(1) The *commission shall adopt criteria for evaluating an applicant's alternative training to determine the applicant's eligibility to take the competency evaluation for nursing assistant certification. At least one option adopted by the *commission must allow an applicant to take the competency evaluation if he or she:
(a)(i) Is a certified home care aide pursuant to chapter
18.88B RCW; or
(ii) Is a certified medical assistant pursuant to a certification program accredited by a national medical assistant accreditation organization and approved by the *commission; and
(b) Has successfully completed at least twenty-four hours of training that the *commission determines is necessary to provide training equivalent to approved training on topics not addressed in the training specified for certification as a home care aide or medical assistant, as applicable. In the *commission's discretion, a portion of these hours may include clinical training.
(2)(a) The *commission, in consultation with the secretary, the department of social and health services, and consumer, employer, and worker representatives, shall adopt rules to implement this section and to provide for a program of credentialing reciprocity to the extent required by this section between home care aide and medical assistant certification and nursing assistant certification. The secretary shall also adopt such rules as may be necessary to implement this section and the credentialing reciprocity program.
(b) Rules adopted under this section must be consistent with requirements under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395i-3(e) and (f) of the federal social security act relating to state-approved competency evaluation programs for certified nurse aides.
(3) The secretary, in consultation with the *commission, shall report annually by December 1st to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature on the progress made in achieving career advancement for certified home care aides and medical assistants into nursing practice.