NAB CORE Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Master the Long Term Care Administrator Certification!

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) is the legislative act that specifically mandates the training and certification of nurse aides working in long-term care facilities. Passed in 1987, OBRA introduced rigorous standards for the care and treatment provided in nursing homes, aiming to enhance the quality of life for residents by ensuring adequate training for those who directly care for them, particularly nursing assistants.

This act set forth comprehensive guidelines, including the necessity for nurse aides to complete a state-approved training program, which comprises both classroom instruction and practical, hands-on experience. Following this training, the nursing aides are required to pass a competency evaluation to confirm their abilities and ensure they can provide a standard level of care.

The other legislative acts mentioned, while important in their own rights, do not specifically address the training and certification mandates for nurse aides in long-term care settings. The Affordable Care Act primarily focuses on expanding healthcare coverage and improving healthcare system quality. The Nursing Home Reform Law, which is part of the OBRA, addresses various quality of care issues but is not the specific act that establishes the training requirement itself. HIPAA is focused on the privacy and security of health information, and does not pertain to nurse aide training or certification.