Home Care Assistant (HCA)

Participants learn to perform more advanced caregiving skills, such as using a mechanical lift. Graduates of this course can perform routine nursing-related services for home health agencies and in other settings, under the supervision of a licensed nurse and may be eligible to take the Arkansas Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) examination.

The Home Care Assistant (HCA) course focuses on advanced caregiving skills necessary for working in both the home and long term care settings. In the Home Care Assistant course, 16 hours are allocated for off-site clinical experience.

Students are not eligible to register for the HCA course until they have completed the Schmieding Center’s 40-hour In-Home Assistant course AND the 16-hour Alzheimer’s/Dementia course.

Student guide