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Direct Care and Dementia Training for Future Professionals

Thinking about a future in healthcare? A FREE virtual Direct Care Worker (DCW) Training through IMPART Alliance at Michigan State University is one of the easiest ways to find out if it’s the right path for you, no experience required.

Whether you’re aiming to become a doctor, physician assistant, nurse, psychologist, direct care worker, therapist, or another healthcare professional, this training gives you real, practical experience learning to support older adults and people with disabilities, plus skills that stand out on college, scholarship, and job applications.

This training is open to you if you:

  • Are between the ages of 16 and 26
  • Live in Michigan
  • Have access to a personal computer or laptop (phones and tablets aren’t permitted)
  • Have a reliable high-speed internet connection

Get trained, gain experience, and build a successful future in healthcare. Your career starts here!


Two young women sit together at a computer, collaborating on a project. One woman with long brown hair and glasses leans over the other’s shoulder, while the second woman, wearing a green top, looks closely at the laptop screen. The laptop has several stickers on its cover, and a camera is positioned nearby.

Ready to Get Started?

Confirm that you meet the requirements below, then register.

DHB Form
Eligibility Confirmation
You’ll complete registration through CashNet, then be redirected to our LMS to access your course.

Questions? Reach us at training.impart@msu.edu.


Training Dates

Classes can be mixed and matched to best fit your schedule

Option A: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

  • Wednesday, October 7
  • Monday, October 12
  • Wednesday, October 14
  • Monday, October 19
  • Wednesday, October 21
  • Monday, October 26

Option B: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

  • Thursday, October 8
  • Tuesday, October 13
  • Thursday, October 15
  • Tuesday, October 20
  • Thursday, October 22
  • Tuesday, October 27
  • Thursday, October 29

Dementia Training Dates

  • Wednesday, October 28  |  7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  • Thursday, October 29  |  7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

What You’ll Get:

  • FREE virtual training (14 total hours)
  • LIVE, interactive, instructor-led sessions, offered during evenings and weekends to accommodate school and work schedules
  • Specialized training in dementia care
  • Skills to highlight on scholarship, college, and future job applications
  • Certificate upon completion
  • Students who complete this will have the opportunity to enroll in additional IMPART Direct Car Worker courses at no charge!

What You’ll Learn:

  • Foundations of person-centered care
  • Professional ethics and boundaries
  • Infection control
  • Emergency response
  • Dementia care fundamentals
  • Managing medical emergencies
  • Maintaining professional boundaries with the people you support
  • …and more skills aligned with Michigan’s Direct Care Worker Competencies

This training is provided thanks to generous grant funding through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Dementia and Healthy Brain Unit.