Oct. 6 Deadline Reminder: Certification of Temporary Nurse Aides Under the Emergency Waiver

On April 7, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services announced that it would end the emergency blanket waiver allowing temporary nurse aides to work more than four months without certification on June 7.

This means that TNAs will have until Oct. 6 to successfully complete the required training and certification, regardless of the amount of time worked during the time the waiver was in effect. *See note below.

TNAs who want to use skilled nursing facility or nursing facility work training and experience gained during the COVID-19 public health emergency to count toward nurse aide certification must follow the process outlined in Provider Letter 2021-19 - Certification Process for Nurse Aides Training and Working Under a Waiver.

*Facilities or TNAs may ask CMS directly for a continuation of the waiver. A facility or TNA must have documentation that demonstrates their attempts to complete their training and testing (e.g., timely contacts to HHSC, multiple attempts to enroll in a program or test). See QSO 22-15-NH & NLTC & LSC and QSO-21-17-NH.

Use the following links to request a CMS waiver:

Email questions to LTCR Policy.