Personal Care Aide (PCA)

Job Summary: As a Personal Care Aide, you will assist older adults, people with disabilities, or those recovering from an illness or injury (such as after a surgery) with daily living activities like preparing meals or getting dressed. You might work with individuals in their homes or in a care facility. You may also advise individuals and their families on nutrition, cleanliness, and how to perform household activities safely. Because these services are often provided in the home, some individuals value receiving services from PCAs that come from the same background or speak the same language as them. 

​Training/Educational Requirements: Personal Care Aides must have a High School Diploma or GED. You do not need a college degree to become a Personal Care Aide. Depending on the setting where you work, your employer may require you to complete a brief training before beginning to work as a Personal Care Aide. 

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Learn about training opportunities to jumpstart your career as a PCA: 

Personal Care Aides (PCA) in the Independent Provider (IP) program work one-on-one with a Medicaid consumer in the consumer’s home. PCAs work to support daily living activities, like bathing, personal hygiene, dressing, light housekeeping, laundry, and some food preparation, among other things. This work also allows the PCA to develop a personal relationship with their consumer providing companionship and invaluable assistance that allows Medicaid recipients to remain in their home with dignity and make personal choices for their care.  Training for PCAs to work in the IP program is provided by the SEIU Training Fund.  PCA wages are funded through Medicaid. To learn more, please contact: 

Dannerys Taveras

cell- (401) 256-4810

dtaveras@1199trainingfund.org

Nursing Assistant

Job Summary: Nursing assistants, also called nurse aides (and in some states, called Certified Nursing Assistants or CNAs), assist patients with basic daily tasks. As a Nursing Assistant, you might work in hospitals or long-term care settings like nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or you may work in an individual’s home. Your responsibilities may include helping the individual with their personal hygiene and with eating, and limited clinical tasks like taking a person's vital signs.  

Training/Educational Requirements: Nursing assistants work under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) or licensed practical nurses (LPNs). To become a Nursing Assistant in Rhode Island, you must complete an approved training program and pass a licensing exam. Rhode Island-approved programs include at least 120 hours of education and include hands-on training. 

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Find a CNA training program:  

• Community College of Rhode Island 
• Cranston Adult Education Programs 
• Crossroads RI 
• Newport Community School 

You can find more CNA training programs by clicking here.  

Case Manager

Job Summary: A Case Manager (CM) is someone who works as an advocate, navigator, and coordinator of services and resources for their clients to help them manage their social, medical, and other care needs. Case managers work in a variety of settings; job responsibilities will vary depending on the setting and the population you serve. Settings can include behavioral health treatment providers, social service agencies, and substance use disorder treatment settings. Across all settings there are five key components of case management: assessment of the client’s strengths and needs; treatment/case planning; referrals to other services and supports; monitoring and follow up; and advocacy and support. Regardless of the population you serve as a case manager, a substantial focus of treatment planning work with clients is the promotion and development of safe and healthy coping mechanisms.   

Training/Educational Requirements: To become certified as a Case Manager, you may be required to have a post-secondary degree (associate, bachelor’s, or master’s) in a related field, depending on the setting and the employer.  

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Peer Recovery Specialist

Job Summary: Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS) or Peer Recovery Coaches are trained and certified to support those with behavioral health concerns or in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD). To be a PRS, you must have lived experience with behavioral health challenges or SUD - this might be your own experience, or experience supporting a family member or loved one.  PRS play an important role in providing support based on their own experience with recovery. As a PRS, you will help clients build understanding, coping skills, and resiliency through mentoring and service coordination. You might work in a wide range of settings including community mental health centers, behavioral health programs, substance use treatment facilities, peer-run organizations, community-based organizations, emergency rooms, courts, homeless shelters, and outreach programs.  

Training/Educational Requirements: PRS must have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED). You must also complete a 46-hour training program on consumer advocacy, mentorship, recovery support, and ethics. You must then pass an exam and apply to the Rhode Island Certification Board. PRS work under the supervision of either a licensed health care professional or a certified PRS supervisor. You can find more information about the Rhode Island certification process for PRS here.  

Find an apprenticeship opportunity to train as a PRS through the Parent Support Network  

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Community Health Worker

Job Summary: Community Health Workers (CHW) are frontline public health professionals who often have similar cultural beliefs, chronic health conditions, disability, or life experiences as other people in the same community. As trusted leaders, they often serve as a link between their community and needed health or social services. As a CHW, you may advocate for your clients’ health needs, help clients navigate the healthcare and social services system, and educate those you work with about their health and wellbeing. 

Training Requirements: To become a certified CHW in Rhode Island, you need to meet certain training, education, and hands-on requirements. This includes a certain number of hours of supervised and unsupervised hands-on work, as well as 70 hours of education across several topics to help you better communicate and work with clients. Once this is completed, you have to apply for a certification through the Rhode Island Department of Health. To learn more, visit the RI Department of Health’s website here, or the CHW Association of RI’s website here. 

Find a CHW training program: 

• Parent Support Network of RI
• Rhode Island College Continuing Study Programs

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Direct Support Professional

Job Summary: Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the frontline staff who directly provide cooperative coaching, empowerment, and a safe environment that fosters independent living of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). You will work alongside individuals in community, employment, and home settings, providing supports that are person-centered, increase inclusion, and lead to valued lives for people with I/DD. While your work is determined by the unique needs and preferences of the individuals you serve, you may provide support with daily living skills such as eating, cleaning, and taking medications. You might also accompany individuals to appointments or activities and support them in volunteering or working, and with socializing outside of their home. 

Training Requirements: DSPs must have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED). A valid driver’s license, your own reliable and insured vehicle, and good driving record are usually required. Pre- and post-employment training requirements are set by individual employers and may vary but might include CPR/first aid certification. While there is not one standard certification pathway for DSPs, the National Alliance for DSPs provides industry-recognized certification options based on completing online education and demonstrating competencies in important areas like crisis prevention, safety, and health and wellness. Rhode Island has endorsed similar core competencies for DSPs in the state. 

Learn more about becoming a DSP in RI at the RI DSP Workforce Hub!

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Training resources:

• Person Centered Thinking Training - Sherlock Center
• Supporting Meaningful Employment Training Series - Sherlock Center 
• Dorcas International Institute of RI

Home-based Therapeutic Services

Job Summary: Home-Based Therapeutic Services (HBTS) providers, also referred to as job titles such as Home-Based Therapeutic Specialists and HBTS support staff, work with children and adolescents with developmental disabilities, emotional and behavioral challenges, and/or other special healthcare needs. HBTS providers help individuals and their families build skills to help the person meet their service plan goals, like coping skills, positive behaviors, and social awareness. As an HBTS provider, you will work closely with clients and their families, and will follow a care plan designed by a licensed clinician who will supervise you and support you in your role. 

Training Requirements: HBTS workers must have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED). A valid driver’s license, own reliable and insured vehicle, and good driving record is usually required. You do not need special certification to become an HBTS provider. Your employer may require you to complete training before you start working. HBTS providers work under close supervision by licensed clinicians, and there are limits to the services they can provide. 

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Dental Assistant

Job Summary: A dental assistant will perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. As a dental assistant, you may also perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. 

Training Requirements: Some employers may require you to be licensed through the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) in order to work as a dental assistant. 

Learn more about the DANB Certification Process [danb.org] to get started.

• Genesis Center [drive.google.com] 
• Community College of Rhode Island [ccri.edu] 
• Cranston Adult Education Programs [cranstonadulteducation.weebly.com]

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Medical Assistant

Job Summary: A Medical Assistant will perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a licensed health professional. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician. 

​Training/Educational Requirements: A Medical Assistant in Rhode Island may become certified in a number of ways, including graduating from an accredited program passing the American Association of Medical Assistants Exam, or through qualifying work experience and demonstrating some competencies. Employers may require certification to work as a Medical Assistant. 

Learn more about what Medical Assistants do and how you can become accredited. 

Find a training program to get started:                

•               Genesis Center [docs.google.com] 
•               Rhode Island College [ric.edu] 

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