Fulfill your required training at a convenient, low-cost location.
Penn State delivers continuing education for health care professionals who are preparing to become personal care home administrators and/or administrators and direct-care staff who must meet continuing education requirements.
In addition, individuals who are providing elder care for family members will find several or all topics to be of value and are welcome to attend these courses.
Our programs address issues surrounding personal care homes as well as the responsibility to provide safe, humane, comfortable, and supportive residential settings for adults who don't require the services in or of a licensed, long-term care facility, but do require assistance or supervision with daily living activities and other physical and mental life skills.
All individuals who completed the 100-hour, standardized, department-approved administrator training course after January 31, 2009, must successfully complete the orientation program for new administrators and a competency test with a passing score in accordance with 55 Pa.Code ยง 2600.64(a)(3) (relating to administrator training and orientation).
In addition, current administrators must complete at least 24 hours of training related to job duties. All direct-care staff must complete 12 hours of training.
Penn State is an approved provider through the Department of Human Services Bureau of Human Services Licensing under the Personal Care Homes Licensing Regulations as of April 23, 2005, published in 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600 (35 Pa.B.2499).
Admissions Requirements
You must have one of the following DHS requirements before attending:
- A license as a registered nurse from the Department of State
- An associate degree or 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university
- A license as a licensed practical nurse from the Department of State and one year of work experience in a related field
- A license as a nursing home administrator from the Department of State. For a home serving eight or fewer residents, individuals must have a general education development diploma or high school diploma and two years of direct care or administrative experience in the human services field
Registration
You may register for the entire program for a total cost of $1,277, or you may choose to take classes as needed. These courses may be taken as part of the required 24-hour continuing education credits. Scholarships for the 100-hour course are available through the Thomas R. Roth Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Required Department of Human Services Orientation
You must attend one of the following orientation dates, in addition to the 100-hour course, in order to be eligible to take the PCHA exam. There is no fee for the orientation.
- Location: Penn State Shenango, Sharon Hall, Room 105
- Address: 147 Shenango Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146
- Date: Friday, March 6, 2020
- Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Register for Orientation at Shenango
Entire Course
Penn State Shenango
- Address: 147 Shenango Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146
- Dates: February 24 - 28 and March 23 - 27
- Registration: $1,277
- Register for the 100-hour course at Penn State Shenango
| Course | Penn State Shenango | Time | Cost | CEU's |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medication Procedures, Medication Effects and Side Effects and Universal Precautions | Monday, Feb. 24 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $105 | 7.0 |
| Recreation | Monday, Feb. 24 | 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | $60 | 4.0 |
| Personal Care Services and Personal Hygiene | Tuesday, Feb. 25 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | $135 | 9.0 |
| Cultural Competency | Tuesday, Feb. 25 | 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | $45 | 3.0 |
| Gerontology | Wednesday, Feb. 26 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $90 | 6.0 |
| First Aid & CPR | Wednesday, Feb. 26 | 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | $105 | 7.0 |
| Nutrition, Food Handling & Sanitation | Thursday, Feb. 27 | 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $105 | 7.0 |
| Writing, Completing & Implementing Initial Assessments, Annual Assessments & Support Plans | Thursday, Feb. 27 | 4:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. | $75 | 5.0 |
| Care for Residents with Mental Illness | Friday, Feb. 28 | 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | $135 | 9.0 |
| Fire Prevention and Emergency Preparedness | Monday, March 23 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | $60 | 4.0 |
| Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Reporting | Monday, March 23 | 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. | $90 | 6.0 |
| Care for Residents with Dementia, Cognitive Impairments and Other Special Needs | Tuesday, March 24 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | $120 | 8.0 |
| Community Resources, Social Services, and Activities in the Community | Wednesday, March 25 | 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | $60 | 4.0 |
| Budgeting, Financial Record Keeping and Resident Records | Wednesday, March 25 | 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | $60 | 4.0 |
| Care for Residents with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities | Wednesday, March 25 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | $30 | 2.0 |
| Local, State, and Federal Laws/Regulations Pertaining to the Operation of a Home | Thursday, March 26 | 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | $30 | 2.0 |
| Resident-Home Contracts | Thursday, March 26 | 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | $30 | 2.0 |
| Resident Rights | Thursday, March 26 | 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $45 | 3.0 |
| Staff Supervision and Staff Person Training Including Developing Orientation and Training Guidelines for Staff | Friday, March 27 | 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. | $120 | 8.0 |
| Exam | Friday, March 27 | 5:00 p.m. |
Individual Courses
To register for individual courses at the Penn State Shenango campus, please call 724-773-3700.
Exam
Upon completion of the 100-hour program you may take the certification exam at no cost. Failure to pass will result in a fee of $175 to retake the exam. Prior to a third exam attempt, you are required to retake the 100-hour program.
Licensed Nursing Home Administrators who wish to become licensed as Personal Care Home Administrators must complete the orientation and exam. The fee for the exam is $175. Please call our office to schedule an appointment to take the exam. *Available to schedule at the Penn State Beaver campus only.
Information
For more information or to register by phone, please call 724-773-3700.
Cancellations and refunds
Payment is due upon registration. Registration cancellations with a full refund will be accepted until one week prior to the first class. After that, the individual may be held responsible for registration and fees. The University may cancel or postpone any course or activity because of insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances.