Start a Career in Caregiving
Learn how to become a caregiver and build a stable, rewarding career while joining a community of professionals making a difference.
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Your path to a career in caregiving.
Training Requirements
Your training requirements are based on your provider type*.
Your employer can confirm your provider type, training requirements and deadlines.
*If you have multiple employers, roles, or clients, your training standards may differ. Providers in multiple categories must meet the highest training and certification requirements.
Provider Type | Orientation & Safety | Basic Training | Continuing Education | Learning Library |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Contact your employer for questions about your Provider Type and training deadline. | Complete prior to providing care. | Complete by your deadline. | 12 hours required annually. | Optional Continuing Education. |
Standard Home Care Aide (HCA) Caregivers who take care of clients, part- or full-time. | Basic Training 70 | |||
Adult Child Provider Caregivers who care for a parent when related by marriage or domestic partnership. | Basic Training 30 | |||
Family Provider Caregivers caring only for a child, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin, grandchild or grandparent, including relations by marriage or domestic partnership. | Basic Training 30 | |||
Limited Service Provider Caregivers who work fewer than 20 hours a month. | Basic Training 30 | |||
Veteran Affairs (VA) Spouse or Domestic Partner Caregivers who service a spouse/partner through the VA homecare program. | Basic Training 30 | |||
Respite Provider Caregivers who take care of another caregiver’s clients or family members for a short period of time (less than 300 hours per year). | Basic Training 9 | |||
Parent Individual Provider (DDA) Parents who take care of their child with a developmental disability. | Basic Training 7 | |||
Providers with a NAC, OSPI, initial NAC, initial OSPI, or who are an active LPN, RN or ARNP NAC: Nursing Assistant-Certified, OSPI: Special Education Endorsement | You are exempt from Orientation and Safety and Basic Training. For more information on other required or optional training, please contact your employer. | |||
Your new career starts with training.
Basic Training gives you customized training based on the type of caregiver you are and helps you give comprehensive and high-quality care to those you care for.
Follow these tips to prepare and feel confident as you begin your training.
Certified Home Care Aides (HCA)
Understand the steps and required training needed to become a certified HCA.
1) Orientation & Safety Training
Complete Orientation & Safety Training (O&S) before you begin providing care.
In O&S you will learn what to expect in becoming a caregiver and how to:
- Handle emergencies.
- Stop the spread of infectious diseases.
- Prevent accidents and injuries.
Contact your employer for instructions on completing O&S. Individual Providers (IPs) can contact Consumer Direct Care Network Washington (CDWA). Agency Providers (APs) can contact your employer.
2) HCA Certification Application*
Complete your application online within 14 days of your hire date.
You can submit your Home Care Aide Certification Application, also called the DOH Application, before you begin training. Watch this step-by-step video guide for help.
Things to know before you apply:
- No fee is required. The application and first-time testing fees are covered. Be sure to check “State Pay”.
- Application questions can be directed to DOH, at 360-236-2700 or hmccreview@doh.wa.gov.
- Check your spam folder to make sure you haven’t missed any DOH emails.
- If English is not your preferred language, you may get 60 extra days by checking the “provisional certificate” box on Page 1 of the application.
3) Basic Training 70
Complete Basic Training by your deadline (120 days from hire date).
Enroll as soon as possible to ensure best access to classes in your area and your preferred language.
IPs, will get an email with information about enrolling in Basic Training. Agency Providers, should check with your employer on the best way to enroll.
4) Schedule Your Exam*
You can schedule your exam once you enroll in Basic Training 70 and have your training schedule.
- Your training must be completed before your exam date.
- The Knowledge and Skills exams must be scheduled separately.
- Rescheduling fees are not covered, see Prometric’s website for details.
For English exams: schedule your Knowledge and Skills exams on Prometric’s website.
For non-English exams or ADA accommodations: call 1-800-967-1139 to speak with Prometric Testing Accommodations Team.
Contact Prometric, for any exam related questions at 1-800-324-4689.
5) Exam Prep*
For tips on preparing for your certification exam, contact Peer Mentors. They are certified Home Care Aides who can tutor you on the Knowledge and Skills materials you learned in Basic Training 70.
You can also review Prometric’s Exam Preparation Materials, available in 13 languages.
6) HCA Exam & Certification
On the day of your exam:
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled exam.
- Late arrivals won’t be allowed to take the exam and will need to pay the exam fee for the rescheduled date.
- Bring your “Admission to Test” (ATT) letter and 2 valid forms of ID.
After your exam: results are reported to DOH, and they will send you a letter confirming your certification.
7) Maintain Certification
After becoming a certified HCA, you will need to complete 12 hours of Continuing Education (CE) every year by your training deadline, which is usually your birthday. Contact your employer to confirm the date.
Other Provider Types
Understand the training needed if you’re a caregiver who doesn’t need to become certified.
1) Orientation & Safety Training
Complete Orientation & Safety Training (O&S) before you begin providing care.
In O&S you will learn what to expect in becoming a caregiver and how to:
- Handle emergencies.
- Stop the spread of infectious diseases.
- Prevent accidents and injuries.
Contact your employer for instructions on completing O&S. Individual Providers (IPs) can contact Consumer Direct Care Network Washington (CDWA). Agency Providers (APs) can contact your employer.
2) Basic Training
Complete BT70 by your deadline, 120 days from your hire date.
Go to Caregiver Learning Center to enroll in your training as soon as possible. Your employer can confirm your official deadline.
3) Continuing Education
Check with your employer to confirm if you have a Continuing Education requirement requirement.
Free Continuing Education courses are an optional benefit for caregivers who don’t have a CE requirement. The Learning Library offers a variety of online courses, so you can learn at your own pace, when it’s convenient for you
Access Your Caregiver Benefits
You deserve benefits that support your well-being and ability to care for others.
As a professional caregiver, you have access to a range of free and affordable benefits designed to support you and your career. These include opportunities for professional growth, affordable healthcare for you and your children, an employer-funded retirement plan, wellness benefits and so much more.
Learning Support
Your learning benefits begin as soon as you decide to become a caregiver. This includes basic training to help you give high-quality care, plus many learning support resources to help you succeed.
Job-matching
Individual Providers have immediate access to job-matching through Carina. This free service connects caregivers with individuals seeking care and can help you find steady work or more hours.
Healthcare Coverage
You can get high-quality medical and dental healthcare coverage for as little as $25 a month. After working 80+ hours a month for 2 consecutive months, you’ll receive a letter inviting you to apply.
Caregiver Kicks
You can get a free pair of Caregiver Kicks, slip-resistant shoes, every year! After working 80+ hours a month for 2 consecutive months, you can choose from over 90 styles from top brands like Reebok, Crocs, Fila, and more.
Retirement
The Secure Retirement Plan (SRP) provides caregivers with more income at retirement. You’re automatically enrolled after working 6 months with a contributing employer and will receive a welcome letter.
Continuing Education
After you have completed Basic Training, you’ll have the opportunity to further build your skill set, grow professionally and increase your technical knowledge through free Continuing Education.
Caregiver Welcome Guide
Member Resource Center (MRC)
If you have questions about enrolling, course options or completing training, contact the MRC. Support is available in multiple languages.
Language Support
Classes and course materials are available in many languages. Even if you speak English fluently, a course in your primary language may better set you up for success.
Peer Mentors
If you are a caregiver going through Basic Training and preparing to become a certified Home Care Aide (HCA), you can get guidance and support from Peer Mentors.
Support for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation in order to receive all of the Training Partnership’s programs and activities.
Learning Policies
Your class time is valuable. The following policies ensure a positive learning environment in which you are supported and have the opportunity to be successful.
Get Hired as a Caregiver
Individual Providers (IP)
If you would like to become an Individual Provider (IP), you will need to follow these instructions to become an employee for Consumer Direct Care Network Washington, or CDWA. CDWA has been the employer of IPs in Washington state since 2022.
Fill out the application, using CDWA’s step-by-step instructions.If you’ve been an IP with CDWA before, you may be able to use the information in their system already by selecting “Use My Last Application”. CDWA will give you instructions on the next steps in the process.
Learn more about the hiring process.
- Go through the Background Check and Fingerprinting process.
- Get matched with a client. You may already have an eligible client, or you can find a client through the free job-matching website, Carina. Your client will need to verify that they want you to provide care.
- Complete hiring tasks, like an I-9 and other paperwork.
- Complete five hours of mandatory Orientation & Safety training.
- You will get an “Okay to Provide Care” date. Once you get this you can provide care and submit hours.
- Before you can be paid, you have to submit a Client Relationship Attestation.
Agency Providers (AP)
The following employers contribute to the SEIU 775 Secure Retirement Plan. Click the links below to read more about how to apply to be a caregiver.