The Pennsylvania Department of Health (“Department”), Office of Procurement issues this Request for Information (“RFI”) to gather input and information concerning the development and implementation of a virtual and/or hybrid skills assessment examination process for Nurse Aides entering the long-term care sector in Pennsylvania. There are two parts to this examination process - a skills examination and a written examination. All nurse aide applicants must pass both examinations before being listed on the Nurse Aide Registry (“Registry”). Additional information about the current nurse aide registration process can be found on the Department website: https://www.pa.gov/services/health/apply-to-become-a-nurse-aide.html Specifically, this RFI seeks information to assist the Department in evaluating options for delivering virtual or facility-based nurse aide skill examinations that meet federal and state requirements, ensure testing accessibility statewide, and address workforce shortages. Through this RFI, the Department intends to become aware of and knowledgeable about existing models, technologies, operational logistics, training and credentialing frameworks, and regulatory considerations that support successful and scalable virtual nurse aide skills examination solutions. This includes understanding industry best practices, cost structures, implementation timelines, and potential options for piloting and expanding such a program in Pennsylvania.
