An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-204.4, relating to Board of Education; Board of Nursing; High School Certified Nurse Aide Training and Certification Program established; requirements; report.
HB413 establishes the High School Certified Nurse Aide Training and Certification Program in Virginia. The program is designed to create a pathway for qualified high school students to prepare for and obtain CNA certification through approved training programs offered by public or private educational centers, including community colleges, higher education institutions, and career and technical education programs. The bill defines key terms, sets out the role of the Board of Education and the Board of Nursing, and requires that training programs be approved and overseen in collaboration with both boards.
Under the bill, the Board of Education must develop policies and procedures for approving programs, setting instructor qualifications, establishing student eligibility requirements, and overseeing program performance. Each approved program must report annually on enrollment, completion, and certification outcomes, and the Board must submit a yearly report to legislative education committees summarizing program activity and, where feasible, employment outcomes for students who earn CNA certification. The bill is intended to expand workforce preparation in health care while still tying the training to state certification standards.
The bill adds a new section to the Code of Virginia, § 22.1-204.4, and creates a new state-administered education-to-workforce pipeline for certified nurse aide training in high schools. It affects the Board of Education and the Board of Nursing by assigning them joint responsibility for approving programs, setting standards, and monitoring compliance. It also affects school divisions, educational centers, instructors, and participating students by establishing eligibility, instructional, reporting, and certification requirements for participation in the program.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote history, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill’s structure, the measure appears generally supportive of workforce development and health care career pathways for students. The absence of recorded controversy suggests the bill may have been viewed as a practical education and labor pipeline initiative rather than a contentious policy change.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential issues inherent in the bill’s design include who qualifies to teach the program, how student eligibility is set, how much oversight the Board of Education and Board of Nursing will exercise, and whether schools and training providers can meet CNA training standards. Any disagreement would likely center on implementation burdens, program quality, and the balance between expanding access and maintaining certification rigor.