Personal Care Aide (PCA)

Course Description

The Personal Care Aide (PCA) 40-Hour Training Program is designed to prepare students to provide safe, compassionate, and non-medical care to clients in home-based settings. This course follows an Arkansas-aligned curriculum and focuses on assisting individuals with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) while maintaining dignity, safety, and professional boundaries.

Students will gain practical knowledge in areas such as personal care, infection control, communication skills, dementia and Alzheimer’s support, emergency recognition, documentation, and ethical responsibilities. The course emphasizes scope of practice, teamwork with supervisors and nurses, and accurate observation and reporting. A final PCA certification exam is included to assess competency and readiness for employment in home care services.

Course Objectives

By the end of this 40-hour PCA training, students will be able to:

Understand the role and responsibilities of a Personal Care Aide within non-medical home care settings.

Provide safe and respectful assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) including bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, mobility, nutrition, and household tasks.

Apply proper body mechanics and safety precautions to prevent injury to clients and themselves.

Demonstrate effective communication skills, including person-centered and dementia-friendly approaches.

Recognize common health conditions, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and respond appropriately within PCA scope.

Identify and respond to emergencies and safety hazards, following agency and state guidelines.

Practice proper infection control techniques in home environments.

Maintain ethical standards, confidentiality, and professional boundaries in all client interactions.

Accurately observe, document, and report changes in a client’s condition using objective language.

Understand medication assistance limitations and follow nurse delegation and agency policy.

Promote client dignity, independence, and quality of life while following the plan of care.

Successfully complete the PCA Certification Exam, demonstrating readiness for employment.