(FAQ)Frequently Asked Questions

1. What types of background checks are required for nurse aide training?

A PA State Police Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) report is required for all nurse aides who have been PA residents for at least two consecutive years and a PA-CHRI and FBI report for students who have not resided in Pennsylvania for the last two (2) consecutive years. All reports must be submitted PRIOR to enrollment in a training class.

2. Can a nurse aide work for any period of time while awaiting a criminal background check clearance?

In-state residents may work for thirty (30) days while awaiting PA background clearance but may not enter a training class until the background check is completed. 

Out-of-state residents may work for ninety (90) days while awaiting an FBI background clearance but may not enter a training class until all background checks are completed. 

3. What are the requirements for renewal of a nurse aide registry?

A nurse aide must work as a nurse aide for a minimum of one documented day (i.e. 8 consecutive hours) for pay in an approved facility type during each twenty-four (24)-month period covered by the registry.

4. How many hours of training are required for eligibility to take the competency exam?

Pennsylvania is an 80-hour state of which 37.5 hours must be supervised clinical experience.

5. How much can a nurse aide be charged for nurse aide training and competency evaluation program?

• Nothing if employed or has an offer of employment on start date of program.
• If a nurse aide gains employment or offer of employment within twelve (12) months of completing a program, the nursing facility must reimburse on a pro-rated basis for the period the individual is employed as a nurse aide.

6. How long can a nurse aide work in a facility prior to enrollment on the nurse aide registry?

A nurse aide may work for four (4) months or one twenty (120) days while participating in a nurse aide training and/or competency evaluation program.

7. What is considered an acceptable work setting for renewal of my nurse aide registry?

Employment of at least one documented day (i.e. 8 consecutive hours) for pay in nursing homes, personal care homes, hospitals, nursing agencies or intermediate care facilities are appropriate for renewal. Private duty, self-employment, and employment in doctor’s offices is not sufficient for renewal credit.

8. If I was annotated on the Registry, how can I be reinstated?

Only those annotated for “neglect” may request reinstatement considerations after one (1) full year from the date of annotation on the Registry. The only other consideration will be given to those that a court of law overturned the Department’s decision.

9. How do I bring my registry up to date if I lapsed?

Nurse aides have one opportunity to re-test to update a lapsed registry or they may provide proof of employment for pay of at least one documented day (i.e. 8 consecutive hours) during each 24-month registry period. If you are lapsed on another state registry, you have to be updated on your original state registry to be eligible for reciprocity.

10. What duties fall under a nurse aide’s scope of practice?

Nurse aides do not have a formal “scope of practice”; however, they should only be performing those duties learned during their NA training & testing program. Duties covered under a “professional scope of practice” should only be performed by a licensed professional in that respective field.

11. How many training hours must I have annually to renew my registry?

There are no “training requirements” to renew your registry. Rather, the nursing homes administration is required to provide nurse aides a minimum of twelve (12) hours of in-service education each year based on the results of yearly performance evaluations.

12. What yearly training topics must be provided to nurse aides?

Nursing home administrations must conduct yearly in-service training on the following topics: Infection Prevention and Control, Fire Prevention & Safety, Accident Prevention, Disaster Preparedness, Resident Confidential Information, Resident Psychosocial Needs, Restorative Nursing Techniques, Resident Rights, including Property Rights, Privacy, Preservation of Dignity, Abuse Prevention, Reporting of Resident Abuse. This list of required topics may be accessed via the following link: http://www.pacode.com/secure/

13. If a nurse aide was annotated in another state, can she or he work in Pennsylvania?

• Facilities are required to verify that nurse aides are in good standing on all other state registries prior to allowing them to work in that capacity.

14. How do I obtain a copy of the Nurse Aide Registry list?

Send a request for the information to: 

Credentia Nurse Aide Operations 

Attn: PA Program Manager 

3 Bala Plaza West – Suite 300 

Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 or call 800-852-0518. 

The list will be sent electronically. 

15. I was sent home because an allegation of abuse, neglect or misappropriation of property was made against me. What does this mean?

Any time an allegation of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of resident property is made, the facility is legally responsible to investigate and take whatever personnel action they deem necessary consistent with their local policy. However, only the Department of Health can take action against the nurse aide’s Registry; therefore, the facility investigation must be forwarded to the DOH for review and action as appropriate. If the DOH initiates action, an Order to Show Cause will be issued. An Annotation Letter will be sent after due process is provided and a final decision made. If no action is taken, the nurse aide remains in good standing on the Registry and prospective employers will see nothing more than that when reviewing your Registry status.

16. I have a prior conviction on record. Will it prevent me from being able to work in nursing homes?

No. At this time, the prohibitive list does not prevent a nurse aide from being employed at a nursing home. Employment in a nursing home with a criminal conviction would be up to the facility and their policy. Nursing homes are mandated by Federal Regulations to complete pre-employment background checks.

17. Does it make a difference re: reimbursement if a facility is Medicare/ Medicaid/ or dually certified?

The Registry regulations clearly specify that a nurse aide is not to bear the expense of NATCEP participation if employment requirements are met.

18. If I completed NATCEP training but failed the test three (3) times, can I retrain and test again?

If an individual fails the state competency examination three times, they may re-train and have another three opportunities. Some facilities will re-train if the individual is a good employee. However, the individual may re-train at any approved program.

19. If I worked in a facility 60 days while in a NATCEP program and got fired, how many days can I work in another facility while working toward Registry status?

Nurse aide trainees have two (2) years after completion of nurse aide training to take the state competency examination. The 120 days start over every time the nurse aide trainee changes employers.

20. I have been on active duty in the military and have not been able to work the required eight (8) consecutive hours for pay during the two-year registration period. Will my military service count for renewal?

Service in the military may count if you performed the duties inherent in the intent of the regulation. For military service time to count toward renewal, you must have performed duties associated with helping a care dependent population with activities of daily living in a supervised setting. This must be able to be officially verified in writing through your Commanding Officer.

21. My address changed and I did not receive my renewal application through the mail. Can I still renew my registration on-line?

If your registration has not yet lapsed, you may contact (800) 852- 0518 and request a renewal application be re-mailed to your new address. You may then use the log-in information to update your registry on-line. However, if your registration has already lapsed, you will not be able to renew on-line.

22. How do I decide which written/oral exam to take?

An Oral Examination in English or Spanish may be substituted for the Written examination if you have difficulty reading English. It contains ten (10) reading comprehension questions in which you must identify job-related words.