The Personal and Home Care Aide State Training (PHCAST)/ABCs for Direct Care Workers

For Job Seekers-About the PHCAST Online Training

This online course prepares individuals to work as an agency-based home care aide. This is a video-based course. A video host will present key concepts and in-depth knowledge of related topics and responsibilities of home care aides.

The course is divided into ten modules. Each module provides opportunities for you to practice and apply what you have learned by responding to case studies and answering knowledge-check questions. At the end of each module, you will complete an assessment. You must score 80% or higher on each assessment before you can continue to the next module. You can review the information in each module as many times as you want.

It should take you about 37 hours to complete this course. You can work on the course at your own pace. Upon successful completion of the assessments, you will receive a Certificate of Completion.

For Trainers and Instructors-About the PHCAST/ABCs for Direct Care Workers Training

The ABCs for Direct Care Workers curriculum is 60 hours in length when combined with a 3-hour orientation. The curriculum is made up of 13 stackable modules. This training prepares learners for positions at home care agencies as either Homemakers or Personal Care Homemakers. This 60 hours of education can be combined with 15 hours of training to prepare learners as Home Health Aides.

Home Care Agencies, community colleges, and vocational technical schools need to attend a train-the-trainer (TTT) event to obtain access to the course materials. TTT events are offered annually. If you would like to join the email list to be notified of a future TTT event, please email us at pcadirectcare@umassmed.edu. If you have questions about Home Health Aides, please contact the Home Care Aide Council.