28 Pa. Code § 611.55 · Pennsylvania Department of Health

Can you produce every direct care worker's competency review from the last twelve months?

Pennsylvania requires a documented competency review for every worker, every year — and sooner if anyone is disciplined. Most agencies keep it in a folder. We keep it in a file you can hand to an inspector.

Pennsylvania does not publish an approved-program list for home care competency training. § 611.55 lets your agency use a nurse's license, your own competency exam, or a qualifying training program — the obligation is to document it.

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The requirements

What § 611.55 asks of you

Three obligations, all per-worker and ongoing.

A review every year

Direct observation, testing, training, or consumer feedback — documented and dated. Sooner after any discipline, including a verbal warning. §611.55(e)

Five ways to qualify

A nurse's license, your own competency exam, a training program, nurse aide certification, or waiver standards. Each needs different evidence on file. §611.55(a)

Records that transfer

Competency documentation moves between agencies when the break in employment is under twelve months. Most agencies retrain instead. §611.55(d)

Read our full plain-English breakdown of § 611.55 →

The roster

One roster, whatever route your workers took

Every worker, how they qualified, and when their next review is due.

WorkerQualified viaReview dueStatus
D. AlvarezRN licenseMar 2027Current
K. OseiAgency examSep 2026Due soon
M. WhitfieldNurse aide certJun 2026Overdue
T. BranniganCompanza trainingJan 2027Current

Add workers who trained elsewhere without retraining them. Log a review in under a minute. Export the whole roster when the Department asks. Illustrative example — not real workers.

Training

Training, if you want it

Pennsylvania lets you develop your own competency exam or program, and plenty of agencies do.

If you'd rather not build one, ours covers all ten required subject areas — sixteen for workers providing personal care — and completions land straight in the roster above.

Either way, the documentation is the deliverable.

Pricing

Priced by agency, not by headcount

Pricing philosophy

Most compliance platforms charge per caregiver, per month. Companza is one annual price for your agency — whether you run two caregivers or two hundred.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How often does Pennsylvania require a competency review?
At least once per year after initial competency is established, and more frequently when discipline or another sanction — including a verbal warning or suspension — is imposed because of a quality of care infraction. §611.55(e)
Does Pennsylvania have a state-approved training program list?
No. Unlike some states, Pennsylvania does not publish an approved-program list for home care competency training. § 611.55(a) lets an agency use a nurse's license, its own competency examination, or a qualifying training program — including one the agency develops itself — so long as it covers the required subject areas.
Can competency documentation transfer between agencies?
Yes. Under § 611.55(d), competency documentation transfers between home care agencies and registries when the break in employment does not exceed twelve months.
What counts as a competency review?
Direct observation, testing, training, consumer feedback, another method approved by the Department, or a combination of methods — documented in the direct care worker's file. §611.55(e)
How many subject areas must a competency exam or training program cover?
Ten subject areas under § 611.55(b), plus six additional personal care areas under § 611.55(c) for workers who provide hands-on personal care — sixteen in total. See the full list →
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