Who Should Attend:
This FREE course is for individuals interested in starting a career in direct care work or those seeking to build on their caregiving experience with additional professional training. The 12-hour virtual course covers essential topics from professional ethics to emergency response. Students will learn the foundations of person-centered care, professional boundaries, infection control, and other crucial skills needed to provide quality support services. Through interactive sessions with qualified trainers, participants will develop both the technical knowledge and interpersonal skills required for success in the direct care field.

Course Structure
Program Format
- Twelve live, instructor-led, virtual classes. See Class Descriptions.
- One hour per class, totaling a twelve-hour training program.
- Flexible, self-scheduling class offerings to fit your availability.
Certificate
- Upon successful completion of all twelve classes, you’ll earn your “Direct Care Fundamentals” certificate.
Admission Criteria
- Online Registration Form
- Age of 16 years or greater.
- Eligible to work in the United States.
- Access to computer and internet for virtual training.
- We would like to advise interested participants that:
- NO high school diploma or equivalency is required.
- While we do not require proof of English language proficiency, all programming is currently offered only in English, including written materials.
Flexible Scheduling
Our courses are designed to accommodate the busy and varying schedules of direct care workers. You can complete any program level at your own pace, choosing class times that fit your availability. While we recommend taking classes in sequence for the best learning experience, you have the flexibility to take them in a different order if needed. To earn certification for any program level, you’ll need to complete all required classes within that level.
Don’t worry if you can’t finish all your classes at once – you can pause your training and resume whenever you’re ready. We also welcome students who want to take individual classes, whether for a skills refresher or to focus on specific topics. The choice is yours: work toward the full certificate or enhance your skills one class at a time.
Class Descriptions
Class 101: Introduction to Direct Care Work
Students will explore why they are interested in direct care work, identify the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed for this profession, and gain a greater understanding of what a direct care worker does and the range of settings, programs, and populations for which they may be employed. Ethical principles and standards for the direct care worker will also be addressed.
Class 102: Key Concepts for Direct Care Work
Understanding the importance of maintaining a person’s privacy is essential for a direct care worker. In this class, students will learn about how to maintain a person’s confidentiality, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and will identify the rights and responsibilities for both the individuals and the direct care worker.
Class 103: Person-Centered Thinking
Person-centered thinking is the foundation of providing support and services to people. At the end of this class, students will be able to identify the characteristics of person-centered thinking, describe the difference between the Medical and Person-Centered Models, define self-awareness, and understand that person-centered thinking principles can and should be applied to all supports and services within any population, setting, or program.
Class 104: Person-Centered Relationships
Person-centered thinking is put into practice through person-centered relationships. At the end of this class, students will be able to identify underlying values that influence all interactions with people, define power dynamics, describe the concepts of “important to” and “important for,” and understand the importance of building trusting relationships based on honoring an individual’s values, preferences, and culture.
Class 105: Professional Boundaries
It is common for direct care workers to develop close relationships with the people they work with and their families. However, maintaining professional boundaries is important for the DCW and those for whom support is provided. At the end of this class, students will be able to define professional boundaries, describe how they promote trust and respect in relationships, and identify ways to determine the core responsibilities of a DCW in different situations.
Class 106: Effective Communication
People are constantly communicating; however, it is not always clear, effective, or meaningful. Knowing and utilizing good communication skills is necessary to be an effective direct care worker. During this class, students will define, learn, and practice person-centered approaches for active listening and ways in which to keep conversations meaningful.
Class 107: Professionalism and Documentation
Professionalism is more than just an attitude – it includes appearance, actions, documentation, preparation, and many other aspects of behavior. In this class, students will describe the different components of professionalism for direct care workers and define and demonstrate proper documentation.
Class 108: Introduction to Infection Control
This class will introduce students to basic infection control terms and concepts, including common sources and transmission of infections, and effective infection control practices such as handwashing, hand sanitizing, and the proper use of personal protective equipment.
Class 109: Stress Management and Self-Care
Did you know that stress can be both positive and negative? Everyone experiences stress, and everyone deals with stress differently. This class will help students define stress, identify its common causes, and brainstorm healthy and unhealthy ways to handle stress. The essential role self-care plays in decreasing stress and maintaining good physical and mental health and wellbeing is also covered.
Class 110: Introduction to Body Mechanics
Direct care work can be a physically demanding job that can put the DCW at high risk for injury if proper body mechanics principles are not followed. In this class, proper body mechanics are defined, the benefits of using them are covered, and the four principles are addressed. There are examples of how to position your body for tasks, such as picking something up from the floor. Confident, assertive communication is also addressed with an opportunity for practice.
Class 111: Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
Direct care workers play an important role when maltreatment of a person they are working with is suspected. In this class, students will learn to identify types of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, describe factors that make a person vulnerable to them, define the role of the DCW in reporting their suspicions, and describe several prevention strategies.
Class 112: Medical Emergency Situations and Critical Thinking
Direct care workers spend more time with the people they work with than any other member of the health care team and are uniquely positioned to notice changes from what is normal for that person. After completing this class, students will be able to identify conditions or situations that are considered emergencies and describe the role of the DCW in them, as well as actions to be taken during emergency situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Courses are designed with DCWs of all types in mind. Our curriculum covers information DCWs need in every setting working with adults.
Yes. DCWs with any type of previous training, credentials, or experience are welcome in the course. Our trainings are designed with stackable certificates, with the opportunity to select only the certification(s) of interest. For example, CNAs without training or experience in the instrumental activities of daily living might wish to take the level 3 courses.
Right now, all of our training programs are covered under our generous grant funding administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; one through FY23 General Funds and one through American Rescue Plan Act/Home and Community Based Services Spending Plan funds. In the future, we intend to use a fee-for-service model for students to enroll in our training courses
DCW turnover is a challenge for employers and the field. DCWs frequently cite inadequate training as a source of dissatisfaction. Similarly, unsupportive employers are a large motivator of intention to leave. Employers can offer training to their employees to fill this need and demonstrate support for their employees to accomplish their professional goals and increase confidence in the workplace. Additionally, training contributes to professional development opportunities and a workplace culture that is based on collaboration, skill-building, and quality.
IMPART Alliance recognizes the impact engaged employers have on training outcomes. Interested employers can support their employees by signing up for classes offered by IMPART Alliance or by encouraging an expert DCW from their organization to complete our Train-the-Trainer course. If you would like to learn more about our training offerings, please email us at training.IMPART@msu.edu
Funding: This project is supported by grants to MSU IMPART Alliance, administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; one through FY23 General Funds and one through American Rescue Plan Act/Home and Community Based Services Spending Plan funds.