Fulfill your required training in a convenient format
Penn State delivers continuing education for health care professionals who are preparing to become personal care home administrators and to administrators and direct-care staff who must meet continuing education requirements.
Individuals who are providing elder care for family members or friends and find any of these topics to be of value may choose to take any of these courses for personal enrichment.
Our programs address issues surrounding personal care homes as well as the responsibility to provide safe, humane, comfortable, and supportive residential settings for adults who don't require the services of a licensed, long-term care facility, but do require assistance or supervision with daily living activities and other physical and mental life skills.
All individuals who completed the 100-hour standardized, department-approved administrator training course after Jan. 31, 2009, must successfully complete the orientation program for new administrators and a competency test with a passing score in accordance with 55 Pa.Code § 2600.64(a)(3) (relating to administrator training and orientation).
In addition, current administrators must complete at least 24 hours of training related to job duties. All direct-care staff must complete 12 hours of training.
Penn State is an approved provider through the Department of Human Services Bureau of Human Services Licensing under the Personal Care Homes Licensing Regulations as of April 23, 2005, published in 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600 (35 Pa.B.2499).
Registration
You may register for the entire program for $1,450, or you may choose to take classes as needed. These courses may be taken as part of the required 24-hour continuing education credits. Scholarships for the 100-hour course are available through the Thomas R. Roth Memorial Scholarship Fund.
To register for individual courses, please call 724-773-3700.
Required orientation
You must attend the required Department of Human Services orientation in addition to the 100-hour course in order to be eligible to take the PCHA exam. There is no fee for the orientation.
Personal Care Administrator Training
PCHA Orientation
- Date: April 7, 2023
- Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Format: Instructor-led course on Teams facilitated by DHS
- Registration:
100-hr Course April Start
- Dates: April 10-14; April 17-21, and April 24 and 25, 2023
- Format: Instructor-led course on Zoom
- Cost: $1,450
- Registration: April PCHA 100-hr Start
Individual courses
Cost: $16 per CEU
To register for individual courses, click on the links in the table below. If a course doesn't have a link, call us at 724-773-3700.
| Course | Date | Time | Cost | CEUs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medication Procedures, Medication Effects, Side Effects and Universal Precautions | 4/10/2023 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $112 | 7 |
| Personal Care Services and Personal Hygiene | 4/11/2023 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | $144 | 9 |
| Care for Residents with Mental Illness | 4/12/2023 | 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | $144 | 9 |
| Nutrition, Food Handling and Sanitation | 4/13/2023 | 8:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. | $112 | 7 |
| Gerontology | 4/14/2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $96 | 6 |
| Recreation | 4/17/2023 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | $64 | 4 |
| Cultural Competency | 4/17/2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $48 | 3 |
| Care for Residents with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities | 4/17/2023 | 4:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. | $32 | 2 |
| Resident Rights | 4/18/2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | $48 | 3 |
| First Aid & CPR* | 4/18/2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | $112 | 7 |
| Writing, Completing and Implementing Initial Assessments, Annual Assessments and Support Plans | 4/19/2023 | 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | $80 | 5 |
| Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness | 4/19/2023 | 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | $64 | 4 |
| Care for Residents with Dementia, Cognitive Impairments and Other Special Needs | 4/20/2023 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | $128 | 8 |
| Community Resources, Social Services, and Activities in the Community | 4/21/2023 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | $64 | 4 |
| Budgeting, Financial Recording keeping and Resident Records | 4/21/2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | $64 | 4 |
| Local, State, and Federal Laws and Regulations Pertaining to the Operations of a Home | 4/24/2023 | 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | $32 | 2 |
| Resident-Home Contracts | 4/24/2023 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | $32 | 2 |
| Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Reporting | 4/24/2023 | 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | $96 | 6 |
| Staff Supervision and Staff Person Training Including Developing Orientation and Training Guidelines for Staff | 4/25/2023 | 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. | $128 | 8 |
*CPR Demonstration
In accordance with §2600.63b, a portion of the CPR and first aid training is required to be in-person for this course. Although the first part of the course will be online, a two-hour demo will be required on exam day. If students cannot attend the Penn State Beaver CPR and First Aid in-person training, students are expected to obtain their CPR and first aid certification training from an approved provider. Students must provide proof of approved training prior to taking the PCHA examination. Demonstration will be held prior to exam.
Exam & CPR Demonstration
Thursday April 27, 2023 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Penn State Beaver
Upon completion of the 100-hour program you may take the certification exam at no cost. Failure to pass will result in a fee of $200 to retake the exam. Prior to a third exam attempt, you are required to retake the 100-hour program.
Licensed Nursing Home Administrators who wish to become licensed as Personal Care Home Administrators must complete the orientation and exam. The fee for the exam is $200. Please call our office to schedule an appointment to take the exam. Exam must be taken on the Beaver campus, 100 University Drive, Monaca, PA 15061.
Admission requirements
You must have one of the following DHS requirements before attending:
- A license as a registered nurse from the Department of State.
- An associate degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university.
- A license as a licensed practical nurse from the Department of State and one year of work experience in a related field.
- A license as a nursing home administrator from the Department of State.
- For a home serving eight or fewer residents, individuals must have a general education development diploma or high school diploma and two years of direct care or administrative experience in the human services field.
Information
Many U.S. states and territories require professional licensure/certification to be employed. If you plan to pursue employment in a licensed profession after completing this program, please visit the Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.
For more information or to register by phone, please call 724-773-3700.
Cancellations and refunds
Payment is due upon registration. Full refunds will be made only if a cancellation request is received at least one week prior to the first day of the course(s). If cancellation request is received less than one week before the first day of the course(s), a $25 cancellation fee will apply. No refunds will be given for withdrawal requests after the course start date. The University reserves the right to cancel course selections. If the course is cancelled, the student will be issued a full refund.