The commission intends to establish criteria for an alternative program for home care aid-certified and medical assistant-certified that will provide continued opportunity for recruitment and career advancement in nursing, recognize relevant training, and maintain a single standard for competency.

The alternative program is intended to provide twenty-four hours of additional training, including clinical training, on topics not addressed in the specified training for certification as a home care aide or medical assistant, that will meet the requirements necessary to take the nursing assistant-certified competency evaluation.

Successful completion of an approved alternative program may allow the home care aide-certified and medical assistant-certified to meet requirements to complete a competency evaluation. Successful completion of the competency evaluation may allow an applicant who is a home care aide-certified or medical assistant-certified to become a nursing assistant-certified. The nursing assistant-certified credential may then qualify an individual for entry into a nursing program.