Personal Assistant Training

The College of Personal Assistance and Caregiving (CPAC) is an interactive, web-based curriculum designed by the UCSF PAS Center for those who work with people with physical disabilities and older adults. Our courses are for personal care assistants, home care providers, and family caregivers who want to develop the skills needed for this important work.

This groundbreaking curriculum also empowers organizations to give their employees a real career path, increasing job satisfaction and reducing turnover.

For more information on these courses please go to: http://directcourseonline.com/personalassistance/


The curriculum includes the following courses:

Personal Care
  • Lesson 1: Personal Care: Basics and Overview
  • Lesson 2: Physical Aspects and Body Mechanics
  • Lesson 3: Bathing, Toileting and Grooming
  • Lesson 4: Infection Control
  • Lesson 5: Health Conditions and Medications
  • Lesson 6: Oral Care
Healthy Lives One: Understanding Health and Healthcare activities
  • Lesson 1: Concepts of Health, Disability and Access
  • Lesson 2: Health Care Visits and Common Illnesses
  • Lesson 3: Disability Related Health Activities—Bowel, Bladder, Port, Feeding Tube and Dialysis Care
  • Lesson 4: Disability Related Health Activities—Pain Management, Skin and Respiratory Care
Healthy Lives Two: Preventive Health and Wellness
  • Lesson 1: Preventing Chronic Diseases
  • Lesson 2: Physical Activity, Lifestyle Choices, and Substance Abuse
  • Lesson 3: Nutrition and Eating
  • Lesson 4: Medication Safety and Alternative Medicine
  • Lesson 5: Mental and Emotional Health
  • Lesson 6: Mental Illness
Disability Rights and Independent Living
  • Lesson 1: Disability History
  • Lesson 2: Disability Rights Progress
  • Lesson 3: What Independent Living Means
  • Lesson 4: Community Inclusion
  • Lesson 5: Working with People who are Self-Directing
Roles and Responsibilities of a Home Care Provider (Coming Winter 2013)
  • Lesson 1: What Is a Home Care Provider
  • Lesson 2: Becoming a Home Care Provider
  • Lesson 3: Avoiding and Reporting Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation
  • Lesson 4: Doing the Right Thing
  • Lesson 5: Practicing Confidentiality and Privacy
  • Lesson 6: Legal Rights and Responsibilities of Providers
Safety at Work: Information for Home Care Providers
  • Lesson 1: Safety in the Home
  • Lesson 2: Abuse
  • Lesson 3: Fire Safety
  • Lesson 4: Accident Prevention and Work Safety
  • Lesson 5: Safety in the Community
Diabetes Care
One intensive lesson
Cerebral Palsy Care
One intensive lesson
Being Prepared for an Emergency (Coming Winter 2013)
Lesson titles forthcoming