Last updated on June 16th, 2023 at 06:59 am
The U.S. has one of the largest aging populations in the world. By 2035, older adults are projected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. Caregiving is expected to see unprecedented growth, with a job demand increase of 28 percent between 2014 and 2024 in Washington state alone. If you’re interested in making a career change, there aren’t many better options than caregiving.
Choosing the right caregiver training school is essential to your success. Here are some helpful tips to consider when choosing a caregiver training program.
What Does an In-Home Caregiver Do?
In-home caregivers assist people who can’t perform daily activities on their own. This includes tasks such as running errands, general housekeeping, helping clients move around the house, assisting with hygiene and medical needs, and taking clients to appointments.
In Washington state, caregivers must complete their training by 120 days of being hired, and become certified within 200 days of being hired. Fortunately, there are great options to become trained and certified.
Program Structure and Specialties
When choosing a caregiver training program, you also want to consider any specialties or specific skills you would like to bring to the role. For all caregivers, 75 hours of basic training and a passing state exam are required to become Home Care Aid Certified (HCA-C).
The 75 hours of training consist of 5 hours of orientation and safety training, 30 hours of population-specific training, and 40 hours of core basic training. The initial 5-hour orientation is offered online only, which can help you decide if completing your caregiver training online is the right fit for you, or if you would do better with a classroom experience. The remaining courses can be completed online or in a classroom setting, and in any order. Click here to learn more about the process.
After completing your caregiver certification, you have the option to continue your education and pursue additional training. Common paths you can take to continue your caregiver education are Nursing Assistant-Certified (NAC), Mental Health & Dementia specialty courses, or to complete Nurse Delegation Core + Diabetes Focus trainings. These programs are especially helpful if you know you want to serve people with specific needs.
In-Person vs. Online Caregiver Training
Caregiver training programs can be effectively delivered in-person and online. Both have their advantages and disadvantages depending on your learning style and schedule. If you need to make your caregiver training curriculum fit around a busy schedule, online training can be a great option. Caregiver training online programs are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, allowing you to learn as your schedule allows. Online courses offer the same high-quality content and education as in-person classes. This option is perfect for people who want to start working as a caregiver while working on becoming certified.
Classroom caregiver training can also be a great option. If you prefer to learn in a more structured setting and do better receiving real-time feedback from your instructor, you may want to consider an in-person caregiver training school.
Where to Go for Home Caregiver Training in Washington State
While there are several organizations offering caregiver training in Washington, only Sunrise services offer the highest quality courses. With comprehensive in-person and online caregiver training courses, we prepare students for their careers as Caregivers. Students completing the Sunrise Caregiver Training Program will be prepared for their State exam and well-prepared in the workforce.
There are also many continuing education programs for caregivers that can help you specialize, qualify for more jobs, or move toward a nursing career. Here are some of the top programs we recommend to current and prospective caregivers.
Our Top Recommended Caregiver Training Programs
- Sunrise 75-Hour Basic Training: This course meets the requirements for becoming a certified caregiver in Washington State. It includes a combination of instructor lecture, group-work, and hands-on practice and covers the certification testing process.
- Sunrise Online Courses: Sunrise Services offers a wide range of continuing education courses to help you keep your caregiver certification.
- NAC Bridge Program: This course helps caregivers prepare to become certified nursing assistants in Washington State. It is a 24 hour course divided into three days: 8 hours of classroom work, 8 hours of skills lab, and 8 hours of clinical practice.
- Nurse Delegation Core course: This self-study course helps caregivers qualify for a wider range of jobs. It covers tasks that must be delegated by an RN, how the delegation process works, and more. You can receive a certificate by passing an exam after you complete this course.
- Nurse Delegation Diabetes course: This 3-hour self-study course covers insulin injections and care for people with diabetes. You can count it toward continuing education credit or use it to qualify for a wider range of caregiver jobs.
Sunrise Specialty courses: These courses give you an in-depth understanding of a caregiving specialty such as mental health, dementia, traumatic brain injuries, or diabetes. Each course is a 1-day training that can count toward continuing education credit or job requirements.