Frequently Asked Questions
Below you’ll find answers to our most frequently asked questions about training, Continuing Education (CE), and qualifications.
For definitions to common terms, please review our terms and definitions page.
What training do I need and where do I take it?
There are different types of IPs and different levels of training required for each.
Learning RequirementsFind your Provider Type to see what training is required. If you work for more than one employer and/or have multiple clients, you may have different training standards than indicated by the chart. A provider may fall into more than one category. They must meet the higher requirements for training and certification. | |||||
| Orientation & Safety (Complete prior to providing care) | HCA Exam and Certification (Complete 14 days from the date you are hired) | Basic Training (Complete by your training deadline) | HCA Exam and Certification (Complete by your exam date deadline) | Continuing Education (12 hours required annually) | |
| Standard Home Care Aide (HCA) Caregivers who take care of clients, part- or full-time. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ 70 hours | ✔ | ✔ |
| Adult Child Provider Caregivers who are taking care of a parent or step-parent. | ✔ | ✔ 30 hours | ✔ | ||
| Limited Service Provider Caregivers who work fewer than 20 hours a month. | ✔ | ✔ 30 hours | |||
| Family Provider Caregivers caring only for a child, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, grandchild or grandparent, including relations by marriage or domestic partnership. Includes caregivers formerly called Parent Individual Providers (Non-DDA). | ✔ | ✔ 30 hours | |||
| Parent Individual Provider (DDA) Parents who take care of their child with a developmental disability. | ✔ | ✔ 7 hours | |||
| Respite Provider Takes care of another caregiver’s clients or family members for a short period of time (less than 300 hours per year). | ✔ | ✔ 9 hours | |||
| If you have a Nursing Assistant-Certified credential (NAC), the chart below applies. (Does not include LPNs, RNs, or ARNPs) | |||||
| Providers with a NAC or Special Education Endorsem*nt (OSPI) | ✔ | ||||
| Providers with an initial NAC or Special Education Endorsem*nts (OSPI) | ✔ | ||||
Training is completed through SEIU 775 Benefits Group. See the SEIU 775 Benefits Group website for more information. If you have specific questions about the training, please call the SEIU 775 Member Resource Center (MRC) at 1-866-371-3200 or email mrc@myseiubenefits.org.
How often do I have to retake the required trainings?
Orientation and Safety, and Basic Training, are completed once. You do not have to take them again. Any required Continuing Education (CE) is due every year by your birthday.
Do I have to take Continuing Education? When is it due?
Learning RequirementsFind your Provider Type to see what training is required. If you work for more than one employer and/or have multiple clients, you may have different training standards than indicated by the chart. A provider may fall into more than one category. They must meet the higher requirements for training and certification. | |||||
| Orientation & Safety (Complete prior to providing care) | HCA Exam and Certification (Complete 14 days from the date you are hired) | Basic Training (Complete by your training deadline) | HCA Exam and Certification (Complete by your exam date deadline) | Continuing Education (12 hours required annually) | |
| Standard Home Care Aide (HCA) Caregivers who take care of clients, part- or full-time. | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ 70 hours | ✔ | ✔ |
| Adult Child Provider Caregivers who are taking care of a parent or step-parent. | ✔ | ✔ 30 hours | ✔ | ||
| Limited Service Provider Caregivers who work fewer than 20 hours a month. | ✔ | ✔ 30 hours | |||
| Family Provider Caregivers caring only for a child, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, grandchild or grandparent, including relations by marriage or domestic partnership. Includes caregivers formerly called Parent Individual Providers (Non-DDA). | ✔ | ✔ 30 hours | |||
| Parent Individual Provider (DDA) Parents who take care of their child with a developmental disability. | ✔ | ✔ 7 hours | |||
| Respite Provider Takes care of another caregiver’s clients or family members for a short period of time (less than 300 hours per year). | ✔ | ✔ 9 hours | |||
| If you have a Nursing Assistant-Certified credential (NAC), the chart below applies. (Does not include LPNs, RNs, or ARNPs) | |||||
| Providers with a NAC or Special Education Endorsem*nt (OSPI) | ✔ | ||||
| Providers with an initial NAC or Special Education Endorsem*nts (OSPI) | ✔ | ||||
How do I find my training or credential information?
On the DirectMyCare web portal.
Step 1: Sign in to your DirectMyCare web portal account.
Step 2: Click your name in the upper right-hand corner to go to your profile.
Step 3: Click the Qualifications button on the home page.
Step 4: A pop-up box will be displayed. This will show what training and qualifications you have and the expiration date.
It is your responsibility to ensure all training and credentialing requirements are completed by the expiration date. CDWA will send out reminders using notifications in the DirectMyCare web portal.
I have a training or credential that I do not see listed in the DirectMyCare web portal. Why?
Is there an advance arrow on the bottom of your Qualifications screen? If so, please be sure to click the arrow to go to the next page.
If you still do not see the training or credential, please follow the Training/Credential Correction Request instructions to submit the request in Workday.
My expiration date says that it expires on 06/06/2079 or 12/31/2078. Do I need to update anything?
No. DirectMyCare uses these dates for items that do not have an expiration date. At this time, the system requires a date instead of using N/A.
How long do I have to complete my Basic Training requirement?
You have 120 days from the Okay to Provide Care date sent by CDWA.
Can I still get paid if I miss my training deadline?
You will not be paid for work as an IP if you miss your training deadline. You can start getting paid again once you are in compliance with your training. We will not pay for any work performed while you were out of compliance.
What is the qualification ‘I-9 Verified?’
This is an internal CDWA validation. This is the date that CDWA verified your federal I-9 form during hiring tasks. You do not have to do anything with this.
Why do I have a training requirement?
Washington state regulation (RCW 74.39A.074) requires that IPs undergo specific training. The training requirements are based on the services and needs of the Client(s) who you provide services for. CDWA is invested in providing the highest quality care. Ensuring our IPs meet training regulations is a priority.
I need my OCA number for my Home Care Aide (HCA) credential application. Where can I find this?
If you completed a fingerprint check while working for CDWA, you can find the number by following the steps below.
Step 1: Sign in to your DirectMyCare web portal account.
Step 2: Click on the Workday button.
Step 3: Click View All Apps.
Step 4: Click Personal Information.
Step 5: Click Worker Documents.
Step 6: Open your background check results document to find the OCA number.
My home care aide (HCA) credential is expired. What do I need to do to renew it?
Your credential expiration date determines what you need to do to meet your HCA credential or qualifying equivalent requirement. Please review the table below.
Need to find your credential expiration date? Use the DOH Provider Credential Search tool. Be sure to click Exact when searching by name.
| HCA Status | What You Need to Do |
| No credential | Get HCA credential or qualifying equivalent by your credential deadline. |
| Expired credential –lessthan 6 months | Renew HCA credential by your credential deadline.
|
| Expired credential –morethan 6 months butlessthan 2 years | No action required. From September 1, 2023 through July 1, 2025, your HCA credential will automatically renew.
|
| Expired credential –morethan 2 years butlessthan 5 years | Renew HCA credential by your credential deadline.
|
| Expired credential –morethan 5 years | Renew HCA credential by your credential deadline.
|
Will my HCA credential automatically renew?
From September 1, 2023 through July 1, 2025, if the IP’s HCA credential has been expired for more than six months but less than two years, it will automatically renew with no fee, forms to complete, or continuing education requirements.
Does my family relationship qualify for an exemption from home care aide (HCA) requirements?
Effective July 23, 2023, House Bill 1694 added Client/IP relationships that are exempt from the certified home care aide requirement. The rule also changes the Basic Training requirement for IPs who qualify for the exemption.
The exemption applies to IPs caring for:
• Child (biological, step or adoptive)
• Parent (biological, step or adoptive)
• Registered Domestic Partner (serving in the Veteran Directed Program)
• Sibling (including when related by marriage or domestic partnership)
• Spouse (serving in the Veteran Directed Program)
• Aunt or Uncle (including when related by marriage or domestic partnership)
• Niece or Nephew (including when related by marriage or domestic partnership)
• Cousin (including when related by marriage or domestic partnership)
• Grandparent (including when related by marriage or domestic partnership)
• Grandchild (including when related by marriage or domestic partnership)
I changed employers or returned to a prior employer. Does that impact my credential deadline?
Yes. IPs will be issued a new hire date when they change employers or return to a previous employer following a break in employment. They will have 200 days to get or renew their credential from the Okay to Provide Care date. They will have 120 days from the Okay to Provide Care date to complete their Basic Training, if needed.
I’m not required to take Continuing Education or Basic Training. If I take it, can I get paid for the training time?
No. CDWA does not pay for training that is not required or part of an optional advanced training program.
