The Arizona State Board of Nursing must adopt rules by October 1, 2026, covering training, conduct, discipline and data collection for licensed health aides, including requirements for routine ventilator care.
Official title: licensed health aides; rules
- September 12, 2026
- October 1, 2026: Deadline for the Board of Nursing to adopt the required rules
What changes
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NowBy October 1, 2026, the Board of Nursing must adopt rules to carry out the scope of practice for licensed health aides as defined in existing state law. The rules must include updated training program standards, curriculum and eligibility requirements, and specific requirements for aides to perform routine ventilator care, plus a definition of routine ventilator care.
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NowThe rules must require documentation from a licensed medical provider (a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant) stating that a single patient is suitable for licensed health aide-level care before a training program lets a person take part in its curriculum, competency exam and training.
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NowThe rules must include an updated definition of family member and standards of conduct for licensed health aides that take into account the circumstances of caring for a family member.
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NowThe rules must set a discipline process for a licensed health aide who acts outside the standards of conduct, including giving care outside their trained skills for the specific patient they care for.
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NowThe rules must set a process to collect combined yearly data on the use and outcomes of licensed health aides in Arizona.
Who it affects
- Licensed health aides and people seeking to become one
- Patients cared for by licensed health aides and their families
- Physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants asked to provide patient documentation
- Licensed health aide training programs
- Arizona State Board of Nursing
What you need to do
Nothing under this law itself. Specific requirements will come from the rules the Board of Nursing adopts.
What the law doesn't answer
- What the rules will actually require in detail
- How family member is currently defined or how the definition will change
- Whether current licensed health aides must retrain or meet the updated standards
- What penalties the discipline process may include
- Whether the yearly data will be made public, and who must report it
- What happens if the board does not meet the October 1, 2026 deadline
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.