The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Approved training entity" means an organization whose training program or curriculum are approved by a certifying body to meet the curriculum requirements for community health worker certification pursuant to this chapter.

"Board" means the State Board of Health.

"Certified community health worker" means a community health worker who is deemed by a certifying body to be professionally qualified, by education and experience, to provide collaborative community health support services to assist individuals in achieving sustained wellness.

"Certifying body" means an organization approved by the Board to certify community health workers.

"Community health support services" means activities that engage, educate, support, and advocate on behalf of an individual's efforts to meet the goals established in a plan of care. Activities include care coordination, coaching or social support, health education, direct services, community assessments and engagement, advocacy, outreach, and contact tracing.

"Community health worker" means a person who provides community health support services to individuals for the purpose of achieving the goals set forth in a plan of care.

"Individual" means a person who is receiving community health worker services. This term includes the terms "consumer," "patient," “member,” “participant,” "resident," "recipient," and "client."

"Plan of care" means a set of goals, strategies, and actions an individual creates in collaboration with a health care team to guide the individual toward the maximum achievable independence and autonomy in the community.

A. No person may use or assume the title of "certified community health worker" unless the person (i) meets the qualifications, education, and experience requirements established in this chapter and (ii) holds a certification as a certified community health worker from a certifying body approved by the Board.

B. This chapter shall not be construed to require a community health worker to be certified in order to practice as a community health worker in Virginia.

A. An applicant to be a certified community health worker shall submit documentation to a certifying body verifying that the applicant:

1. Is 18 years of age or older;

2. Has completed at least 60 hours of community health worker training provided by one or more approved training entities; and

3. Has performed at least 2,000 hours of experience providing community health support services completed within the three years before the application date, 50 of which shall be verified as supervised.

B. A certified community health worker who was certified in a state other than Virginia may apply to be a certified community health worker in Virginia by submitting documentation to a certifying body verifying (i) the applicant's certification and (ii) that the applicant has performed at least 2,000 hours of community health support services, 50 of which shall be verified as supervised.

C. A certified community health worker shall obtain re-certification by submitting documentation to a certifying body verifying at least 30 hours of continuing education every two years from the date of certification that (i) are approved by the certifying body, and (ii) cover the topics listed in 12VAC5-402-50.

A. The Board shall approve a certifying body that provides certified community health worker certification by implementing standards and testing for certification pursuant to this chapter.

B. A certifying body shall:

1. Maintain a publicly-available registry of certified community health workers that displays the certification status of certified community health workers;

2. Submit to the Board, by the end of a fiscal year, an annual report that identifies the number of new and cumulative certified community health workers and the number of new and cumulative training entities;

3. Ensure applicants possess the qualifications in subsections A and B of 12VAC5-402-30 before approving an application to be a certified community health worker;

4. Require the certified community health workers it has certified to adhere to a code of ethics established by the certifying body;

5. Ensure the certified community health workers complete the required continuing education pursuant to 12VAC5-402-30 C; and

6. Approve a training entity to provide training and education programs or courses if they meet the minimum standards established by this chapter and the certifying body.

To be approved by a certifying body, a training entity shall ensure that the curriculum for a training and education program includes a minimum of 60 hours in the following topics:

1. Community Health Concepts and Approaches (10 Hours);

2. Service Coordination and System Navigation (10 Hours);

3. Health Promotion and Prevention (8 Hours);

4. Advocacy, Outreach and Engagement (8 Hours);

5. Communication (10 Hours);

6. Cultural Humility and Responsiveness (8 Hours); and

7. Ethical Responsibilities and Professionalism (6 Hours.)