Becoming a caregiving may be appealing to people who enjoy working with others and have an interest in the medical field. These jobs often allow people to develop good relationships with their patients and may require less training than other positions in health care. Learning about the qualifications to work as a caregiver may help you determine if this is a good career choice for you.
In this article, we discuss what a caregiver does and explore the typical caregiver qualifications that employers seek.
What does a caregiver do?
A caregiver helps other people care for themselves, and they typically work with older patients. Some caregivers work in health care facilities, while others travel to their patients to provide them with at-home care. While exact responsibilities may vary based on the caregiver and patient, common duties include:
Assisting with hygiene tasks, including bathing, grooming, dressing and using the restroom
Helping patients move into more comfortable positions
Performing basic housekeeping tasks, such as vacuuming, cleaning and laundry
Preparing meals for patients, documenting what they eat and helping them eat
Transporting patients to other medical appointments
Monitoring vital signs
Administering medications and assisting with health care services
Building meaningful relationships with patients
Participating in recreational activities
Promoting patients’ overall quality of life and well-being
Read more: Learn About Being a Caregiver
What are common caregiver qualifications?
Qualifications for caregivers vary by state, and some states have specific certifying bodies that caregivers complete training with before they can begin working. The type of caregiving position you’re seeking may also affect the qualifications for the job, especially if the job duties involve more complex medical task. Each employer typically has unique qualifications that they seek, too, but common qualifications for caregiving include:
Having relevant work experience and skills
Completing any required training
Passing a background check and general health check
Earning basic health certifications
Meeting age requirements
Possessing a valid driver’s license, insurance and a good driving record
What skills are important for caregivers to have?
Becoming a caregiver requires developing a skill set of hard and soft skills. Hard skills include technical skills related specifically to the job that you may learn during training, such as how to prevent falls or check a patient’s vital signs. Soft skills relate more to your personal qualities, habits and traits that you naturally have and show through your actions.
Important caregiving skills include:
Attention to detail: Caregivers are responsible for managing many aspects of their patients’ lives, so it’s important they’re mindful of details. This includes administering proper doses of medications, tracking important health occurrences, minding dietary restrictions and following all appointments they may have.
Basic care: While not all caregivers provide direct medical care, it’s crucial for them to be able to help patients perform daily tasks safely. This includes eating, using the restroom, bathing patients, transferring or moving them and dressing them.
Care plans: Health care providers typically provide patient care plans for caregivers to follow. It’s important they understand what the providers are instructing them to do and how to perform each task, especially if they’re working in a medically-skilled role that requires monitoring vital signs.
Communication: Communication skills are crucial for caregivers to interact with their patients, such as listening to their needs, speaking with them to form relationships or giving instructions for care. This skill is also essential for caregivers to work with the patients’ family and health care providers to share and receive updates to care.
Compassion: Caregivers work closely with others, and their patients may be experiencing a variety of challenges. It’s essential for them to approach each situation with patience and grace to treat the patient with kindness and dignity.
Interpersonal skills: Forming relationships with their patients is important for caregivers to succeed. They use interpersonal skills to learn about their patients, build trust with them and provide them with empathy.
Time management: Time management includes respecting the patient’s time completely. It’s crucial for caregivers to arrive on time every day, follow any necessary medication or treatment schedules precisely and organize their day to ensure they complete every task as required.
What are the education requirements for caregivers?
Education requirements vary by each state and the type of caregiver you’re hoping to become. Most organizations require caregivers to have a minimum of a high school diploma or a GED. If you’re seeking a caregiving role with more health care-related responsibilities, there may be more advanced certifications to earn. This may include completing training program through the state, attending nursing classes at a community college or finishing an employer-provided training program.
Are certifications required to become a caregiver?
While the state you hope to work in affects whether a certification is necessary to become a caregiver, many do require completing a training program or earning a certification. Pursuing additional certifications may demonstrate your skill set and commitment to your career. This may also provide you with more job opportunities, increase your earning potential or distinguish you from other candidates.
Examples of caregiver certifications that may be optional or required depending on the job include:
Basic Life Support: A Basic Life Support (BLS) certification prepares you to respond properly in emergency situations, especially life-threatening situations that may require administering chest compressions or using an automated external defibrillator (AED). Many organizations offer this certification, including the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association (AHA).
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Some employers may specify they want candidates to have a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification to ensure they understand how to apply this technique correctly. The Red Cross typically offers this certification to educate about giving CPR and performing other interventions.
First aid: The Red Cross offers first aid training and certification to prepare people to provide basic first aid care. This may include proper techniques, how to respond to certain situations and when to call for emergency services.
National Caregiver Certification Course: The National Caregiver Certification Course (NCCC) is available from the American Caregiver Association (ACA) as viable entry-level certification for people hoping to become caregivers. Earning this certification demonstrates an understanding of the common duties of these people and topics like patient rights, service plans, aging, vital signs, risk management, fall prevention and more.
Home Health Aide: Many states offer a Home Health Aide (HHA) certification, and it may be possible to earn through a specialized institute or a community college. This certification prepares recipients to work in health care facilities or in patients’ homes and discusses tasks like administering medications, completing blood pressure readings and checking pulses and temperatures.
Certified Nursing Assistant: A Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license is an advanced certification that qualifies recipients to work alongside nurses and provide some basic forms of health care services, such as checking vitals, moving and grooming patients, helping with medical procedures and following safety procedures. States have unique requirements for earning a CNA license, but it may be possible through a community college or a specialized program.
Is experience necessary to become a caregiver?
Many employers look for caregivers who have experience working with and caring for others. For example, they may seek candidates who have previous experience working in health care facilities or daycare centers. It may be possible to translate other caregiving experiences you have, such as babysitting, to help you qualify for these jobs, and many training programs provide you with practical experience to help prepare you for the typical duties.
