Senior caregivers working in the home as companion caregivers do not require formal certifications. However, caregivers assisting seniors who need hands-on care or receiving hospice care, may require a Certified Nursing Aide or Certified Home Health Aide.
Community colleges, technical colleges, high schools and universities provide certification programs. Sometimes nursing facilities and hospitals also provide certification training programs for their employees and pay for the training for the caregivers who are working for them.
The cost ranges from $500 to $2,000, usually, with tuition assistance programs, scholarships and grants often available. In some cities, community colleges offer special tuition through job training programs. Call the school admissions office to find out how you can qualify for tuition assistance and scholarships.
You can learn about nursing aide and home health aide training programs, and find a certification program in your area on Caregiverlist. As senior care will be one of the top employers in the coming decade, certification delivers stable employment, as some of our caregivers share in their caregiving stories.