AANAC education courses set the standard in the long-term care industry. We've been a trusted provider of MDS information since 1999, and have grown to be the go-to source in survey management, leadership, Medicare, and more. Whether you're looking to earn one of our respected certifications or just want to brush up your knowledge by taking a course or two, AANAC keeps you up to date in this ever-changing body of knowledge and makes the complexities of long-term care regulation easy to understand. 

RAC-CT certification is the nationally recognized gold-standard in resident assessment in the long-term care nursing profession. By earning it, individuals have shown their expertise in skilled nursing facility prospective payment system and minimum data set (MDS 3.0) assessment. To achieve certification, you must complete a series of ten courses that measure knowledge of the MDS 3.0, resident assessment and resident care practices. This includes MDS 3.0 coding, OBRA and PPS scheduling, Resource Utilization Groups (RUGs), Medicare, Care Area Assessments, and care planning. Successful completion of a final examination for each of the knowledge areas demonstrates professional competence and proficiency in accurately completing the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) according to current standards and practices as set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Find out more.

For the RAC-CT professionals looking to take their experience to a higher level, AANAC introduces the Resident Assessment Coordination - Certified Advanced (RAC-CTA) education program and certification. The RAC-CTA program provides advanced principles of clinical reimbursement, Medicare program compliance and integrity, RAI/MDS program integrity, leadership, ethical practice, managing medical review, accurate ICD-10 diagnosis coding, advanced strategies for payment oversight, and improving a facility’s quality measurement in all CMS quality programs. Learn more.

Are you new to the MDS process? Start with MDS Essentials: An Introduction to the MDS 3.0 is a ten-session virtual workshop that moves through the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual, helping you to understand the intent, rationale, and coding requirements of each MDS item set, Care Area Assessments, care plans, and scheduling. The program is perfect for a new NAC with less than six months of experience. Find out more.