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Becoming a Staff-Development Leader in California

Every skilled nursing facility needs a nurse to lead its orientation and in-service education, and the core skills are the same across the country. We help you build them — with professional, certificate-bearing online courses available to nurses and care staff in all 50 states. In California the role is called Director of Staff Development; elsewhere it’s a Staff Development Coordinator, In-Service Coordinator or Nurse Educator.

Looking for the in-service training requirements rather than the role? See our nursing-home in-service requirements by state.

Showing California — we’ll remember it for you.

California

In California, the nurse who leads staff education and training is commonly known as a Director of Staff Development, and California recognizes a distinct Director of Staff Development (DSD) credential. It’s a valued, higher-responsibility role — and we can help you prepare for it and grow your long-term-care career.

California is the one state with a distinct, Department-approved Director of Staff Development credential. Hold an active nursing license, meet the §71829 experience, complete the 24 hours of education, and obtain CDPH approval on Form 279.

California offers its own Director of Staff Development certification — and this course prepares you for it

Our 24-hour course is built for exactly this: sourced to Title 22, self-paced, and finished with a verifiable certificate you can take straight to your CDPH Form 279 application.

Enroll for $79 See the full California path

Whatever California asks you to teach, it’s already written

The in-service topics a surveyor expects are set by federal law, so they are the same in California as everywhere else. Our in-service library covers all of them — 186 ready-to-teach lessons, each with a lesson plan, handout, quiz, speaker notes and slides — for $99.

See the lesson library Free compliance checklist California in-service rules
Available in all 50 states Certificate of completion 100% online & self-paced

How the role works in California — official details

Commonly called
Director of Staff Development (DSD)
State credential
Director of Staff Development (DSD) — a distinct, state-recognized credential.
Keeping skills current (in-service)
24 hours/year of in-service for nurse assistants under 22 CCR §71847(e) — double the federal 12-hour floor.
Qualifying for the role
A DSD qualifies under 22 CCR §71829(d) via one of two pathways (a year of LTC nursing plus a year running nursing education, or two years of nursing plus 24 hours of education). Teaching the CNA program also requires ≥ 2 years' experience under Health & Safety Code §1337.15.
State approval & process
Apply to CDPH on Form 279 (or E279 for online/distance programs). The Department reviews completeness within 30 days and decides within 60. This is a genuine, Department-approved state credential.
Where to check the official rules
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) — Training Program Review Unit

General information to help you plan — not legal advice. Requirements can change, so confirm the specifics with your state’s licensing agency.
Sources: 22 CCR § 71829 · Health & Safety Code § 1337.4.

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Explore Our Programs

Advance your long-term-care career with our growing family of professional programs — the DSD certification here on DSD Certify, plus more through our platform Draco Learning.

Director of Staff Development (DSD) program On this site
Director of Staff Development (DSD)
Certify for the DSD role in California — 24 CE contact hours, self-paced, sourced to the regulations, ending in a verifiable certificate.
Enroll — $79
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