Alabama Board of Nursing Establishes Inaugural Nursing Support Technician Certification

• The Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) recently introduced a nursing support technician certification.
• The certification is expected to bring a common scope of practice to the occupation and help with workforce shortages. 
• ABN Executive Director Peggy Benson says the certification could be “easily implemented” in other states. 

A first-of-its-kind certification offered through the Alabama Board of Nursing (ABN) will help the organization “lead a dynamic shift in the nursing profession.” 

Through recently enacted legislation, the ABN has established a nursing support technician certification that could be “easily implemented” in other states. 

“From a workforce standpoint, this is tremendous. When you look at the rural healthcare system, they currently have 40% vacancies, our goal is to help them get the people in, get them at the bedside to support the nursing staff to where they will want to work at the rural facilities, but also want to stay in the rural community,” Peggy Benson, ABN executive officer, told WTVY. 

Why A Nursing Support Technician Certification? 

There are upwards of 14,000 nursing support technicians who work in Alabama under at least 16 different titles, Benson said in the ABN Insights Fall 2024 edition. 

“This unfortunately creates confusion as there is no uniformity in the education, training, and monitoring of these roles,” she wrote. 

The state’s Nurse Practice Act was revised in 2024, establishing the nursing support tech program and a standard scope of practice. The certification, according to Benson, ensures uniform training and “competency validation,” along with the potential to move into licensed practical nurse or registered nurse roles.  

Support staff who already work in the scope outlined in the revised Nurse Practice Act would be grandfathered in “through application to the ABN.” A full list of standards is available in the Insights issue. 

What’s the Nursing Tech Landscape? 

There are more than 2,000 nursing support tech vacancies in Alabama, according the ABN, and confirmed through U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for the state. 

The BLS projects that more nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to care for “an increasing number of older people who have chronic or progressive diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.” 

Nursing assistants nationwide specifically are expected to see a 4% increase in jobs between 2023 and 2033, and a 5.6% increase in openings between 2022 and 2032. 

The majority of nursing assistants have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. 

How Do I Being the NST-C Process?

Applying for the certification is done through the ABN website and requires a $50 application fee plus a $3.50 transaction fee. Applicants also must have completed either: 

• An ABN-approved NST program in Alabama or an out-of-state program that “substantially meets” the state’s criteria. 
• A Certified Nursing Assistant or Patient Care Technician program through the Alabama Community College System. 
• A hospital-based program that meets the NST-C requirements  
• NUR 112 (ACCS Nursing Education Program): Foundations of Nursing (Alabama Community College System Curriculum) or a substantially equivalent course; or 
• U.S. Armed Forces training for the military occupation specialty of U.S. Army Healthcare Specialist, U.S. Navy Corpsman, or U.S. Air Force Medical Technician. 

Alabama Daily News reported that the certification process will take between three and five years to be fully implemented. 

The Bottom Line

Alabama has become the first state to offer nursing support technician certification. The addition is part of the state’s recently revised Nurse Practice Act and is expected to help address workforce shortages. The certification process, according to the Alabama Board of Nursing executive director could be “easily implemented” in other states.  

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