Basic Training and Certification
Get comprehensive training that will help you give high-quality care to your client or loved one.
Basic Training
Basic Training gives you customized training based on what kind of caregiver you are and helps you give comprehensive and high-quality care.
Contact your employer to confirm your training requirements and how to enroll in training. See which basic training is required for your provider type below.
View Training Requirements
If you work for multiple employers, roles or clients, your training requirements may differ. If you fall into more than one category, you must meet the highest training and certification requirements.
Provider Type | Orientation & Safety | Basic Training | Required Continuing Education | Optional Continuing Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Complete prior to providing care. | Complete by deadline. | 12 hours required annually. | Optional online training. | |
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, including 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 | |||
WA Cares WA Cares Regular and WA Cares Part-Time Family caregivers. | Basic Training 16 | |||
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. | |||
Basic Training
70
Overview
Basic Training 70 is a 70-hour training that prepares you with the information and skills you need to successfully pass the certification exam and become a Home Care Aide (HCA). It can take up to 5 weeks to complete.
Enroll as soon as possible to make sure you complete your training by your deadline.
Language Support
This course is currently offered in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.
You can request a professional interpreter if there are no courses available near you.
If you are taking an English Basic Training 70 course with a professional interpreter, translated course materials can also be provided in Nepali, Samoan, Tagalog, Ukrainian, Laotian, Farsi and Punjabi.
For language support, please contact the Member Resource Center at 1-866-371-3200 or mrc@myseiubenefits.org.
Basic Training
30
Overview
Basic Training 30 is a 30-hour self-paced, mostly online only course. This includes:
- A 3 and a half hour in-person Skills Lab class.
- 27 hours of online courses.
After you are enrolled, you can begin your online courses at any time.
Language Support
This course is currently offered in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese.
If you need language support in a different language, please contact the Member Resource Center at 1-866-371-3200 or mrc@myseiubenefits.org.
Basic Training
16
Overview
Basic Training 16 is a 16-hour self-paced, online-only course. This includes:
- 10 hours of pre-selected core online courses.
- 6 hours of courses that you can select from.
Language Support
This course is currently offered in English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
If you need help, please contact the Member Resource Center at 1-866-371-3200 or mrc@myseiubenefits.org.
Basic Training
9
Overview
You need to take 9 hours of online courses to complete your training.
All courses are available after you enroll and you can begin them at any time.
Language Support
This course is currently offered in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Russian and Vietnamese.
If you need language support in a different language, please contact the Member Resource Center at 1-866-371-3200 or mrc@myseiubenefits.org.
Basic Training
7
Overview
You must complete all 7 hours to meet your requirement. This includes:
- 1-hour of independent study.
- 6-hours of instructor-led training (2 online webinars).
Language Support
Basic Training 7 is currently available in English, Amharic, Cambodian/Khmer, Chinese, Korean, Nepali, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
If you need language support, contact the Member Resource Center at 1-866-371-3200 or mrc@myseiubenefits.org.
Steps to Become a
Certified Home Care Aide (HCA)
Click on a tab below to get details for each step.
1. Orientation & Safety
Complete Orientation and Safety training before you begin working as a caregiver.
Orientation & Safety (O&S) training is required for everyone before they begin working. Taking O&S provides you with basic safety skills before you start caring for your client.
Please contact your employer to get instructions for completing O&S.
2. Home Care Aide (HCA) Application
Submit DOH Certification Application: Days 1–14
To become certified as a Home Care Aide, you need to complete and submit your Home Care Aide (HCA) Certification Application (also called the “DOH Application”) within 14 days of being hired. This application can be submitted before the training begins.
You are NOT required to pay the application fee. As part of your benefits with SEIU 775, the application and first-time testing fees are covered.
If English is not your preferred language, you may be allowed up to 60 extra days to become a certified HCA. To apply for provisional certification, you must check the “I am applying for a provisional certificate” box on Page 1 of the HCA Certification Application.
You can submit your application online.
- Be sure to check “State Pay”.
- Online application questions can be directed to DOH by email at hmccreview@doh.wa.gov or by phone at 360-236-2700.
- Check your spam folder to make sure you haven’t missed any emails from DOH.
3. Basic Training 70
Enroll in Basic Training 70
You need to complete Basic Training 70 120 days from your hire date. Your employer can confirm your deadline.
Please contact your employer to get instructions for enrolling in Basic Training.
Complete Basic Training — Days 30-60
Take your training as soon as possible to ensure best access to classes in your area and your preferred language.
4. HCA Exam & Certification
Schedule & Prepare: Days 60–90
If you are taking your exam in English, you can schedule your Knowledge and Skills exams on Prometric’s website. You can schedule the exam as soon as you have enrolled in Basic Training 70 and have the dates for your classes. You must complete your training before your exam date.
If you have questions, please contact Prometric at 1-800-324-4689.
Important:
- When scheduling the exam, you will need to schedule the Knowledge and Skills exam separately.
- There is a rescheduling fee that is not covered through your certification benefits. Please check Prometric’s website for more information.
- If you would like to schedule a non-English exam or need ADA accommodations, call Prometric’s Testing Accommodations Team at 1-800-967-1139.
How to Prepare:
- Review Prometric’s Exam Preparation Materials, available in 13 languages.
- Connect with a Peer Mentor.
- Peer mentors are certified Home Care Aides who can tutor you on the Knowledge and Skills materials you learned in Basic Training 70. Visit the Peer Mentor page to learn more about the free resources they provide and how it can prepare you for your exam.
- Schedule a free* Refresher Course.
- This 2 hour, in-person session allows you to practice any hands-on skills of your choice in a classroom. Call the Member Resource Center at 1-866 371-3200 or email MRC@myseiubenefits.org to schedule your course.
*Refresher courses are not required and you do not get paid to attend.
Take Exam: Days 90–120
On the day of your exam:
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled exam. Late arrivals will not 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 identification.
5. Maintain Your Certification
Your results are reported to DOH, and they will send you a letter confirming you are officially certified.
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.
HCA Certification Support
Have questions about the HCA application and certification?
If you have questions about the application or certification, call the Department of Health (DOH) 360-236-2700 or email hmccreview@doh.wa.gov.
Have questions about the
Home Care Aide exam?
If you have questions about your Home Care Aide exam, call Prometric 1-800-324-4689 or email wahca@prometric.com.
Need help becoming
a paid and certified HCA?
Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Navigators can help you complete the process of becoming a paid and certified HCA.
Peer Mentor:
HCA Tutoring & Skills Support
If you are taking Basic Training 70 and the HCA certification exam, you can contact a Peer Mentor for guidance and support. They can help you understand what you are learning in class and tutor you on the course materials as you prepare to take your HCA exam.
Member Resource Center (MRC)
If you have questions about enrolling, course options or completing training, contact the MRC. Support is available in multiple languages.
Caregiver Learning Center
Get access to your learning benefits in the Caregiver Learning Center on My Benefits. Easily enroll and complete your training online using a computer or smartphone.
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.
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.
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