Program Highlights

  • Explore foundations of healthcare to jumpstart a future career in nursing.
  • Perform personal care tasks including health monitoring, vital signs, and emotional support.
  • Experience the passion of providing quality care while working with nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Career Focus

  • The first step to earning your direct care worker certification is to successfully complete the CAVIT one-year program. At the end of the program, it’s time to earn your certification by passing the exam. Finally, it’s time to update your resume, apply for, and land a direct care worker position and/or continue your post-secondary education and earn a nursing-related degree.

Listing of Instructional Topics

Semester One:

  • Legal and Ethical Issues
  • Communication and Diversity
  • Human Needs Development
  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • First Aid/CPR and OSHA
  • Positioning, Transfers, and Ambulation
  • Personal Care Skills
  • Nutrition

Semester Two:

  • Pulse, Respiration, Vital Signs
  • Movement and Structure Body Systems
  • Control and Communication Body Systems
  • Maintenance and Transport Body Systems
  • Waste and Defense Body Systems
  • Phlebotomy and Venipuncture
  • Direct Care Worker Exam Prep

Direct Care Worker Entry Level Salary

  • Hourly: $12.54–$15.47
  • Annual: $26,080–$32,100

*Source – Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wages

Related Career Pathways

  • Certified or Licensed Nursing Assistant
  • Dietary Aide
  • Dialysis Technician
  • Medical Office Manager
  • Medical Research Specialist
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Patient Transporter
  • Pediatrician
  • Registered Nurse