Are you ready for an exciting career change in 2025? You could find your dream role through MedCerts’ newest program offering: Professional Caregiver. This 13-week program gives you the framework to support individuals who need help with mobility, household care and activities of daily living. You’ll give physical and emotional support to improve their quality of life.
Why Become a Professional Caregiver?
Becoming a professional caregiver — sometimes called a personal care aide or residential care assistant — is a rewarding way to help others. When you look after someone at their home, a senior center or an assisted living community, you become a valuable part of their life. Other benefits include:
- Positive impact on your community
- Personal growth from learning new soft skills
- Job stability due to an aging population with increased personal care needs
- Ability to advance in your career through training
What’s a Typical Day as a Professional Caregiver Like?
As a professional caregiver, your daily tasks depend on what your patients need. Once you clock in, you might assist with personal care activities like bathing, toileting and dressing. Or, you could start the day by being someone’s companion and providing emotional support and a friendly face. Other activities might include transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, meal preparation or laundry.
In a long-term care facility, you’ll handle non-medical roles unless you’ve received additional state licensing to become a certified nursing assistant or certified home health aide.
Professional caregivers can work in various settings:
- Private homes
- Adult daycare centers
- Senior centers
- Hospice units
- Memory care units
- Group homes
- Assisted living facilities
- Nursing homes
Salary and Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that home health and personal care aides make about $33,530 as an entry-level salary. In this role, you’ll also see a 21% growth outlook from 2023 to 2033. This position is in demand and is projected to become even more sought after as the population ages. It is also a great starting point for a career in healthcare, opening doors to more opportunities as you grow in your career.
How to Become a Professional Caregiver
With MedCerts, you can train to become a professional caregiver and help care for people who need support in their daily activities.
The 13-week Professional Caregiver training has three courses:
- PS-1011: Professionalism in Allied Health: In this two-week course, you’ll focus on the soft skills you need to remain professional on the job. Soft skills are essential for everything from interacting with patients to communicating with coworkers and supervisors.
- HI 1014: Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology: Over six weeks, this course will teach you about human anatomy and body systems to help you use essential knowledge to support your patients. You’ll also learn about medical terms and health conditions people may experience.
- HI 7016: Fundamentals of Personal Care and Residential Caregiving: The final part of your training, this five-week course focuses on caring for and communicating with patients whether at home or in residential care settings.
MedCerts Prepares You for Job Success
MedCerts’ Professional Caregiver program gives you the skills to support people with physical or health difficulties and improve their quality of life. From learning nurse aide skills and standards of practice to exploring home management skills, activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), you’ll be ready to start your job search in this fulfilling field.
