Caregiver Certification Guide
How to Become a Certified Caregiver Outside the US (Nigeria, the Philippines, India and Kenya)
Updated November 2026 · By the American Caregiver Association · 8 min read
In this guide
Can you take a US caregiver certification course from outside the United States?
Yes. The American Caregiver Association accepts international students. Its courses are fully online, self-paced and completed by email, including the exam. Exams are open book and untimed, and there are no prerequisites, no prior experience requirement and no high school diploma or GED requirement. All you need is a working email address and internet access.
When you finish a course, your name and student ID are entered in the National Caregiver Registry (NCR), the ACA’s record of certified caregivers. The ACA has certified caregivers since 1985 and works with affiliates in several countries.
Comparison
What is the difference between a national caregiver qualification and ACA certification?
They do different jobs. A national qualification from your own government is what local regulated employers and many overseas recruitment programs look for. ACA certification is an independent, knowledge-based credential in non-medical caregiving that you can earn online from anywhere. Many caregivers hold both.
| Your country’s national qualification | ACA national caregiver certification | |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | A government body or a body it approves | The American Caregiver Association, an independent US association |
| How you train | In person at an accredited center, with practical and supervised hours | Online and self-paced, completed by email |
| Assessment | Competency assessment, usually including hands-on demonstration | Open book, untimed written exam |
| Typical length | Hundreds of training hours | The core course can be completed in 2 to 3 days |
| Best used for | Local regulated employers, government programs and many overseas deployment schemes | Private-duty and family caregiving, documenting training, adding a credential to your resume |
| What it is not | It does not automatically transfer to another country | It is not a license, a clinical credential, a visa or a work permit |
The sections below explain the main national route in each of the four countries where we see the most interest from international caregivers.
How do you become a certified caregiver in the Philippines?
In the Philippines, the national caregiver credential is a National Certificate (NC II) from TESDA, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. You train at a TESDA-registered program, then pass a competency assessment to receive the certificate.
TESDA lists a nominal duration of 786 hours for Caregiving NC II, which it describes as roughly five months, and actual schedules can run longer depending on the school. TESDA also has more specialized caregiving qualifications, including Caregiving (Elderly) NC II and Caregiving (Clients with Special Needs) NC II. In 2024, TESDA said its caregiving programs range from 549 to 813 nominal hours depending on the qualification.
Certified workers can be checked in TESDA’s Registry of Certified Workers. Government deployment programs often ask for a valid TESDA Caregiving NC II. For example, a 2024 Department of Migrant Workers program for caregivers going to South Korea listed it as a requirement.
Where ACA fits
An ACA certificate can sit alongside your NC II as extra documented training, especially in Alzheimer’s and dementia care or activities of daily living. It does not replace your NC II.
How do you become a certified caregiver in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, caregiving skills are recognized through National Skills Qualifications (NSQ) under the Nigerian Skills Qualifications Framework, which is regulated by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). You train and are assessed at an approved center, and the qualification is awarded by an NBTE-approved awarding body.
NBTE’s January 2026 list of national occupational standards includes Health and Social Care at Levels 1 and 2. Elder care is a newer area. In August 2025, the National Senior Citizens Centre, working with NBTE and Skills Nigeria, presented certificates to what it described as the first group of 40 certified NSQ Geriatric Social Care Givers.
Nursing is a separate, regulated profession in Nigeria. A caregiver qualification does not make you a nurse.
Where ACA fits
ACA certification is a practical option if you work in private homes or for families who want proof of formal caregiver training. Before you enroll anywhere, confirm whether the employer or program you are aiming for asks for an NSQ, a nursing qualification or something else.
How do you become a certified caregiver in India?
In India, the main caregiving qualification is Home Health Aide, set by the Healthcare Sector Skill Council (HSSC) under the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF). The current Home Health Aide qualification (HSS/Q5102) sits at NSQF Level 3.
HSSC lists 900 notional hours for Home Health Aide, made up of theory, practical work, employability skills and 270 hours of on-the-job training. HSSC also sets related roles such as General Duty Assistant and Geriatric Care Assistant, which suit people who want to work in hospitals or focus on elderly care.
Where ACA fits
If you already hold an HSSC certificate, an ACA course can add a US-based credential to your resume. If you are a family caregiver looking after a parent at home, the ACA course gives you structured training without attending a training center.
How do you become a certified caregiver in Kenya?
In Kenya, caregiving courses are competency-based programs under the TVET system. The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) accredits training institutions and licenses their programs, and TVET CDACC develops the curricula and assesses and certifies learners. CDACC’s published curricula include Homecare Management at Levels 4 and 5, and many colleges offer caregiving certificates assessed by CDACC.
TVETA has repeatedly warned that certificates from unaccredited institutions are not recognized in Kenya. Check that your college and program appear on TVETA’s list of accredited institutions before you pay any fees.
Where ACA fits
ACA certification can be added to a CDACC certificate as extra documented training, or used on its own for private home care where families want to see formal training.
Comparison
Caregiver qualifications at a glance
| Country | Main national credential | Issued or regulated by | How to check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | Caregiving NC II, plus specialized caregiving NC II qualifications | TESDA | TESDA Registry of Certified Workers |
| Nigeria | National Skills Qualification (NSQ), such as Health and Social Care | NBTE and approved awarding bodies | Ask the awarding body and confirm NBTE approval |
| India | Home Health Aide (HSS/Q5102, NSQF Level 3) | Healthcare Sector Skill Council | Confirm the training partner is HSSC-affiliated |
| Kenya | Caregiving and Homecare Management certificates under CBET | TVETA (institutions) and TVET CDACC (assessment) | TVETA list of accredited institutions |
Rules and qualification codes change. Always confirm the current requirement with the official body before you enroll.
Important
Can an ACA certificate help you work in the United States?
An ACA certificate on its own does not give you the right to work in the United States. It is not a visa, a work permit or an immigration document, and the ACA is not a job placement agency. Questions about US visas and work authorization should go to official US government sources, such as travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or to a licensed immigration attorney.
Inside the US, ACA certification also does not replace a state CNA credential or the state-approved training that Medicare and Medicaid certified home health agencies must use. See our caregiver certification by state guide for how state and national certification differ.
⚠ Be careful with anyone who promises a US job or visa in return for a caregiver course fee. A training certificate cannot guarantee either.
Step by step
How do you get ACA certified from outside the US?
Choose your course.
Most new caregivers start with the National Caregiver Certification Course (NCCC), which the ACA credits with 120 hours of in-class training. Specialty courses cover Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, activities of daily living and assisted living management.Order online.
Courses are listed in the ACA online store. The NCCC starts at $99.Study by email.
Your course materials arrive by email and you work through them at your own pace.Take the exam.
The exam is open book and untimed, and you submit it by email.Get certified.
Once you pass, you are certified and entered in the National Caregiver Registry.Renew each year.
ACA certification is renewed annually to keep your standing in the registry. You will receive renewal reminders about a month before your renewal date.Verification
How can an employer or family verify an ACA certificate?
A certificate on paper is not proof by itself. To verify ACA certification, an employer, family or agency emails the ACA at info@americancaregiverassociation.org, and the ACA Care Team confirms whether the person holds an active certification in good standing. The registry is not a public search directory, which protects caregivers’ privacy.
Because ACA exams are knowledge-based, families and employers should still check practical skills separately, for example with a supervised trial shift. You can read more about what ACA certification does and does not cover on our ACA credentials and verification page.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the American Caregiver Association course from Nigeria, the Philippines, India or Kenya?
Yes. ACA courses are open to international students. They are fully online, self-paced and completed by email, including the exam, so you can take them from any country with an email address and internet access.
Is ACA certification the same as TESDA NC II or an HSSC Home Health Aide certificate?
No. TESDA NC II and the HSSC Home Health Aide qualification are national qualifications in the Philippines and India. ACA certification is an independent US credential in non-medical caregiving. It can be held alongside a national qualification but does not replace it.
Will an ACA certificate get me a US visa or a job in the United States?
No. An ACA certificate is a training credential. It is not a visa, a work permit or an immigration document, and the ACA does not place caregivers in jobs. For US work authorization, check official sources such as uscis.gov and travel.state.gov.
How long does ACA certification take?
The National Caregiver Certification Course can be completed in 2 to 3 days. The exam is open book and untimed, so you can work at your own pace.
Does ACA caregiver certification expire?
ACA certification is renewed every year to keep your standing in the National Caregiver Registry. The ACA sends renewal notices about one month before your renewal date.
Do I need a high school diploma or nursing background to get ACA certified?
No. ACA courses have no prerequisites and do not require prior experience, a high school diploma or a GED.
Sources
- ACA, Understanding the ACA, Its Certification and Where It Applies
- ACA, National Caregiver Certification Course
- TESDA, TESDA lists training courses for healthcare workers
- TESDA, news release on Caregiving NC II holders and the South Korea program (May 2024)
- Healthcare Sector Skill Council, Approved Qualifications
- NBTE, Brochure of Approved Curricula and National Occupational Standards (January 2026)
- National Senior Citizens Centre, first certified NSQ Geriatric Social Care Givers (August 2025)
- TVETA, accreditation of TVET institutions
- Kenya National Qualifications Authority, credible training institutions