Minnesota Minnesota

Community-Based Services Manual (CBSM)

Community-Based Services Manual (CBSM)


MnCHOICES certified assessors

Page posted: 8/13/14

Page reviewed: 8/19/24

Page updated: 6/30/26

Legal authority

Federally approved BI, CAC, CADI, DD and EW waiver plans, Federal 1115 Waiver Plan (PDF), Minn. Stat. §256B.0911, subd. 13

Definitions

MnCHOICES certified assessor: Qualified lead agency staff who are certified to complete assessments for people who request long-term services and supports (LTSS).

Lead agency: County, tribal nation or managed care organization (MCO).

Roles and responsibilities

Certified assessors are responsible to:

  • · Provide the person with an estimated timeline for the completion of the assessment (can be verbal or in writing).
  • · Demonstrate best practices in assessment, including person-centered principles.
  • · Complete conversation-based assessment interviews within statutory timelines.
  • · Understand eligibility criteria for home and community-based services (HCBS) waivers and other LTSS.
  • · Understand level of care, case mix and home care rating.
  • · Recommend referrals to other professionals and agencies for other cost-effective LTSS not determined by the assessment, as needed.
  • · Help the person make an informed choice about the services and programs for which they are eligible.
  • · Maintain certification (and licensure if required), including completing minimum training requirements.
  • · Participate in multidisciplinary long-term care consultation teams.
  • · Provide the person with information about Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP).
  • · Provide the person with access to assistance to transition back to the community after an institutional admission.
  • · Provide information about competitive employment, with or without supports.
  • · Develop a person-centered assessment summary that reflects identified needs and support options within the context of values, interests and goals important to the person.
  • · Provide the person with an assessment summary of findings, support options and agreed-upon next steps.

    • Qualifications

    People who want to complete assessor certification must:

    1. Be employed by a lead agency or a hospital with a contract with a lead agency.

    2. Meet the education and experience requirements in Minn. Stat. §256B.0911, subd. 13, as described in the education requirements section below.

    3. Complete the required certification training, as described in the certification section below.

    Education requirements

    Before July 1, 2026, people who want to complete assessor certification must meet at least one of the following education requirements:

  • · Have a bachelor’s degree in social work or a closely related field.
  • · Have a bachelor’s degree in nursing with a public health certificate or a closely related field.
  • · Have a current license as a registered nurse.

    • Effective July 1, 2026, people who want to complete assessor certification must meet at least one of the following education requirements:

  • · Have an associate’s degree in human services or a closely related field.
  • · Have an associate’s degree in nursing with a public health certificate or a closely related field.
  • · Have a current license as a registered nurse.

    • Certification: MnCHOICES Certified Assessor Training (MnCAT) Steps 1-3

    All lead agency staff who complete MnCHOICES assessments must complete assessor certification and recertify every three years. Lead agencies must facilitate assessor certification.

    MnCAT Steps 1, 2 and 3 require assessor candidates to pass tests with 80% proficiency or higher before they move to the next course.

    Step 1: Foundations (TrainLink courses MNCH100 and MNCH101)

    Step 1 provides instruction for the framework of assessor work, including person-centered practices, informed choice, the assessment process, conversational interviewing and assessment outcomes.

    The Step 1 courses are available in TrainLink (MNCH100 and MNCH101). Anyone may take these courses if they have a TrainLink unique key. For more information, refer to TrainLink – Unique key request form.

    Step 2: Principles (TrainLink course MNCH200)

    Step 2 provides a group of modules that introduce assessor candidates to resources, policy manuals and programs they will use to complete their work.

    The Step 2 course is available in TrainLink (MNCH200). Anyone may take this course if they have a TrainLink unique key. For more information, refer to TrainLink – Unique key request form.

    Step 3: Application

    Step 3 teaches assessor candidates how to:

  • · Access and navigate the MnCHOICES application.
  • · Understand the content and workflow in the MnCHOICES assessment.
  • · Increase familiarity with assessment content/functions and complete instructed activities in the MnCHOICES Training Zone (MTZ).
  • · Participate in conversational interviewing and a multidisciplinary learning lab.
  • · Recertify their assessor credentials.

    • The Step 3 courses are only available to assessor candidates in TrainLink. Lead agency mentors provide:

  • · Step 3 course links to assessor candidates.
  • · MTZ access.

    • In Step 3, TrainLink issues assessor candidates their certificate when they complete the certification process.

    Recertification: MnCHOICES Certified Assessor Training (MnCAT) Step 4

    MnCAT Step 4 supports recertification for current certified assessors.

    Step 4: Recertification (TrainLink course MNCH8020)

    Step 4 is required continued learning units for assessors to support their professional development. Assessors must recertify every three years. For more information, refer to PartnerLink – MnCAT Step 4 – Recertification: Instructions.

    Certified assessors log their continued learning units in TrainLink (MNCH8020). After they log all required courses, they issue themselves a new certificate.

    Additional resources

    CBSM – Assessment and support planning overview
    CBSM – Assessment applicability and timelines
    CBSM – MnCHOICES
    CBSM – Waiver, AC and ECS general processes and procedures
    CBSM – Waiver/AC programs overview
    PartnerLink – MnCHOICES
    TrainLink
    TrainLink – Unique key request form

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