Full course description
Train the Educator (TTE): Nurse Aide Instructor Course
Approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
The Train the Educator (TTE) Nurse Aide Instructor Course is a comprehensive, six-week online program that prepares qualified healthcare professionals to teach and administer state-approved Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Programs (NATCEP) in Pennsylvania.
Designed for nurses, educators, and healthcare administrators, this course emphasizes the skills, knowledge, and instructional strategies required to deliver high-quality nurse aide education in accordance with federal (OBRA 1987) and Pennsylvania NATCEP regulations. Participants engage in weekly online modules that explore the characteristics of adult learners, lesson and curriculum design, classroom and clinical teaching techniques, testing and evaluation, and the administrative processes essential for maintaining program compliance.
Eligibility Requirements
To become an approved Nurse Aide Instructor in Pennsylvania, participants must:
- Hold a current and unrestricted RN or LPN license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- Have at least two years of nursing experience, including a minimum of one year (200 hours) in the provision of long-term care services. This long-term care experience must reflect the delivery, supervision, or education of care meeting residents’ psychosocial, behavioral, cognitive, and physical needs.
- Successfully complete this PDE-approved Train the Educator course.
Individuals who do not meet these qualifications are not eligible to attend.
Program Coordinator Role
Those serving as Program Coordinators are responsible for the administration and organization of the Nurse Aide Training Program. Coordinators are not required to be nurses; however, they must have the knowledge and organizational capacity to manage all program activities in compliance with state and federal regulations.
Certification and Access
Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a certificate of completion, which must be submitted to PDE with a Report of Change Form to become an officially approved Nurse Aide Instructor or Program Coordinator.
- Certification does not expire.
- Course access is available 24/7 for the duration of the session.
- Assignments are reviewed weekly and evaluated according to established rubrics.
This course provides a flexible, structured, and fully online pathway to prepare healthcare professionals and administrators to effectively teach, coordinate, and maintain Nurse Aide Training programs throughout Pennsylvania.