Rhode Island Places ACE Training School on Probation

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Students participating in a nursing assistant training program at ACE Training School.

News Summary

The Rhode Island Department of Health has placed ACE Training School on probation following serious violations in its nursing assistant program. An inspection revealed multiple issues, including unverified clinical hours, unapproved instructors, and failure to comply with state regulations. ACE must adhere to several corrective measures during the two-year probation period. This move aims to enhance the quality of nursing education and ensure public safety, allowing ACE to eventually apply for a change in its license status.

Cranston – The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) took significant action against ACE Training School by placing it on probation following various violations in its nursing assistant program. The measures were initiated after a summarily suspension in April 2025, determined necessary due to concerns over public safety.

ACE Training School, which has been running a licensed nursing assistant training program since 2022, faced scrutiny after an unannounced site visit on April 15, 2025. This visit was prompted by a complaint regarding the school’s operational standards, revealing a series of troubling findings.

During the inspection, it came to light that the program’s coordinator denied being the coordinator, and the school was unable to furnish a detailed course curriculum that complied with state requirements. Furthermore, the clinical facility associated with ACE could not verify student attendance records nor confirm that students had completed the required clinical hours. Confoundingly, the certificates of completion were found to be signed by a registered nurse who was not involved in the program. The inspection also disclosed that the clinical facility was neither approved by RIDOH nor had a valid contract in place.

Additionally, the instructors at ACE were found to be unapproved by RIDOH and failed to meet state regulations. Classes were primarily instructed in Spanish, which violated communication curriculum requirements set forth by RIDOH.

These findings constituted breaches of the Rhode Island Administrative Code established for nursing assistant training programs, prompting the department to mandate the implementation of a two-year probation period for ACE Training School.

Conditions of Probation

As part of the agreed-upon consent order, ACE Training School must adhere to several conditions throughout the probation period, which serves to remediate the identified issues. The school must submit a signed clinical agreement form to RIDOH within ten business days to restart classes. Furthermore, ACE is restricted to offering no more than two simultaneous course sections, each not exceeding 25 students.

Meaningful student engagement along with effective patient communication training must be provided within these constraints. Clinical training hours cannot begin until at least week six of the program, and all clinical hours must be completed within an RIDOH-approved skilled nursing facility.

ACE must also notify RIDOH of any changes in staff or facilities prior to their implementation and submit a list of clinical groupings at least seven days before any clinical sessions. Additionally, the school is required to maintain individual educational files for each student for a period of two years following their graduation. Furthermore, graduates from March 2025 will be provided with additional clinical hours to ensure compliance with state training expectations.

Future Prospects

At the end of the probation period, ACE Training School will have the ability to apply for a change in its license status from probationary to “active,” depending on compliance with the regulations and successful remediation of the violations. This process is crucial for reinstating public confidence in the training program and ensuring that students receive the education necessary to become competent nursing assistants.

Overall, this probationary period poses a significant opportunity for ACE Training School to align its operations with state mandates and uphold the quality of nursing education essential for maintaining healthcare standards in Rhode Island.