To become certified, prospective home care workers in Washington must be tested on what they’ve learned in their 75 required hours of training. But many face challenges even before they get to the test — a would-be caregiver might have to drive several hours to a site at a scheduled time they didn’t choose.
Senate Bill 5278, introduced by Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, would require state departments to address some of those barriers, including testing delays and a lack of test sites. The bill follows a state audit released in September that detailed difficulties and frustrations prospective workers faced in becoming certified, leading to a worsening shortage of caregivers needed for a growing population of older adults and people with disabilities.