Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry and Competency Testing Services Update

PDF Version of BQA 011 (PDF, 20 KB)

Date: July 14, 2003 -- BQA Memo 03-011

To: Home Health Agencies HHA - 04, ICF/MRs  ICF/MR ( FDD) - 04, Hospices  HSPCE - 06, Nurse Aide Training Programs - NATP 03, Hospitals HOSP - 07, Nursing Homes NH - 06

FROM: Donna Cochems, Chief, Caregiver Regulation & Investigation Section

cc: Susan Schroeder, Director, Bureau of Quality Assurance

The Department has received numerous questions about the status of the nurse aide testing and Registry services, currently provided by Promissor, Inc. (exit DHFS). These questions may be based on a recent proposal by the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) to provide nurse aide testing services to all candidates statewide. Under the proposal, the technical college system will replace Promissor as the single statewide tester. However, Promissor would retain the administration and maintenance of the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry.

The Department is currently working with both Promissor and WTCS to review and modify the process. When appropriate, the Department will announce any changes in the process. In the meantime, training programs and nurse aide candidates must continue to follow the present competency testing process with Promissor and the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Testing Service (WNATS).

Based on queries to the Department, several facts are listed below. Please share this clarification with current nurse aide students or any other person who needs to test in Wisconsin.

• Continue to submit applications for nurse aide testing to the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Testing Service (WNATS). Please call WNATS toll-free at (877) 290-3499.

• Recent graduates of a nurse aide training program should continue to register with WNATS to be tested. Nurse aide candidates must test within 120 days of training. Postponing the test in order to test with the technical college may result in expired eligibility to test.

• Students who already have a test date with Promissor should attend that testing session. Cancellation of the test may result in a loss of application fee, as well as expired eligibility to test.

• Individuals, that have successfully passed the current test, administered by Promissor, will remain on the Registry. There will be no requirement to take a different test.

If you have further questions at this time, please contact Susan Larsen, Supervisor of the Caregiver Regulation Unit at (608) 243-2084 or Cindy Geist, Nurse Consultant at (608) 243-2083.

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