Free Caregiver Training Certification Programs

By ACA | October 13, 2021

While there are several free caregiver training certification programs out there, it’s important to understand that there is only one official caregiver certification that you can acquire at the national level and that is through the American Caregiver Association.  The American Caregiver Association is the national certifying organization for caregivers and has been since 1985.  The American Caregiver Association also oversees the National Caregiver Registry (NCR). The NCR is the official registry of certified caregivers at the national level. Our basic caregiver course is the National Caregiver Certification Course (NCCC). The cost for the NCCC is only $99.  The NCCC is the ideal course to start with and completing the NCCC gains you entry into the National Caregiver Registry.

Having this in mind, while we encourage additional training beyond what we offer as the national certifying body, keep in mind that any free caregiver training certification program that you go through will NOT get you entry into the National Caregiver Registry. Nor, will a free caregiver training certification program typically qualify you to meet requirements for long-term care insurance and most other insurance companies. Moreover, when insurance companies want to verify your caregiver certification and credentialing they will contact the American Caregiver Association, NOT the free caregiver training certification program because they will want to obtain your status in the NCR. This can only be done through the American Caregiver Association.

Likewise, while some free caregiver training certification programs may maintain information on their students, they do not maintain official caregiver registries, only the American Caregiver Association does. Please do keep this in mind as you look to advance your career, meet an insurance requirement or are needing caregiver certification for some other purpose. For example, if you want to take care of mom or dad or grandma or grandpa in a 55 plus community you will need caregiver certification from the American Caregiver Association, as these communities will generally only recognize caregiver certification from the American Caregiver Association. With this in mind, below are some additional reasons why we certify caregivers:

1. For those looking to enhance their resume
2. For those looking to add to their caregiver knowledge base
3. For Insurance purposes such as Long-Term Care, Private Insurance, etc.
4. For continuing education units or CEUs
5. For personal interest
6. For those interested in affiliation
7. For family caregiving
8. For live-in caregiving
9. For those looking to move into a positioned of increased responsibility
10. For those who want to explore the field of caregiving
11. For those who are looking to open their own assisted living facility
12. For those who are looking to open a home health company/agency
13. For those looking to open a room and board home for seniors.
14. For those seeking credentialing
15. For those looking to obtain National Caregiver Registry (NCR) status.
16. …and many more reasons!
The bottom line and takeaway from this blog post. Get official caregiver certification from the American Caregiver Association but certainly enhance your training beyond what the American Caregiver Association offers.  There is nothing wrong with supplementing your caregiver knowledge base through a free caregiver training certification program. Just do so with the knowledge that education obtained through a free caregiver training certification program is NOT formal caregiver certification or status as an officially certified caregiver in the National Caregiver Registry. You become an officially certified caregiver at the national level through the American Caregiver Association.  Questions? Chat with us on our website at https://www.americancaregiverassociation.org. Email us at [email protected], or call us at 1-800-625-8108.
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