You will typically need to complete a formal or informal training program offered by a school, a nursing home, or a home health care service in order to become a personal care assistant. You may be required to be licensed or hold professional certification in some jurisdictions. Additionally, some employers may require you to have certification or complete a formal training course before you can work for them, even if your jurisdiction does not require you to have such credentials.
A personal care assistant’s job description varies, but you may be asked to assist clients with basic daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and eating. You may be asked to help with housekeeping, meal preparation, and, depending on your qualifications, providing basic health care services under the supervision of a registered nurse or other medical professional. If your clients need to leave the house to run errands, make social calls, or go to school or work, you can accompany them. You may be expected to take direction directly from your client, a social worker, or a family member who is responsible for your client’s well-being, depending on their needs.
In many places, becoming a personal care assistant does not require any special education, and you may not even need a high school diploma. Personal care assistants with a high school diploma or its equivalent may be preferred by some employers or clients. If you will be working with someone who has physical or developmental disabilities, formal training in working with people with disabilities may be beneficial. To become a personal care assistant in some states, you may be required to complete a formal training program and pass an exam.
Personal care assistant training may be available at local community colleges, trade or vocational schools. Nursing homes and home health care agencies may offer a training program so that you can gain on-the-job experience. Volunteering for charities and social service agencies that provide personal care services to the elderly and disabled is another option for getting training as a personal-care assistant.