Training & Certification Information for Providers
Training requirements may vary between providers based on the type of services that they provide. At a minimum all providers must adhere to the following minimum training and certification requirements:
- Article 9/CPR/First Aid
- Criminal History Affidavit
- AZ Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance
- Transportation Permission/Decline Form
- Vehicle Registration & Insurance (if transporting)
- 39-Month Driver’s License Record (if transporting)
All of these training and documentation requirements are explained below including information on how to schedule classes, when certain certificates/trainings are required, how to fill out documents, document download links, instructions and more.
Absolute HCBS pays for all trainings and training time. You can submit a Training Timecard to your Area Manager.
Expirations & Suspensions
It is the provider’s responsibility to schedule upcoming trainings or submit any documentation prior to their expiration date. Providers who fail to complete their trainings or submit documents on or before their expiration dates will be suspended. Suspended providers are unable to work and will have their SpokeChoice access temporarily removed until they complete the necessary trainings and/or submit their documentation. Providers on suspension for more than 30 days risk losing their benefits.
If you have a question about a suspension or need your suspension lifted, please email expirations@absolutehcbs.com. Note that expirations can only be lifted Monday – Friday, 9am -5pm.
Article 9 Information
Article 9 is a training class that relates to how the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) will proactively and positively support people’s positive and adaptive behavior. The course will provide you with a clear definition of techniques that are prohibited from use at any time, techniques that require DDD to approve a behavior plan and techniques that are always approved for managing behaviors and caring for members.
Need to schedule this course?
Article 9 can either be taken in person, or live over Zoom. To sign up for this class, please use the following form: English or Spanish.
If you are having issues using the form, please visit APT (Arizona Provider Training) to view course locations, dates, and times. Email expirations@absolutehcbs.com with your preferred location, date, and time.
Need a copy of your course certificate?
Absolute HCBS is happy to provide you with a copy of your certificates at no-cost after 90 days of employment (or continued employment). You can also purchase your certificate if you would like to obtain a copy prior to the 90 days. To request a copy of the course certificate, please email expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
Can I receive paid training time for attending this course?
Yes, please fill out and have the instructor sign the Absolute HCBS Training Timesheet and submit it your Area Manager. Training time does count toward the 40 hour per week limit, and cannot be combined with approved overtime.
CPR/First Aid
CPR and First Aid are critical trainings for providers. CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when a person’s heart stops beating. First Aid is an overview of how someone properly administers care for superficial wounds, accidents or illnesses until full medical services are available to take over the person’s care. First Aid also covers safety processes and procedures to follow in the event of an emergency.
Please note that we cannot accept CPR/First Aid certificates for classes done online without an accompanying skills test. The skills test is scheduled after the online classes are complete.
Need to schedule this course?
CPR and First Aid can be taken online (with an in-person skills test) or in-person at locations across the state. To sign up for this class, please use the following form: English or Spanish.
If you are having issues using the form, please visit APT (Arizona Provider Training) to view course locations, dates, and times. Email expirations@absolutehcbs.com with your preferred location, date, and time.
Need a copy of your course certificate?
Absolute HCBS is happy to provide you with a copy of your certificates at no-cost after 90 days of employment (or continued employment). You can also purchase your certificate if you would like to obtain a copy prior to the 90 days. To request a copy of the course certificate, please email expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
Can I receive paid training time for attending this course?
Yes, please fill out and have the instructor sign the Absolute HCBS Training Timesheet and submit it your Area Manager. Training time does count toward the 40 hour per week limit, and cannot be combined with approved overtime.
Prevention & Support
Prevention & Support is an additional training that is only required when providers are working with a member who has a behavior plan, or if the member may have difficult behaviors; or if a provider works at DDD, or in a day program or residential program. The course focuses on positive relationships, positive behavior support, proactive strategies, and how to classify a behavioral emergency. Providers who take this class will feel confident in their ability to calmly respond to difficult behaviors and support individuals experiencing harmful or challenging behaviors through safe engagement.
Need to schedule this course?
To sign up for this class, please email expirations@absolutehcbs.com. Classes are available in-person across the state.
Need a copy of your course certificate?
Absolute HCBS is happy to provide you with a copy of your certificates at no-cost after 90 days of employment (or continued employment). You can also purchase your certificate if you would like to obtain a copy prior to the 90 days. To request a copy of the course certificate, please email expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
Can I receive paid training time for attending this course?
Yes, please fill out and have the instructor sign the Absolute HCBS Training Timesheet and submit it your Area Manager. Training time does count toward the 40 hour per week limit, and cannot be combined with approved overtime.
DCW I & II
DCW (Direct Care Worker) classes are required by AHCCCS for providers who provide attendant care, homemaker or personal care services to ALTCS members in their own home. All ATC Providers must pass the DCW competency tests within 90 days of starting services. Parent Providers only need to complete DCW I. DCW certifications are portable between agencies and located in a central AHCCCS registry. This class may be offered online, but includes an in-person written exam and skills test.
Need to schedule this course?
DCW can be taken in-person or completed online with an in-person written and skills test. There are classes and skill tests located across the state. To sign up for these classes, please use the following form: English or Spanish.
If you are having issues using the form, please visit APT (Arizona Provider Training) to view course locations, dates, and times. Email expirations@absolutehcbs.com with your preferred location, date, and time.
Need a copy of your course certificate?
DCW certificates are centrally stored within an AHCCCS registry. If you need your certificate for another agency, they will be able to obtain it for you. If you have already taken this class, we can also locate your certificate in the central registry.
Can I receive paid training time for attending this course?
Yes, please fill out and have the instructor sign the Absolute HCBS Training Timesheet and submit it your Area Manager. Training time does count toward the 40 hour per week limit, and cannot be combined with approved overtime.
Absolute HCBS Annual Review
Every year, all Absolute HCBS administrators, staff members and providers must participate in an online annual review of our policies and procedures. Once the training is complete, it is your responsibility to sign the document, download it, and email a copy to our Expirations Manager.
The training topics covered include:
- Company Policy
- Company Procedures
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) & Privacy
- Cultural Competency
- EVV (Electronic Visit Verification)
- Abuse & Neglect
To complete this training:
Complete the Annual Review here.
Complete la Revisión anual aquí.
How do I submit the document?
When the training is complete, be sure to download the document and email it expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
Can I receive paid training time for attending this course?
Yes, please fill out and have the instructor sign the Absolute HCBS Training Timesheet and submit it your Area Manager. Training time does count toward the 40 hour per week limit, and cannot be combined with approved overtime.
Continuing Education Units (CEU's)
Providers who provide ATC services are required to complete six (6) hours of CEU’s per year, based on their expiration date. These CEU’s are similar to those that social workers, teachers, or healthcare providers take in order to maintain their state certifications. These CEU’s maintain a provider’s DCW certification. Some classes, like Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Prevention or Prevention & Support, may count towards this requirement as well. CPR and First Aid do not count towards CEU’s.
How do I sign up for CEU's?
If you would like to sign up for CEU classes, please visit APT (Arizona Provider Training) to view the list of available classes by topic and date. Once you have determined which classes and when you would like to take them, please email expirations@absolutehcbs.com to sign up.
Please note, you cannot repeat CEU classes. Once a class is completed, you will need to take a different class in order to meet this requirement.
If I already have current CEU's, how do I submit them?
Sometimes, free CEU’s are available through our community partners, so please stay up to date with us on social media or in our monthly newsletters to learn more about those opportunities. If you are earning CEU’s in areas related to caregiving, healthcare, education, disabilities, or another related field etc. at school or in another position, you can submit those certificates by emailing expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
Can I receive paid training time for attending this course?
Yes, please fill out and have the instructor sign the Absolute HCBS Training Timesheet and submit it your Area Manager. Training time does count toward the 40 hour per week limit, and cannot be combined with approved overtime.
Level 1 Fingerprint Cards
All providers are required to obtain and maintain an Arizona Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card. It is easy to apply for a Fingerprint Clearance Card online at the Arizona Department of Public Safety website.
Read through our detailed step-by-step instructions to assist in this process.
Once you get your prints completed digitally, please email a confirmation with your application number to expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
Once you receive your Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card, please email a copy of the front & back of the card to expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
Providers who are renewing their cards are encouraged to apply for their new cards 10-14 days prior to the card’s expiration date. In order to remain compliant with the state as a provider, you MUST have a current Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card on file. If you already have a clearance, you do not need to reapply until it’s time to renew.
For newly obtained or renewed Level 1 Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Cards, Absolute HCBS is offering a $75 reimbursement for all newly hired or current providers. Reimbursements must be requested using the form link below, and are paid out after 60 days of continued employment to the provider. You must include a copy of the receipt/invoice with your reimbursement request or it will not be approved. Questions? Email payroll@absolutehcbs.com.
Criminal History Affidavit (CHA)
All providers must complete a Criminal History Affidavit annually. It must be notarized.
How do I fill out the CHA?
Every box must be individually checked (✓).
If the document is submitted with a line going from the top to the bottom through the checkboxes – it will be rejected and considered invalid.
If any corrections are needed on the CHA, please single line cross out and initial the error. Otherwise, it will not be accepted.
How do I get my CHA notarized?
Any traditional notary service is acceptable (banks, mobile notaries etc.) Please note that these notaries may charge a fee, which is the responsibility of the provider.
Most of our Area Managers are able to notarize CHA’s for FREE, with an appointment. Please reach out to your Area Manager to make a notary appointment. Don’t forget to bring a photo ID to the appointment.
Where do I submit my completed CHA?
Please email a copy of the completed CHA (with a notary signature) to expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
39-Month Driver's License Record
All providers are required to annually submit a copy of their 39-Month Driver’s License Record from the AZMVD website.
How do I obtain a copy of my 39-Month Driver's License Record?
Visit the AZMVD Now website and follow our instructions.
Where do I submit the 39-Month Driver's License Record?
Email a copy of your driving record to expirations@absolutehcbs.com.
When obtaining your record, please be careful to enter your information in correctly. If the information is not entered correctly, it will result in a “NO RECORD FOUND” report. We will not accept a “NO RECORD FOUND” report.
Transportation Forms
Either the Transportation Permission or Transportation Decline form must be completed for each member that a provider is assigned. This form is updated annually as transportation needs change.
Providers are not required to have transportation or be able to provide transportation. Many providers do, but both situations are equally acceptable. Non-transporting providers are assigned non-transporting members and transporting providers are assigned transported members. Non-transporting providers can still work with transportable members, as long as the guardian is aware. Both the provider and the parent/guardian must be in agreement on whether or not the provider is able to provide transportation.
Transportation Permission Form
If you are going to be transporting a member, please fill out the top portion of the Transportation Permission Form. It must be signed by both the provider and the parent/guardian. The parent/guardian is responsible for inspecting the provider’s vehicle. If the provider has multiple vehicles that they will be transporting the member in, then each vehicle needs their own Transportation Permission Form as well.
When transporting a member, please keep the following safety measures in mind:
- Always wear a seatbelt or use appropriate child restraints (carseats).
- If you need help properly installing a member’s car seat, you can ask the parent/guardian for help; or make an appointment with a local CPST/firehouse.
- Never leave a member alone in a car.
- Ensure the vehicle has working air conditioning and that water is available to the member on trips.
- Fill up your gas tank prior to picking up the member if possible.
- Drive safely, be aware of your surroundings and follow all traffic laws.
- NEVER text and drive.
- Arizona is a hands-free state, put the phone down.
- Refrain from playing obscene, vulgar, explicit or inappropriate music with the member.
- Inclimate weather poses a variety of safety concerns. When your visibility is reduced in a dust storm, pull over and turn off the car & lights.
- Always keep your vehicle in good, working condition, according to the safety standards in the Transportation Permission Form.
- Immediately let your Area Manager know of any traffic stops/encounters that happen when the member is in the vehicle with you.
Vehicle Insurance & Registration
Providers are required to keep their vehicle insurance and registration up to date for any vehicle being used to transport a member.
Transportation Decline Form
If you are not going to be transporting a member, please fill out the bottom portion of the Transportation Decline Form. It must be signed by both the provider and the parent/guardian.
How do I submit my transportation forms?
Email all completed transportation documents to expirations@absolutehcbs.com.