FOR IHSS WORKERS
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) workers can access FREE training courses and career advancement opportunities through the Pathways to Professionalization for IHSS Workers program. This program is provided to IHSS caregivers in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties in Northern California, and IHSS caregivers in Los Angeles County in Southern California.
Program Duration: July 2025-June 2027
Northern California Enrollment Begins: October 2025
Southern California Enrollment Begins: March 2026
Course Dates: February 2026-March 2027
Potential Compensation: Eligible students who complete courses in this program may receive payment.
Training curricula for the Pathways to Professionalization for IHSS Workers program were developed by the Center for Caregiver Advancement (CCA). The program equips home caregivers with the essential skills they need to improve the quality of care they provide to consumers. This training also strengthens job confidence and builds career pathways for advancement in long-term care.
Not sure what county you are in? You can check your county HERE.
IHSS Workers in Los Angeles County
Course 1, ENROLL HERE: Caregiving Essentials
Sign up for this course in Los Angeles by clicking a button below to access the enrollment form in your language:
IHSS Workers in San Francisco, Santa Clara & San Mateo Counties
Course 1, ENROLL HERE: Alzheimer’s & Related Dementias (ADRD)
Sign up for this course by clicking a button below to access the enrollment form in your language:
Course 2, ENROLL HERE: Emergency & Disaster Readiness (EDR)
Sign up for this course by clicking a button below to access the enrollment form in your language:
NOTE: The form can take up to 60 minutes to fill out, and you must complete the form in one session.
More About These Caregiver Training Courses
Languages Offered: English, Spanish, Cantonese, and Korean
Learning Format: Self-paced eLearning online
Potential Compensation in Northern California: $770
Potential Compensation in Los Angeles County: $1,540 (for students who complete the RCT)
Program Dates for Northern California: February 2026 – March 2027
Program Dates for Los Angeles California: March 2026 – March 2027
Eligibility:
- For the ADRD course, caregivers must care for a consumer at least 50 years of age who shows signs of memory loss or cognitive decline.
- For the EDR course, caregivers must live in an environmentally impacted neighborhood based on the CalEnviroScreen tool.
- For the “Caregiving Essentials” course in Los Angeles County, caregivers must be active IHSS providers with a care recipient who lives in LA County and has the L.A. Care Health Plan.
Career Pathway
Students who complete a training course in the Pathways to Professionalization for IHSS Workers program become eligible to apply for other training or career pathways, including a CCA-sponsored Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training course. This course prepares students for CNA certification, with potential for a $5/hour wage increase upon entering the CNA field.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About These Caregiver Training Courses
What are the benefits for participants in Northern California?
IHSS Workers in Northern California may:
Receive a stipend of $770 upon successful completion of each e-learning course.
Qualify for CCA-sponsored CNA training to prepare for CNA certification, with potential to earn up to a $5/hour wage increase upon entering the CNA field.
Note: Additional applications and eligibility requirements apply for CNA training programs. Please contact CCA for details. Email us at: studentaffairs@advancecaregivers.org
What is the goal of the training courses offered in Northern California?
Goal: Train 850 IHSS workers across the Northern California counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara, through self-paced e-learning in ADRD & EDR.
What is the goal of the “Caregiving Essentials” course offered in Los Angeles, California?
In Southern California (Los Angeles County), 1,050 IHSS workers will be trained through the “IHSS Caregiving Essentials” course. Another 1,050 will be randomly selected to participate in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) in Los Angeles County, conducted by researchers from the J-PAL lab at MIT. The RCT studies the impact of caregiver training on care recipient outcomes.
Students who complete the RCT, may receive a stipend of $1,540 upon successful completion of all course modules and participation in the study.
Please contact CCA for more details. Email us at: studentaffairs@advancecaregivers.org
Questions?
If you have questions about this program, please email us at: studentaffairs@advancecaregivers.org
Related Reading: Impact Stories About Caregiving
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