Many people who find themselves providing long-term care for a family member don’t end up in that position intentionally. More often than not, it comes down to a matter of circumstance, with the caregiver filling a need as it presents itself. Aging and health conditions are common reasons people require care, making caregiving an essential support for many families.

But in some locations around the country, such as in Washington State, it’s possible to become certified as a caregiver, and by extension, eligible for payment. For some, this could be the beginning of a life-long career. Professional caregiving can be highly rewarding, offering personal fulfillment through helping others in need. Even in the case of providing care for a family member, it can be a way to qualify for certain assistance programs, and offset the financial burdens involved.

Whatever the situation or circumstances that brought you to this point, getting certified in Washington as a caregiver is, at the very least, worth a look. Certification can open up job opportunities in the caregiving field, including positions with home care agencies and residential facilities.

Why Caregiver Training Matters in Washington State

While there are a number of reasons we could point to as compelling arguments to consider caregiver training, we consider the three most clear and impactful to be:

  1. To better prepare yourself to provide the best possible personal care to clients in your charge.
  2. To make it possible to qualify for support options, qualify for pay, and ease the financial strain associated with in-home care.
  3. To open up additional employment opportunities either as an individual provider, or as a staff member at home care agencies and residential facilities.

You’ll find further details below regarding what training entails and whether it’s worth jumping through the extra hoops. But as a concise summary, training is comparatively straightforward and brief. And if you’re providing care for a family member, you can start providing direct care sooner, and may qualify for less stringent requirements. Training also prepares caregivers to meet the unique needs of their clients.

What Is DSHS Caregiver Training?

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) caregiver training encompasses the educational and certification requirements set by the state department regarding paid caregivers. Individuals who complete the required training program and pass the state exam become home care aide certified, demonstrating their readiness to provide quality care.

Direct care providers are separated into four core categories in Washington: licensed healthcare workers (nurses, doctors, etc.), certified nursing aides (CNAs), paid caregivers (long-term care workers, home care aides), and informal/unpaid care providers.

DSHS caregiver training serves as the standard for long-term care workers (LTCWs) and home care aides (HCAs), and includes a 75-hour core basic training course requirement as part of a DSHS-approved training program. Healthcare workers answer to a different licensing board, and CNAs have a different, more rigorous training standard (including an 85-hour training course requirement).

Caregivers that complete the training and obtain the certification can work in a variety of settings and circumstances, providing person-centered care to each client:

  • Joining a home care agency to provide direct care in the person’s place of residence, including meal preparation and assisting clients with medical appointments
  • Taking a job at a residential facility, such as adult family homes (AFH), assisted living facilities (ALF), or similar
  • Working as an “individual provider,” functionally a self-employed caregiver that is hired by the client/client’s family directly (rather than through an agency)

Material and education covered in the caregiver training program includes:

  • Orientation
  • Safety practices
  • Foundational skills and information for hands-on care
  • Needs-based training, focused on the specifics of a given demographic (e.g. memory care, disability concerns, etc.)
  • Dementia
  • Mental health
  • Safety training
  • Orientation and safety
  • Population specific training
  • Nurse delegation
  • Practice (hands-on training)
  • Classes (both online and in-person)

The training program includes both online and in-person classes, allowing students to enroll and access learning resources online. Students can complete a significant portion of the courses online and attend in-person sessions for hands-on practice. The program is designed to fit various schedules, so students can attend classes at convenient times. Following instructions provided by the training provider and DSHS is essential for completing all requirements. Students can visit the DSHS website for more information, and support is available by phone or by contacting the training provider directly. There is also the option to apply online for training or certification.

Through these courses, students will learn and have learned essential caregiving skills needed to support each client and person they serve.

Washington State Caregiver Training Requirements (75-Hour Rule)

In order to meet the requirements and become certified as a home care aide or long-term care provider, applicants must:

Additionally:

  • Applicants will need to complete 12 hours of continuing education each year to maintain their certification
  • Providers caring for diabetics must complete 3 hours of specialized training before they can be delegated the task of insulin injection
  • Caregivers must complete 9 hours of specialized training in order to be legally delegated a nursing task (other than insulin injection)

It is essential to complete all required training and courses to ensure you are fully qualified and maintain your certification.

Who Needs to Complete Caregiver Training in Washington?

For individuals caring for family members in an informal capacity, no training or certification is required. However, in order to qualify as a paid caregiver, to work with an agency or at a residential facility, or otherwise participate in the care of elderly/disabled individuals in a paid capacity, completion of the training and certification is mandatory.

That said, there are some circumstances that may exempt individuals from the training requirements, or reduce the number of training hours required. A few prominent examples include:

  • Licensed medical practitioners (e.g. RNs, LPNs, NACs, etc.) are exempt, as the requirements for their medical licensure are more rigorous
  • Individual providers serving their own disabled child (and no other care recipients)
  • Some care providers with qualifying employment history 

How to Get Started with DSHS Caregiver Training

If you’re looking to begin training and get certified, know that you don’t necessarily have to have the training completed and the certificate in hand before you start providing care. Most in-home caregivers and individual providers can work toward certification after being hired or assuming caregiver responsibilities (though there are requirements regarding how quickly it must be completed).

There are also a number of simple steps you can take now to get the ball rolling. Start by visiting the dedicated page on the Washington State DSHS website. This will help you identify what requirements you need to complete, what time limits you have to adhere to, and any other details you may need to know.

You can also take care of other, independent requirements to check them off the list, including passing the in-state and federal background checks, and filing the proper paperwork to start your application. This paperwork includes submitting the HCA application, which is a key step in the certification process.

Then, take a look and find an authorized training provider that meets your criteria based on care needs, location, etc. You will need to enroll in an approved training program to begin your coursework. As you near completion of the training, start preparing for the certification exam (and be aware that the exam itself will include additional fees). It is important to ensure you are completing all training requirements before taking the exam.

All of this may seem like an intimidating amount of work, but Washington state has systems and policies in place to help with these things for a reason. Providing care is hard work, and caregivers are a resource that’s always in demand. These are efforts that benefit the whole community, even if the impact doesn’t seem very direct at first.

At worst, you’ll be better prepared and more confident when providing care for a family member. But who knows? Maybe this will be more than a way to qualify for much-needed assistance programs. It may be the start of a whole new career.

We at Inhomecare.com hope to help you and your loved ones. Visit our site and take the first step toward a safer, more independent future today!