Bloodborne pathogens certification in New York: who needs it and what's accepted

Licensed health professionals in New York

New York requires dentists, dental hygienists, physicians, nurses and several other licensed professions to complete state-approved infection control and barrier precautions coursework every four years. That is a separate state requirement from the employer's annual OSHA bloodborne pathogens training and is not satisfied by it.

Source: NYSED: Infection control and barrier precautions

Tattoo artists in New York City in New York

New York City licenses tattoo artists through the Health Department's own three-hour Infection Control Course with a written exam. An outside bloodborne pathogens certificate does not replace it.

Source: NYC Business: Infection control course for tattoo artists · County and state body-art table on TattooCert

Who the rule covers in New York

Anyone whose job can reasonably be expected to involve contact with blood or other potentially infectious materials: nurses, CNAs and medical assistants; dental staff; home health aides; EMS; lab and phlebotomy staff; custodians and cleaning crews assigned to blood or sharps cleanup; school nurses and designated first-aid responders; child care staff; tattoo and piercing artists; and new hires in any of those roles. In New York, public employees in those jobs are covered by the state plan and private employees by federal OSHA; the training content is the same.

What this certificate shows

Your name, course and completion date, a retrain-by date 12 months out, a verification number and QR code anyone can check at bloodbornecert.com/verify, and on page 2 each OSHA training element the course covered. You get a reminder before the retrain-by date. Employers can buy seats for staff, invite them by email and see who has passed.

Questions

Does New York approve online bloodborne pathogens courses?

No state or federal agency approves general bloodborne pathogens courses; OSHA does not accredit training providers. In New York, as everywhere, the employer must provide training covering the elements in 29 CFR 1910.1030(g)(2)(vii) and keep the record. An online course that covers those elements satisfies the rule. The exception is licensing: New York has a separate rule for licensed health professionals and tattoo artists in new york city (see above).

Will my New York employer accept an online certificate?

Most do. The certificate should name the OSHA standard, show your name, completion date and provider, and be verifiable. Bloodborne Cert certificates carry a verification number anyone can check at bloodbornecert.com/verify and list the training elements on page 2. The employer still adds its own exposure control plan and a way to ask questions. Clinical sites and some employers name a provider, so ask first.

How often is bloodborne pathogens training required in New York?

Under OSHA, at the time of initial assignment and at least once a year after that, plus whenever tasks change in a way that affects exposure. Licensing rules for licensed health professionals and tattoo artists in new york city in New York set their own schedule, described above.