How to Become a Certified Caregiver in Wisconsin
Many of Wisconsin’s older adults and people with disabilities prefer to live in their homes rather than in a nursing home. Though these individuals may not need the constant care a nursing home provides, they still need assistance with some daily activities. Relatives often help care for their loved ones but usually lack the skills and time to provide quality care.
The need to assist individuals with medical care, hygiene, grooming, everyday tasks, and more has created an industry of individuals qualified to help older adults and people with disabilities live in their homes while enjoying some degree of independence.
The State of Wisconsin offers a Certified Direct Care Professional program through WisCaregiver Careers. It caters to those who wish to gain the skills to best care for others and who want to use their certification as a starting point to further their career in health care.
Understanding the WisCaregiver Careers CDCP program
The health care industry faces severe shortages nationwide. The CDCP program in Wisconsin provides a convenient yet comprehensive way to obtain a certificate as a Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP). You can do the certificate coursework and take the exam online.
Earning certification through WisCaregiver Careers will give you the tools needed to care for others in your community. You will be connected to eligible employers as soon as you receive your CDCP certification. Your credentials will also serve as a stepping stone for other advanced careers in health care. The no-cost certification program makes it easier than ever to start a career in health care.
What are the eligibility requirements for a CDCP?
Anyone can register to become a Certified Direct Care Professional. The coursework and certification testing are offered in English and Spanish. Soon, people who speak Hmong will also have the opportunity to pursue their CDCP certification in their native language.
- General requirements: You must work for a participating employer in Wisconsin to be eligible for all program benefits. The certified direct care professional training does not have an age requirement. There may be age restrictions with certain job positions depending on the program. Employers must be aware of all employment rules for minors.
What is the enrollment process to become a Wisconsin caregiver?
It’s easy to take the next step in your health care career.
- Register on the WisCaregiver CDCP website.
- Complete online application.Begin your CDCP training.
- Complete the certification exam.
- Once you pass the exam, you will be automatically connected to employers through WisCaregiver Connections, the one-stop CDCP job matching platform made available to CDCPs at no charge.
If you want to know how to become a direct care professional in Wisconsin, you won’t find a better opportunity than taking the online course through WisCaregiver Careers. The comprehensive course costs nothing, and you may qualify for a bonus if hired by a qualifying employer.
Online training for CDCP
With the online certification program, you can learn at your own pace. Some of the other features of the online training experience include the following:
- A user-friendly format that encourages you to learn with easy access to instructional materials
- A program that works well with real-life experience, whether you take care of a loved one or work for a provider or agency in home and community-based services
- Free certification testing
- Registration in the Wisconsin Certified Direct Care Professional Registry
- Networking opportunities
- Up to a $500 bonus if hired by a participating employer
Certification examination
When you finish your course, you’ll receive an email from our educational partner at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay with details on how to schedule your online CDCP exam. There will be several time slots for you to choose from each week. The exam contains 73 questions and takes about two hours to complete.
You may request accommodations for additional time, a private session, or someone of your choice to read the questions aloud, etc.
Passing the certification examination proves you possess the knowledge and skills in aspects of caregiving such as communication, advocacy, and community living skills. Completing the test also demonstrates your compassion and commitment to the care of others.
Successfully completing the program opens many job and future career opportunities as a certified nurse aide, medication aide, LPN, RN, and more.
Open doors to additional opportunities
Your CDPC credentials will help you advance into other educational and employment opportunities in the health care industry. Microcredentials offer CDCPs a great opportunity to continue your education and learn more about specific interest areas. Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services (DHS) maintains a list of microcredentials that are relevant and available to CDCPs across the state. To view a list of all microcredential opportunities reviewed and approved by DHS, please visit here. This list is regularly updated as additional trainings are reviewed and approved by DHS.
You can choose to remain in the direct care field as a CDCP without furthering your education. To retain your CDCP designation, you must renew your certification every three years.
Most people become caregivers because they want to be a source of positivity in their communities. Yet placing a high priority on the needs of others is deserving of recognition. That’s why the WisCaregiver Careers CDCP program provides a $500 bonus to registrants who complete the training and certification and subsequently gain employment with an eligible employer. On top of the financial recognition, those who complete the program successfully will have their name added to the Wisconsin Certified Direct Care Professional Registry. This recognition celebrates your dedication and enhances your visibility and credibility in the field.
We want to help
Choosing to complete the certification program through WisCaregiver Careers will set you up for future educational and career opportunities. This program will give you the tools to provide the best care for older adults and individuals with disabilities in a variety of residential and community-based services.
We encourage you to contact us here to learn more about our CDPC certification program. We would love to answer your questions and help you achieve your goals.
Image Credit: Halfpoint, Shutterstock
If you think you might enjoy working in the health care field, sign up for CDCP training today!
Download the program fact sheet: English(PDF) | Hmong(PDF) | Spanish(PDF)