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

Child care and early learning staff in Washington

Washington's early learning rules require staff who care for children to complete training on preventing exposure to blood and body fluids before they are licensed or start working with children. An online bloodborne pathogens course that covers the OSHA elements is what providers use for that file.

Source: WAC 110-300-0106, Early learning staff training · More on our page for this job

Tattoo, piercing and body art in Washington

The Department of Licensing asks body-art practitioners for a current and active bloodborne pathogens certificate; online courses are accepted and the certificate must be current at each yearly license renewal.

Source: Washington DOL: Tattoo, body piercing and body art licensing · County and state body-art table on TattooCert

Who the rule covers in Washington

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.

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 Washington approve online bloodborne pathogens courses?

No state or federal agency approves general bloodborne pathogens courses; OSHA does not accredit training providers. In Washington, 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: Washington has a separate rule for child care and early learning staff and tattoo, piercing and body art (see above).

Will my Washington 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 Washington?

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. Washington's state plan follows the same annual cycle. Licensing rules for child care and early learning staff and tattoo, piercing and body art in Washington set their own schedule, described above.