How to Become a Personal Care Assistant

Step 1: Understand the job description and responsibilities of a Personal Care Assistant

What does a Personal Care Assistant do?

A Personal Care Assistant provides household management activities to enable patients in independence at home. Assists patient with self-administered medications and emotional supports. Being a Personal Care Assistant typically requires a high school diploma or its equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or a manager. Additionally, Personal Care Assistant may require CPR certified. The Personal Care Assistant possesses a moderate understanding of general aspects of the job. Works under the close direction of senior personnel in the functional area. May require 0-1 year of general work experience.

People's Opinions on Personal Care Assistant responsibilities

A personal care assistant works as part of a team to help ill, weak or elderly clients with their personal needs.

11/08/2019: Orange, CA

Assistants are usually supervised by a registered nurse (RN).

11/07/2019: Lowell, MA

An assistant’s daily work usually revolves around helping patients take care of themselves.

12/15/2019: Scranton, PA

Personal care assistants may help nursing staff lift and turn people in bed to prevent bedsores.

10/03/2019: Green Bay, WI

RNs and others who supervise personal care assistants may instruct an assistant to administer medication to a client or take a client's blood pressure when needed.

10/07/2019: Frankfort, KY

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Step 2: Learn best tips to become a Personal Care Assistant

Best tips for those who want to become a Personal Care Assistant

Here are some tips to become a Personal Care Assistant.

People's Opinions on best tips

This will be a rough and daunting journey, and it may be tempting to give up.

11/02/2019: Saint Petersburg, FL

Everyone looking for positions can access the same information online.

12/08/2019: Lawrence, MA

While you want to network and communicate with friends and family, you do not want to rely to heavily on them or allow them to take over your search.

11/08/2019: Lowell, MA

Often, we don’t want to seem too desperate or assume that a potential employer will get back to us if they are interested.

11/03/2019: Gastonia, NC

Clean up your online personality.

11/28/2019: Fresno, CA

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Step 3: View best colleges and universities for Personal Care Assistant

Best colleges and universities for Personal Care Assistant

University of Mount Union
Ohio Valley University
SUNY--Plattsburgh
Auburn University
University of Rhode Island
Bethune-Cookman University

Step 4: Think about whether is it worth to be a Personal Care Assistant

Is being a Personal Care Assistant Worth it?

People's Opinions on lifestyles

Occupations involving not only the personal care of people but having access to sensitive personal information can leave felons out due to their criminal record.

10/06/2019: Atlanta, GA

A personal care assistant works in an individual’s home a retirement home, residential group home, and nursing care facility.

11/05/2019: Portland, ME

A personal care assistant helps clients, who are often elderly, with their personal needs.

11/13/2019: Provo, UT

A personal care assistant works as part of a team to help ill, weak or elderly clients with their personal needs.

12/25/2019: Moline, IL

An assistant’s daily work usually revolves around helping patients take care of themselves.

10/07/2019: Oakland, CA

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Step 5: Prepare relevant skills for being a Personal Care Assistant

What skills do you need to be a Personal Care Assistant?

Supporting level roles often require a broad range of skills to ensure jobs can be executed accurately and efficiently. Some of the more relevant day-to-day skills for this role include: Daily Living Assistance, Home Based Healthcare Services, Home Health/Home Care, Patient and Care Giver Education, Therapeutic Care. In this role, you should command of the following: Home Care Software. Success in this function is highly dependant upon these skills, as well as others specific to each individual company.

People's Opinions on Personal Care Assistant skills

Personal care assistants exhibit great strength and endurance in the course of duty as the job entails standing for long hours, stooping, bending, kneeling, climbing, walking etc to adequately provide comfort to clients.

10/18/2019: Long Beach, CA

Provided personal care duties as required to service clients including assistance with meal preparation, toiletry, personal hygiene, appointment scheduling, and self-administration of medication.

10/02/2019: Santa Fe, NM

A Personal Care Assistant has the important role of caring for other people who are not able to fully care for themselves.

12/14/2019: Santa Cruz, CA

When applying for such a role, your resume objectives should communicate your caring demeanor and ability to perform basic household duties for an individual at a residence or care facility.

10/27/2019: Minneapolis, MN

Highlight your qualifications as far as medical care and assistance, as well as your skills and abilities in household duties such as making beds, doing laundry, and cooking meals.

11/30/2019: Peoria, IL

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Step 6: View average salary for Personal Care Assistant

How much does a Personal Care Assistant make?

The average salary range for a Personal Care Assistant is from $30,972 to $36,917. The salary will change depending on your location, job level, experience, education, and skills.

Salary range for a Personal Care Assistant

$30,972 to $36,917