Program Director and Instructor Qualifications and Duties

Program Director

• The Board must approve the Program Director.

• Qualifications include holding an active, unencumbered SD RN license, or compact license, and have a minimum of one year of licensed clinical RN experience. 

• The RN Program Director is responsible to review and approve all of the NATP's instructors and the RN Skills Evaluator. If desired, the Program Director may perform all of the teaching responsibilities and serve as the RN Skills Evaluator.

• Director Duties

Primary Instructor

• Must hold an active, unencumbered SD RN or LPN license, or compact license, with two years of licensed clinical nursing experience, with one year of licensed nursing experience in a nursing facility.

• Must have experience teaching adult students or completed a training course on adult instruction.

• The director of nursing (DON) in the nursing facility is not eligible.  

Skills Lab Instructors

• A qualified licensed RN or LPN is responsible to teach the skills lab portion of the NATP and must complete the skills demonstration checklists.

• The DON in the nursing facility and CNAs are not eligible. 

Supplemental Instructors 

• Must have a minimum of one year of experience in their area of expertise to assist with instruction.

• The DON in the nursing facility and CNAs are not eligible.

RN Skills Evaluator 

• A CNA must be evaluated on the ability to safely perform skills. The Skills Competency Evaluation is required for registration as a CNA and must be performed by an actively licensed RN with a minimum of one year of licensed nursing experience caring for older adults or the chronically ill of any age.

• The DON in the nursing facility is not eligible.

The Program Director must maintain a record of who is teaching the course and qualifications.