Personal Care Aide

Download the Personal Care Aide information sheet

The Personal Care Aide (PCA) training provides students with the foundation of working in a home setting and providing care limited to personal care and light household work. Forty hours of training is needed to pass the certification exam and gain entry into the New York State Department of Health Home Care Registry.

Classes are held on a rolling basis at multiple locations. There is daily assigned homework and scheduled quizzes and exams. SUNY Schenectady has some laptop computers available for loan to registered students.

Requirements

Applicants need to supply required medical information.

We advise students to contact our office to obtain additional information and the necessary forms well in advance of the class.

If you have a criminal record, it may affect your ability to work in a nursing home, home care agency, or hospital. For details, refer to the NYDOH Nursing Home Nurse Aide Certification Handbook(page 3), or NYDOH Codes, Rules, and Regulations, Title 10.