(a) The secretary may require, as a condition to continued employment by a home health agency that home health aides, within 90 days of employment, successfully complete an approved course of instruction and take and satisfactorily pass an examination prescribed by the secretary.

(b) A course of instruction for home health aides may be prepared and administered by any home health agency or by any other qualified person. A course of instruction prepared and administered by a home health agency may be conducted on the premises of the home health agency that prepared and will administer the course of instruction. The secretary shall not require home health aides to enroll in any particular approved course of instruction, but the secretary shall prepare guidelines for the preparation and administration of courses of instruction and shall approve or disapprove courses of instruction.

(c) The secretary shall not require that home health aides complete the course of instruction and pass the examination established pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 39-936(c)(5), and amendments thereto, before enrolling in an approved course of instruction authorized by this section. Home health aides may enroll in any approved course of instruction.

(d) The examination required by this section shall be prescribed by the secretary and shall be reasonably related to the duties performed by home health aides. The same examination shall be given by the secretary to all home health aides.

(e) The secretary shall fix, charge and collect an examination fee to cover all or any part of the cost of the examination required by this section. The examination fee shall be fixed by rules and regulations of the secretary. The examination fee shall be deposited in the state treasury and credited to the state general fund.