Frequently Asked Questions

We offer five fully online caregiver training courses, each self-paced and accessible 24/7:

• CNA Online Prep Course - prepares you for the state Certified Nursing Assistant exam
• HHA Online Course - trains you for in-home care in a client's residence
• PCA Online Course - designed for independent or private-duty caregiving
• PCW Online Course - comprehensive training for private care worker roles
• DCW Online Course - entry-level training for direct care work

All courses include free CPR and Basic First Aid training and one full year of access from enrollment.

Yes. Our certificates of completion are accepted by private-pay clients, families hiring independent caregivers, and many private home care companies for non-Medicare roles. For positions at Medicare- or Medicaid-certified agencies, requirements vary by state. We always recommend contacting your target employer before enrolling to confirm their specific acceptance criteria.

National Caregiver Organization is an online caregiver education provider. Because accreditation standards vary by state, we encourage all students to verify their state's specific requirements with their State Nurse Aide Registry or Department of Health before enrollment.

Our CNA Prep Course is designed to prepare you for the knowledge portion of your state's CNA competency exam. It covers all 21 nursing skills, infection control, safety protocols, vital signs, patient care, and documentation. Most states require both a written exam and an in-person skills demonstration — our course prepares you for the written/knowledge component. Check with your State Nurse Aide Registry to confirm clinical hour requirements in your state.

A CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) can work in a nursing home, hospital, or private practice, providing care for multiple patients under a licensed nurse's supervision.

An HHA (Home Health Aide) works specifically in a client's home, providing one-on-one care to support daily activities. While the training curricula are similar, the work setting and patient relationship are meaningfully different.

An HHA can perform certain health-related tasks (such as checking vital signs) under a supervising nurse's direction and is typically required to pass a state competency evaluation to work at a Medicare-certified agency.

A PCA (Private Care Assistant) focuses on non-medical personal care tasks — bathing, dressing, meal prep, companionship — and is generally not subject to state licensing requirements in private-pay settings. PCAs are ideal for independent or private-duty caregiving arrangements.

Yes. All of our courses include free CPR and Basic First Aid training modules at no additional cost. Completion of these modules is noted on your certificate of completion. If you already hold a current CPR certification, you are not required to complete those sections.

A certificate of completion confirms that you have successfully finished our training program and passed the final exam. A state license or certification (such as a CNA certification) is issued by your state government after you pass a state-administered competency exam. Our courses prepare you for that state exam — but the state credential itself is issued by your state, not by us.

Yes — significantly. Each state sets its own rules for caregiver training hours, certification exams, and which roles require a state license. General patterns include:

• CNA roles in nursing homes require state certification in all 50 states (federal law mandates a minimum of 75 training hours)
• HHA roles at Medicare-certified agencies require state-approved training and a competency evaluation in most states
• PCA and private-duty caregiver roles are far less regulated and often require no state exam
• Some states (like California and New York) have more rigorous requirements than others

We always recommend contacting your State Nurse Aide Registry or your state's Department of Health before purchasing a course to confirm what is required in your area.

In some states, after you enroll and feel ready, you can register with the state as a "Challenger" and sit for the exam. However, this varies by state. You should contact your local State Nurse Aide Registry before purchasing to confirm whether our course meets your state's prerequisites.

Our courses are available to students in all 50 states. The value of your certificate in your specific state depends on local requirements. Many students use our courses for private-duty or independent caregiving, or family caregiving. For state-licensed CNA positions, you will also need to pass your state's separate certification exam.

Students must be at least 18 years of age to enroll in our courses.

No formal educational prerequisites are required to enroll. Our curriculum is designed to be accessible to all adult learners, regardless of prior education level.

Yes. Our courses are fully online and accessible from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Our curriculum is based on U.S. caregiving standards. If you intend to work outside the U.S., please verify that our course content meets the requirements in your country or region.

All prices include your certificate of completion, free CPR and Basic First Aid training modules, and one full year of course access.

Because we operate entirely online, we don't carry the overhead of a physical campus — no building rent, no electric bill, no printed textbooks, and no instructors. Those savings are passed directly to you. A lower price does not mean lower quality: we have not compromised the depth or comprehensiveness of our curriculum.

Financial aid is not currently available for our courses. However, many employers offer tuition reimbursement for employees who complete approved caregiver training — it's worth asking your employer or a prospective employer about this option before enrolling.

Absolutely. On the checkout page, select "Credit Card" and enter your payment details, then click the blue Process Payment button. Your payment is processed through PayPal's SSL-encrypted checkout — your financial information is fully protected. PayPal does not store your credit card details.

• Full refund — if you have not yet started the course
• 50% refund — if you have started but not completed the course
• No refund — once you have completed the entire course

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact us through our Contact page.

We do not offer retroactive discounts on individual previous purchases. However, we do offer a course bundle as a one-time courtesy for students who want to complete multiple certifications at a reduced combined price. The bundle discount does not apply to courses purchased separately at different times.

After completing your purchase, visit the Register/Login page in the site header to create or access your account. Once logged in, go to My Account and find your course under the Orders section. Your course will be available there immediately.

You have full access for one full year from the date of enrollment, or until you complete the course — whichever comes first. Courses are available 24/7, so you can study any time, any day, on any schedule that works for you.

It depends entirely on how many hours per day you dedicate to studying. Our courses are completely self-paced. If you are able to retain and master the material quickly, you can finish in a shorter amount of time. Students with a nursing or caregiving background typically finish much faster than those who are new to the field.

The CNA state exam has two parts:

• Written test — questions about nursing procedures, patient care protocols, and how to handle specific situations
• Clinical skills test — you will be asked to demonstrate 3 randomly selected skills from a set of 21

It is very important to master all 21 nursing skills before challenging the state exam. Our CNA Prep Course covers every skill in detail.

Once you successfully pass the final exam, your completion will be confirmed within 24 hours and your certificate of completion emailed to you within 2 business days.

No. Your certificate of completion is included in your course enrollment fee at no additional charge.

If you do not have previous experience in the home care field, it is standard for private home care companies to require a competency exam or evaluation as part of their process. Your completed training will prepare you for this evaluation. Every company, agency, and employer is different — we recommend confirming the requirements with your desired employer before purchasing our courses.

No. We do not require you to complete any section you are already certified in.

In many states, yes. Medicaid-funded programs — often called Consumer-Directed care, Self-Direction, or Adult Foster Care — allow eligible individuals to hire a family member as their paid caregiver. Eligibility depends on both the care recipient's Medicaid status and your state's specific program rules.

To find out if you qualify, visit the Paying for Senior Care program locator at payingforseniorcare.com or contact your local Area Agency on Aging.

Requirements vary by state and program. Some Medicaid self-direction programs require the family caregiver to complete basic training before receiving payment. In the event you require basic training to qualify for Adult Foster Care, it is suggested you take our PCA Online Course, as it covers the core Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) that most programs assess.

We recommend our PCA (Private Care Assistant) Online Course for individuals whose primary goal is to care for a family member at home. It covers all essential Activities of Daily Living, safety protocols, nutrition, infection control, and basic health monitoring — everything you need to provide confident, competent care at home.

Adult Foster Care (AFC) is a Medicaid-funded program that allows eligible adults to receive personal care services in a home setting — sometimes including a family member's home — with the caregiver receiving compensation. Program names, benefits, and eligibility criteria vary significantly by state. Contact your state's Medicaid office for details specific to your area.

Compensation depends on your state, the program, and the number of hours you provide care. Rates generally range from $10 to $20 per hour depending on the state and the level of care required. Contact your state's Medicaid office for specific rate information.

Your next steps depend on the type of work you are pursuing:

• Private-duty or independent caregiving: You may begin offering care services directly to clients or families. Your certificate demonstrates your training to potential clients and their families.
• Agency work: Contact home care agencies in your area and provide your certificate. Many agencies will conduct their own competency evaluation as part of onboarding — your training will prepare you for this. Requirements vary by company, so confirm with your desired employer before purchasing.
• CNA state exam: Register with your State Nurse Aide Registry using your certificate as evidence of completed training, then schedule your state competency exam. Requirements vary by state.

Several platforms specialize in connecting caregivers with clients and families, including Care.com, CareLinx, and Honor. You can also contact local home care agencies directly, check job boards like Indeed and ZipRecruiter using search terms like "home health aide," "caregiver," or "CNA," or register with your state's Medicaid home care program if applicable.

For private-pay and independent caregiver positions, yes — in most cases. For positions at regulated agencies or facilities, acceptance depends on the employer and your state. We recommend being transparent with prospective employers about where you trained and asking upfront whether our certificate meets their requirements.

We do not currently offer a formal job placement program. However, our blog and resource pages provide guidance on how to find caregiver opportunities, build a client base as an independent caregiver, and navigate the application process.

Starting as a PCA or HHA is an excellent entry point into a long-term healthcare career. Common progression paths include:

• PCA → HHA → CNA (increasingly formal credentials and clinical responsibilities)
• CNA → LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) via a community college or vocational program
• LPN → RN (Registered Nurse) via a bridge program
• HHA or CNA → Specialized roles such as dementia care, pediatric home health, or hospice care

Each step typically requires additional formal education and state licensure, but many healthcare employers offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing advancement.

Our certificate is a standalone credential and is not currently affiliated with any college credit transfer agreements. However, the knowledge and skills you develop will directly prepare you for more advanced caregiving and nursing programs.

A CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) provides basic patient care under the supervision of a licensed nurse. An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) can perform a broader range of clinical tasks — including administering medications, inserting catheters, and providing wound care — under the supervision of an RN or physician. Becoming an LPN requires completing a state-approved practical nursing program (typically 12–18 months) and passing the NCLEX-PN licensing exam.

Yes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over 20% job growth for home health and personal care aides through 2032 — one of the highest growth rates of any occupation in the country. As the population ages, the demand for qualified caregivers will continue to increase regardless of broader economic conditions.

Our courses are accessible on any device with an internet connection and a modern web browser — including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. No software downloads or special plugins are required.

Your progress is saved automatically as you complete lessons and quizzes. If your connection drops, simply log back in when you're back online — you will resume from exactly where you left off.

Yes. You can log into your account from any device using your registered email and password. Your progress syncs across devices automatically.

First, try refreshing your browser and clearing your cache. If the issue persists, switch to a different browser — Chrome or Firefox are recommended for the best experience. If you're still experiencing problems, please contact us with the lesson name and device you're using and our team will resolve it promptly.

We are committed to making our content as accessible as possible. If you have a specific accessibility need — such as larger text, screen reader compatibility, or extended time on assessments — please contact us and our team will do our best to accommodate you.

Yes. All of our caregiver courses and our entire website are available in over 100 languages. Simply click the grey box in the bottom right corner of the website and select your preferred language.

Our multilingual access is designed to make caregiver education more inclusive and accessible for learners from diverse backgrounds, allowing you to study in the language you are most comfortable with.

Visit the My Account page and select "Lost Password" to reset your password via email. If you continue to have trouble, please reach out through our Contact page and we will assist you directly.

You can reach us by email or phone — all contact options are listed on our Contact page. We aim to respond to all inquiries promptly.

Please visit our Contact page and send us a message. We're happy to help with anything not covered here.