Entry level
Associate Caregiver
Builds a strong foundation in safety, communication, and person-centered support for new caregivers.
Career pathways in direct care
The Direct Care Professional pathway gives caregivers a clear, portable way to grow from foundational skills to leadership roles, with optional specializations in high-need areas of practice.
A ladder, not a maze
For many caregivers, training is tied to a single employer or state and can be difficult to carry forward when jobs change. Our leveling system is designed to be different: each level represents verified skills and learning hours that stay with the worker and can be recognized across organizations.
Caregivers typically start at Associate Caregiver and progress through three Direct Care Professional levels. Along the way, they can add specialization badges that highlight focused expertise in areas like memory care, behavioral health, nutrition, transportation, management, and grant funding.
Direct Care Professional leveling system
The leveling system is built to be intuitive for both caregivers and employers. Each level assumes the skills from the level before it and adds new responsibilities, competencies, and training hours.
Core level
Direct Care Professional I
Focuses on daily support, documentation, teamwork, and following care plans in home and community settings.
Advanced level
Direct Care Professional II
Prepares caregivers to support people with more complex health and behavioral needs with confidence.
Leadership level
Direct Care Professional III
Develops leaders who mentor others, support quality, and help coordinate care across teams and settings.
How caregivers progress
Step 1
Start with a baseline assessment
Caregivers complete an intake to capture past experience, training, and current role. This helps identify the appropriate starting level and any immediate training needs.
Step 2
Complete required coursework and practice
Each level combines structured learning with on-the-job application. Training modules focus on real scenarios from aging, disability, and behavioral health services.
Step 3
Demonstrate competencies
Caregivers show what they know through a mix of knowledge checks, skills demonstrations, and supervisor feedback aligned to each level.
Step 4
Earn and carry your credential
Once a level is completed, the credential appears on the caregiver’s profile with the associated badge and learning hours, ready to share with any employer.
Specialization tracks
After establishing a strong core, caregivers can add specialization badges in areas that match their interests and the needs of the people they support. Specializations do not replace core levels—they sit on top of them to tell a richer story about a caregiver’s expertise.
Memory Care
Training to support people living with dementia and memory loss using evidence-informed, person-centered approaches.
Behavioral Health
Skills for providing safe, trauma-informed support for people experiencing behavioral and mental health needs.
Nutrition
Focuses on wellness through nutrition, mealtime support, and individualized nutrition-related care planning.
Transportation
Develops competencies for safe transportation support, mobility assistance, and coordinated access to services.
Management
Prepares caregivers and supervisors to lead teams, strengthen communication, and improve day-to-day care operations.
Grant Funding
Builds practical skills in grant research, proposal writing, and funding stewardship to support program growth.