What is an Alternative “Bridge” Training Program?
An alternative ‘bridge’ nursing assistant training program is a way for home care aides-certified (HCA) and medical assistants-certified (MA) to become nursing assistants-certified (NAC) through 24 hours of further training. This training builds on skills that an HCA or MA already has. There are differences in program curriculum between HCAs and MAs, but after passing an alternative program, both can test to become a NAC.
Washington Administrative Code (WAC) provides more explanation of nursing assistant alternative programs.
Definitions:
Home care aide-certified means any person certified under chapter
18.88B RCW.
Medical assistant-certified means a person certified by a medical assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the American Association of Medical Assistants and the American Medical Association.
Nursing assistant-certified means any person certified under chapter
18.88A RCW.
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