As the largest occupational group in the United States, alongside home health aides, personal care aides (PCAs) play a critical role in supporting millions of Americans. However, despite their significant presence in the workforce, PCAs continue to face persistent job quality challenges, with inadequate training being a key concern. Unlike other direct care workers, PCAs are not subject to federal minimum training requirements, resulting in a fragmented system of training programs that vary widely across states.
This report provides an updated overview of PCA training standards across the United States.