Section R4-19-806. Nursing Assistant and Medication Assistant Cer- tification by Examination

A.      An applicant for certification by examination shall submit the following to the Board:

1.        A verified application on a form furnished by the Board that provides the following information about the appli- cant:

a.         Full legal name and any and all former names used by the applicant;

b.        Current mailing address, including county of resi- dence, e-mail address and telephone number;

c.         Place and date of birth;

d.        Social Security number;

e.         Ethnic category and marital status at the applicant's discretion;

f.         Educational background, including the name of the training program attended, and date of graduation and for medication assistant, proof of high school or equivalent education completion as required in A.R.S. § 32-1650-02(A)(4);

g.        Current employer, including address and telephone number, type of position, and dates of employment, if employed in health care;

h.        A list of all states in which the applicant is or has been registered as a nursing assistant or medication assistant and the certificate number, if any;

i.         For medication assistant, proof of CNA certification and 960 hours or 6 months full time employment as a CNA in the past year, as required in A.R.S. § 32- 1650.02;

j.         Responses to questions regarding the applicant’s background on the following subjects:

i.         Current investigation or pending disciplinary action by a nursing, nursing assistant or medi- cation assistant regulatory agency in the United States or its territories;

ii.        Action taken on a nursing assistant or medica- tion assistant license, certification or registry designation in any other state;

iii.      Felony conviction or conviction of an undesig- nated or other similar offense and the date of absolute discharge of sentence;

iv.       Unprofessional conduct as defined in A.R.S. § 32-1601;

v.        Explanation and supporting documentation for each affirmative answer to questions regarding the applicant’s background;

2.        Proof of satisfactory completion of a nursing assistant or medication assistant training program that meets the requirements of this Article;

3.        Proof of United States citizenship or alien status as speci- fied in A.R.S. § 41-1080;

4.        For CNA applicants, one or more fingerprint cards or fin- gerprints, if required by A.R.S. § 32-1606(B)(16);

5.        For CMA applicants, one or more fingerprint cards or fin- gerprints, as required by A.R.S. § 32-1606(B)(15) if a fin- gerprint background report has not been received by the Board in the past two years; and

6.        Applicable fees under A.R.S. § 32-1643 and R4-19-808.

B.       An applicant for certification as a nursing assistant shall sub- mit a passing score on a Board-approved nursing assistant examination and provide one of the following criteria:

1.        Proof that the applicant has completed a Board-approved nursing assistant training program within the past two years:

2.        Proof that the applicant has completed a nursing assistant training program approved in another state or territory of the United States consisting of at least 120 hours within the past two years;

3.        Proof that the applicant has completed a nursing assistant program approved  in another state or territory of  the United States of at least 75 hours of instruction in the past two years and proof of working as a nursing assistant for an additional number of hours in the past two years that

together with the hours of instruction, equal at least 120 hours;

4.        Proof that the applicant either holds a nursing license in good standing in the U.S. or territories, has graduated from an approved nursing program, or otherwise meets educational requirements for a registered or practical nursing license in Arizona;

5.        Documentation sent directly from the program that the applicant successfully completed a nursing course or courses as part of an RN or LPN program approved in either this or another state in the last 2 years that included:

a.         Didactic content regarding long-term care clients; and

b.        Forty hours of instructor-supervised direct patient care in a long-term care or comparable facility; or

6.        Documentation of a minimum of 100 hours of military health care training, as evidenced by military records, and proof of working in health care within the past 2 years.

C.      An applicant for medication assistant shall meet the qualifica- tions of A.R.S. §§ 32-1650.02 and 32-1650.03. An applicant who wishes to use part of a nursing program in lieu of comple- tion of a Board approved medication assistant training pro- gram under A.R.S. § 32-1650.02 shall submit the following:

1.        An official transcript from a Board approved nursing pro- gram showing a grade of C or higher in a 45 hour or 3 semester credit, or equivalent, pharmacology course; and

2.        A document signed by both the applicant’s clinical instructor and the nursing program administrator verify- ing that the applicant completed 40 hours of supervised medication administration in a long-term care facility.

D.      Certifying Exam

1.        A CNA applicant shall take and pass both portions of the certifying exam within 2 years:

a.         Of program completion for graduates of nursing assistant programs approved in Arizona or another state, or

b.        Of the date of the first test for all other applicants.

2.        A CMA applicant shall take and pass both portions of the certifying exam within one year:

a.         Of program completion for graduates of Board- approved programs, or

b.        Of the date of the first test for all other applicants.

3.        An applicant may re-take the failed portion or portions of a certifying exam, under conditions prescribed in written policy by the exam vendor, until a passing score is achieved or their time expires under subsections (D)(1) or (2).

E.       An applicant who does not take or pass an examination within the time period specified in subsection (D) shall enroll in and successfully complete a Board approved training program in the certification category before being permitted to retake an examination.

F.       The Board may certify an applicant who meets the applicable criteria in this Article and A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 15 if certi- fication is in the best interest of the public. A CNA who quali- fies for a CMA certificate shall be issued a combined CNA- CMA certificate.

G.      An applicant who is denied certification may request a hearing by filing a written request with the Board within 30 days of service of the Board's order denying the application for certifi- cation. Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, Article 10 and 4 A.A.C. 19, Article 6.

H.      Medication assistant certification expires when nursing assis- tant certification expires. CMA applicants whose nursing assistant certification will expire within 12 months of initial

issuance, shall pay a prorated fee for medication assistant cer- tification.

Historical Note

New Section adopted by final rulemaking at 6 A.A.R. 757, effective February 4, 2000 (Supp. 00-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 4254, effective Decem- ber 5, 2005 (Supp. 05-4). Amended by final rulemaking

at 20 A.A.R. 1859, effective September 8, 2014 (Supp.

14-3).