(1) The department finds that direct support professionals employed during the COVID-19 pandemic between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021, required emergent and intensive on-the-job training. Direct support professionals received critical, ongoing training in such topics as:

(a) Donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE);

(b) Hand hygiene;

(c) Disinfection of high-touch surfaces;

(d) Managing visitations and physical distancing;

(e) Responding to newly infected residents;

(f) Promotion of vaccination;

(g) Protocols for quarantine;

(h) Use of cloth face coverings;

(i) Personal protection outside of the work environment; and

(j) How to reduce exposure and spread.

(2) This on-the-job training was required of all service providers under WAC 388-829-0005. Instruction included infection control and the availability and distribution of personal protective equipment. Recognition of this training as a valid learning experience, in its various forms, was agreed upon with input from consumer and worker representatives, as the content was based on guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other federal, state, and local health care authorities.

(3) During this time, direct support professionals required ongoing critical training because guidance from the CDC, department of labor and industries, and other health authorities changed as more was learned about the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The department finds that this unprecedented on-the-job training comprised of at least 12 hours of continuing education between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021, and that this training:

(a) Is not considered to be repeated training as described in WAC 388-829-0100; and

(b) Satisfies the 12 hours of annual continuing education training.

(4) The direct support professional may apply the 12 hours of on-the-job training towards continuing education for either 2020 or 2021. The hours must be applied no later than December 31, 2021.

(5) All direct support professionals employed during the dates in subsection (3) of this section are granted 12 hours of DSHS-approved continuing education credit for the training entitled "COVID-19 On-The-Job Training Protocols," bearing the DSHS approval code CE2135218. No physical certificate for this training will be issued or required.

(6) The department recognizes that direct support professionals may not have completed training hours in excess of the 12 hours of CE granted in subsection (4) of this section due to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

(a) All direct support professionals have until August 31, 2023, to complete any additional CE that may have become due between January 1, 2020, and February 28, 2023, in excess of the 12 hours of CE granted in subsection (4) of this section.

(b) For an employee required to complete training by their birthday under WAC 388-829-0085 (1)(b), the employee has until August 31, 2023, to complete any additional CE that may have become due between January 1, 2020, and February 28, 2023, in excess of the 12 hours of CE granted in subsection (4) of this section.