complete a Training Program: Nurse aides can work at a nursing home while they are completing their Nurse Aid Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) training. Enroll in and complete a NATCEP training program and pass the competency evaluation.

More information about the options available and questions related to testing for these individuals can be found in the following documents:

• Placement on Minnesota’s Nurse Aide Registry for Nurse Aides Working during the 1135 Waiver (PDF)
• Nurse Aides Working Under 1135 Waiver during a Public Health Emergency (PDF)
• CMS 1135 Nurse Aide Training Waiver Expiration FAQ (PDF)