The Center for Health Policy Evaluation in Long Term Care has released a new fact sheet demonstrating the vital role of the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP) in addressing the growing demand for nurse aides in the long term care sector.
As the aging population continues to expand—the demand for nursing aides is expected to grow by 41 percent between 2022 and 2040. Facility-based NATCEPs, which trained more than 40,000 nurse aides in 2024 according to PBJ staffing data, ensure that training is aligned with resident care needs, especially in rural communities where nursing homes often struggle to recruit and retain qualified caregivers. By combining classroom instruction with hands-on clinical experience, NATCEPs equip caregivers with essential nursing, personal care, and restorative skills, while also reinforcing residents’ rights and person-centered approaches to care.
Key Stats
- One in five nursing homes operated a facility-based NATCEP in 2024.
- However, this is a decline in the number of facility-based NATCEPs, which had been growing since 2019.
- Nearly half (46%) of nurse aides complete their training through a facility-based NATCEP.
- Rural nursing homes (29%) were more likely to have a NATCEP compared to urban nursing homes (18%), where each resident received an average of 30 minutes more care per week.
The CHPE fact sheet highlights a barrier to expanding these training programs—the federal government’s automatic suspension of NATCEPs if facilities receive a civil monetary penalty exceeding roughly $13,000. Even if the CMP was imposed for an issue unrelated to nurse aides training, the entire training program is put on hold for two years, jeopardizing a facility’s ability to recruit and develop additional nurse aides.
AHCA/NCAL supports the reintroduction of the
Ensuring Seniors Access to Quality Care Act, which would allow these training programs to resume under certain parameters to ensure compliance and resident safety. This is one of the many solutions AHCA/NCAL has put forth as part of its
Caregivers for Tomorrow initiative; a set of workforce policies Congress and the Administration can advance to support strengthening the long term care workforce.
The expansion of NATCEPs is critical to building a sustainable workforce pipeline and ensuring that nursing homes can meet both regulatory standards and the expectations of residents and families.