(1) Specialty training refers to approved curricula that meets the requirements of RCW 18.20.270 and 70.128.230 to provide basic core knowledge and skills to effectively and safely provide care to residents living with mental illness, dementia, or developmental disabilities.

(2) Specialty training classes are different for each population served and are not interchangeable. Specialty training curriculum must be DSHS developed, as described in WAC 388-112A-0010(3), or DSHS approved.

(a) In order for DSHS to approve a curriculum as a specialty training class, the class must use the competencies and learning objectives in WAC 388-112A-0430, 388-112A-0440, or 388-112A-0450.

(i) Training entities that currently use classes approved as alternative curriculum for specialty training must update and submit their curricula for approval prior to June 30, 2018.

(ii) After July 1, 2018, training entities must not use classes approved as alternative curriculum for specialty training that are not using the competencies and learning objectives in WAC 388-112A-0430, 388-112A-0440, or 388-112A-0450 to meet the specialty training requirement.

(b) Curricula approved as specialty training may be integrated with basic training if the complete content of each training is included.

(3) Assisted living facility administrators or their designees, enhanced services facility administrators or their designees, adult family home applicants or providers, resident managers, and entity representatives who are affiliated with homes that service residents who have special needs, including developmental disabilities, dementia, or mental health, must take one or more of the following specialty training curricula:

(a) Developmental disabilities specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0420;

(b) Dementia specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0440;

(c) Mental health specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0450.

(4) All long-term care workers including those exempt from basic training who work in an assisted living facility, enhanced services facility, or adult family home who serve residents with the special needs described in subsection (3) of this section, must take a class approved as specialty training. The specialty training applies to the type of residents served by the home as follows:

(a) Developmental disabilities specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0420.

(b) Dementia specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0440; and

(c) Mental health specialty training as described in WAC 388-112A-0450.

(5) Specialty training may be used to meet the requirements for the basic training population specific component if completed within one hundred twenty days of the date of hire.

(6) For long-term care workers who have completed the seventy-five hour training and do not have a specialty training certificate that indicates completion and competency testing, the long-term care worker must complete specialty training when employed by the adult family home, enhanced services facility, or assisted living facility that serves residents with special needs.