This course is free and was designed to meet the critical staff shortages occurring as a result of COVID-19. You will need to register and create an account using your name and e-mail. Once you have created your account, you may complete the course on your own time, stopping as needed, and then rejoining the class wherever you left off. 

This one-hour online training is intended to allow you to work as a Temporary Feeding Assistant, a temporary position to address the current state of emergency in skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities. 

Completion of this training is intended to prepare you to assist residents with meals and dining.

Once you have completed the course, you must take and pass the exam. You will then receive a certificate of completion that you can print and show to your hiring facility. For information and suggestions on how to find a skilled nursing facility or assisted living community in need of a Temporary Feeding Assistant, search for nursing homes in your area. See if their website offers directions on how to contact them and let them know you’ve taken and passed the AHCA/NCAL Temporary Nurse Aide training course. Each facility/company will have its own application process.

Please consult your state affiliate for additional information about your state’s requirements. 

To begin the training, click the Contents tab above, read and agree to the Program Acknowledgement in order to move on to Part 1.

When will the Temporary Feeding Assistant Certificates Expire? Learn more here.

If you need assistance, please email educate@ahca.org.

Academic Statement of Integrity 

By registering for this course, I certify that all related coursework will be completed by me. I recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of professional development coursework, inhibits my ability to grow in my profession, and does a disservice to the people I work with and to the people I care for. I understand that any commitment of academic dishonesty will lead to revocation of any credits and/or certificates earned and no monies for course fees will be refunded.  

DISCLAIMER: AHCA/NCAL has created this course to assist providers to recruit and train temporary staff during the national emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic.  Federal and/or state requirements may need to be waived to permit individuals under this training program in your location.  Employers should check with their state survey agencies and their state occupational licensing agencies, where applicable, to ensure individuals trained under this program are permitted to assist with care in your location. 

On April 7, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memo indicating that the waiver that allowed for the utilization of the temporary feeding assistant (TFA) would expire on June 6, 2022. The TFA training will be available until June 5, 2022.   

TFAs will no longer be able to work as a temporary feeding assistant effective June 6, 2022, unless they complete the traditional paid feeding assistant training program, consisting of at least 8 hours of training, as identified by the state of employment.   

Nursing homes that employ TFAs may be able to assist you in locating a training course near you. Nursing homes will not be allowed to employ TFAs after June 6, 2022, in the role of TFA.  

Thank you for registering for the Temporary Feeding Assistant Course.

Looking for additional information and skills training to help you prepare for certification?  

Assisted Dining: The Role and Skills of Feeding Assistants is an easy-to-use training manual that offers important background information and practical exercises to supplement material covered in this course.

Topics covered in this manual Feeding and hydration techniques Safety and emergency procedures Communication and interpersonal skills Infection prevention and control