AFH Network

Washington State DSHS

Washington State
Caregiver Training Requirements

A guide to DSHS training requirements for Adult Family Home caregivers and HCA-certified professionals.

Important Disclaimer

This page provides general guidance based on publicly available DSHS information as of 2025. Requirements change — always verify current rules directly with Washington State DSHS before making compliance decisions.

Official source: dshs.wa.gov

Who Needs Training?

Caregivers working in Washington State Adult Family Homes must meet DSHS training requirements if they provide hands-on personal care to residents. This includes:

  • Home Care Aides (HCAs) — the primary certification for paid long-term care workers
  • Adult Family Home staff — employees and contractors providing personal care
  • Unpaid family caregivers — in some circumstances, may also need training

Training is required before caregivers can work independently with residents in most settings.

HCA Certification — 75-Hour Training

HCA Certification Overview

75 hours total training required
Must be completed within 120 days of hire
Includes online theory + in-person skills labs
Final exam required to earn the HCA credential
Registered with the DSHS HCA Registry
Training ComponentHoursFormat
Orientation & Safety5 hrsOnline or in-person
Core Basic Training35 hrsOnline or in-person
Specialty Training (Dementia or Mental Health)8 hrsOnline or in-person
First Aid + CPR4 hrsIn-person (hands-on)
Understanding Bloodborne Pathogens2 hrsOnline
In-Person Skills Lab16 hrsMust be in-person
HCA Exam—In-person proctored exam
AFH Network covers the online theory portions — Orientation, Core Basic, Specialty Training, and Bloodborne Pathogens. In-person skills labs and the final exam must be completed through a DSHS-approved in-person provider.

Annual Continuing Education Requirements

After earning HCA certification, caregivers must complete 12 hours of continuing education (CE) annually to maintain their credential.

  • 12 CE hours per year — minimum required
  • At least 2 hours must be in a new specialty area (depending on the resident population you serve)
  • CE must be completed by the caregiver's certification anniversary date
  • Courses must be DSHS-approved (or aligned with DSHS competency areas)

DSHS Competency Areas

Dementia Care

Understanding types, stages, and care approaches

Mental Health

Supporting residents with mental health conditions

Medication Management

Safe medication handling and administration

Safety & Infection Control

Fall prevention, infection control, emergency response

Communication

Working with residents, families, and care teams

Residents' Rights

Legal rights, dignity, and abuse prevention

Body Mechanics

Safe lifting and transfer techniques

Nutrition & Food Safety

Dietary needs and safe food handling

Specialty Training

Some resident populations require caregivers to complete additional specialty training:

  • Dementia Specialty (8 hrs) — required if any resident has a dementia diagnosis
  • Mental Health Specialty (8 hrs) — required if any resident has a mental health condition
  • Developmental Disability Specialty — required for DD-designated AFHs
  • Nurse Delegation — required if the caregiver performs delegated nursing tasks (such as insulin injections)
Specialty training must typically be renewed every 3 years.

Adult Family Home Requirements

AFHs have specific responsibilities for staff training:

  • The AFH Provider (owner) is responsible for ensuring all employed caregivers are trained and certified
  • New staff must complete orientation within 2 weeks of hire (AFH-specific orientation)
  • Providers must maintain training records and make them available for DSHS inspections
  • Staff training records should document: date completed, hours, topic, and instructor/provider

AFH Owner Training Checklist

Verify HCA certification before hire
Complete AFH orientation (2 weeks)
Assign required specialty training
Track 12 annual CE hours per employee
Maintain training records for DSHS inspection
Request additional training access as needed

Train with AFH Network

Browse our course catalog for continuing education aligned with DSHS competency areas.

Browse Courses

Official DSHS Resources

Always verify current requirements on the official Washington State DSHS website.

Visit DSHS Website