(a) A NATCEP must have an approved program director and program instructor to provide training.      
        (1) Training of trainees must be performed by or under the general supervision of a registered nurse (RN) who has a minimum of two years of nursing experience, at least one year of which must be in a nursing facility.       
        (2) An applicant for a NATCEP must certify on the NATCEP application that the NATCEP meets the requirements in paragraph (1) of this subsection.       
      (b) A program director must:      
        (1) be an RN in the state of Texas;       
        (2) have a minimum of two years of nursing experience; and       
        (3) have completed a course focused on teaching adult students or have experience in teaching adult students or supervising nurse aides.       
      (c) An instructor must:      
        (1) be a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) or an RN in the state of Texas;       
        (2) have a minimum of two years of nursing experience; and       
        (3) have completed a course focused on teaching adult students or have experience in teaching adult students or supervising nurse aides.       
      (d) Either the program director or a program instructor must have at least one year of experience providing long term care services in a nursing facility. If an instructor is an LVN, a NATCEP must have:      
        (1) a director with at least one year of providing long term care services in a nursing facility; or       
        (2) an instructor who is an RN with at least one year of providing long term care services in a nursing facility.       
      (e) Program director. A program director must directly perform training or have general supervision of the program instructor and supplemental trainers. A NATCEP must have a program director when the NATCEP applies for initial approval by HHSC in accordance with §556.7 of this chapter (relating to Review and Reapproval of a Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP)) and to maintain HHSC approval.      
        (1) In a facility-based NATCEP, the director of nursing (DON) for the nursing facility may be approved as the program director but must not conduct the training.       
        (2) A program director may supervise more than one NATCEP.       
        (3) A program director's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:                  (A) directing the NATCEP in compliance with the Act and this chapter;                   (B) directly performing training or having general supervision of the program instructor and supplemental trainers;                   (C) ensuring that NATCEP records are maintained;                   (D) determining if trainees have passed both the classroom and clinical training portions of the NATCEP;                   (E) signing a competency evaluation application completed by a trainee who has passed both the classroom and clinical training portions of the NATCEP; and                   (F) signing a certificate of completion or a letter on letterhead stationery of the NATCEP or the nursing facility, stating that the trainee passed both the classroom and clinical training portions of the NATCEP if the trainee does not take the competency evaluation with the same NATCEP. The certificate or letter must include the date training was completed, the total training hours completed, and the official NATCEP name and number on file with HHSC.                   (G) Completion of the classroom training for trainees who complete the HHSC CBT is determined by the certificate of completion, which includes the date the trainee completed the CBT.         
        (4) A NATCEP must submit a NATCEP application for HHSC approval if the program director of the NATCEP changes.       
      (f) Program instructor. A NATCEP must have at least one qualified program instructor when the NATCEP applies for initial approval by HHSC in accordance with §556.7 of this chapter and when training occurs.      
        (1) The program instructor is responsible for conducting the classroom and clinical training of the NATCEP under the general supervision of the program director.       
        (2) An applicant for a NATCEP must certify on the NATCEP application that all program instructors meet the requirements in subsection (c) of this section.       
        (3) A NATCEP must submit a NATCEP application for HHSC approval if a program instructor of the NATCEP changes.       
      (g) Supplemental trainers. Supplemental trainers may supplement the training provided by the program instructor in a NATCEP.      
        (1) A supplemental trainer must be a licensed health professional acting within the scope of the professional's practice and have at least one year of experience in the field of instruction.       
        (2) The program director must select and supervise each supplemental trainer.       
        (3) A supplemental trainer must not act in the capacity of the program instructor without HHSC approval. To request approval, a NATCEP must submit a NATCEP application to HHSC.       
      (h) Skills examiner. A skills examiner must administer the competency evaluation.      
        (1) HHSC or its designee approves an individual as a skills examiner if the individual:                  (A) is an RN;                   (B) has a minimum of one year of professional experience in providing care for the elderly or chronically ill of any age; and                   (C) has completed a skills training seminar conducted by HHSC or its designee.         
        (2) A skills examiner must:                  (A) adhere to HHSC standards for each skill examined;                   (B) conduct a competency evaluation in an objective manner according to the criteria established by HHSC;                   (C) validate competency evaluation results on forms prescribed by HHSC;                   (D) submit prescribed forms and reports to HHSC or its designee; and                   (E) not administer a competency evaluation to an individual who participates in a NATCEP for which the skills examiner was the program director, the program instructor, or a supplemental trainer.         
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §556.5 adopted to be effective September 24, 2018, 43 TexReg 6326; amended to be effective September 27, 2022, 47 TexReg 6201; amended to be effective March 17, 2024, 49 TexReg 1476