Dear Providers, 

This communication is being distributed to notify of you of the launch date of the updated Direct Care Staff (DCS) Training Course and Competency Test required by §2600.65(d)(2) and (d)(3) and § 2800.65(g)(2) and (g)(3).

The updated course and test will launch on 10/19/2022. At the launch of the updated course and test, the current course and test will no longer be available. Please note: staff that have already completed the DCS Training Course and Competency Test are not required to take the new course. The new course is only required for staff that have not previously completed this requirement. 

The new course will be administered and supported by Temple University Harrisburg. Staff should visit https://noncredit.temple.edu/directcarestaff to register for the course through the Temple non-credit system. (Please see 1^st attachment “Instructions to Register for DCS Course”)

Once registered through the Temple Harrisburg non-credit system, staff will receive the following emails: 

• Confirmation of their account and request for password set-up
• Enrollment notification
• Confirmation of course registration with an access link and instructions for accessing the course (see 2^nd attachment “Instructions for Access – Thinkific”

The course is accessed through the Thinkific Learning Management System. The instructions for Thinkific access are also included when staff register for the course. 

When the course and competency test are completed, staff will be able to generate a certificate. This certificate should be saved by the staff person and a copy must be provided to the employer. If the certificate is lost, it can be re-generated by logging back into the account created at registration. 

Support with registration, course access, and certificate generation can be obtained by emailing directcarestaff@temple.edu. This account is monitored during the office hours of 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. 

The  updated Direct Care Staff Training Course and Competency test will fulfill the regulatory requirements of §2600.65(d)(2) and (d)(3) and § 2800.65(g)(2) and (g)(3) only. It will not fulfill the regulatory requirements of:

• PCH
  • § 2600.65(a)
  • § 2600.65(b)
  • § 2600.65(d)(1)

• ALR
  • § 2800.65(a)
  • § 2800.65(c)
  • § 2800.65(d)
  • § 2800.65(e)
  • § 2800.65(g)(1)
  • § 2800.236(a)
  • § 2800.236(c)
• OR
  • Any other regulatory requirements related to DCS, Ancillary staff, CPR, Annual Training, etc.

Please note that the Expedited Direct Care Staff Orientation and Training Program, currently located at https://temple.thinkific.com/courses/direct-care-staff-training will no longer be available as of 10/19/2022. This original course was created in response to staffing challenges in the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Personal Care Homes and Assisted Living Residences will be expected to once again meet the initial DCS training requirements through training provided within the facility.

Requests for a printed/written option based on a request for religious accommodation must be submitted to ra-pwarlheadquarters@pa.gov. This accommodation will still require use of technology by the facility to receive the course and submit required elements to the Department for validation. 

Additional questions can be directed to ra-pwarlheadquarters@pa.gov.