(1) The department determines a long-term care worker's date of hire under RCW 18.88B.021(1) by one of the following, whichever occurs first:

(a) The initial service begin date when hired as an individual provider;

(b) The date of hire when the individual was paid to provide personal care by a home care agency; or

(c) The date of hire when the individual was paid to provide personal care by a home licensed by the state.

(2) The date of hire is specific to each long-term care worker. It does not change when a long-term care worker changes clients or employers unless the long-term care worker meets the criteria in WAC 388-112A-0110.

(3) This section does not apply to background check requirements under this chapter.