How long does it take to become a Direct Care Worker?

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a direct care worker. That is the time it takes to learn specific direct care worker skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Direct Care Worker: What It Is and Career Path

What is a direct care worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Direct care workers are specialists in caregiving. Direct care specialists' role is known as a noble cause as it takes serving other people. You will be assisting patients who have certain disabilities or illnesses with their hygiene and personal care. Hence you will need to be present by the patient's side for hours. Similarly, you will observe the patient's state while ensuring that they recover from their illness soon. As a result, you will meet with the family of the patients to discuss the condition with them.

You tend to play a critical role in serving society. Hence, you will enjoy a respectable position in society. You will need to possess interpersonal skills which work well with different kinds of people. Being compassionate and having the physical stamina to help patients is also required. Another skill required is the ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Direct care worker exhibits the ability to think quickly and act calmly in an emergency. They earn an average of $24,090 yearly.

ScoreDirect Care WorkerUS Average

Salary

2.3

Avg. Salary $29,343

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

8.0

Growth Rate 36%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.88%

Asian 7.65%

Black or African American 12.58%

Hispanic or Latino 13.74%

Unknown 4.02%

White 61.13%

Gender

female 76.60%

male 23.40%

Age - 50

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50

Stress Level

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

7.5

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

9.6

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a direct care worker

Explore direct care worker education requirements

Most common direct care worker degrees

High School Diploma

32.3 %

Bachelor's

25.1 %

Associate

18.9 %

Start to develop specific direct care worker skills

Skills	Percentages
Direct Care	21.82%
Patients	11.23%
CPR	6.75%
Developmental Disabilities	4.22%
Crisis Intervention	4.07%

Gain additional direct care worker certifications

Direct care worker certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific direct care worker certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for direct care workers include Medical Assistant and Patient Care Technician.

More About Certifications

Research direct care worker duties and responsibilities

Provide caring companionship to elderly and developmentally disable patients with or without chronic health diagnosis.
Assist individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities with ADL's.
Conduct socialization groups to aid individuals in development of ADL and socialization skills.
Prepare daily documents administer medications handle patients hygiene house cleaning and provide transportation to and from appointment

Prepare your direct care worker resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your direct care worker resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a direct care worker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Direct Care Worker Resume templates

Build a professional Direct Care Worker resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Direct Care Worker resume.

Apply for direct care worker jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a direct care worker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do direct care workers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Direct Care Worker reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022

Cons

Working behind a caregiver that’s not well trained

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2021

Pros

I like helping people and providing for their needs

Cons

The wages are not live-able at all.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020

Pros

Observing clients master new skills and interacting with client on daily.Providing new challenges and goals specific to client abilities.

Cons

Family members disregard for clients Rights and only seem to want clients funds.

What is a direct care worker and how to become one

Direct Care Worker career paths

Key steps to become a direct care worker

Explore direct care worker education requirements

Most common direct care worker degrees

Start to develop specific direct care worker skills

Gain additional direct care worker certifications

Research direct care worker duties and responsibilities

Prepare your direct care worker resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Direct Care Worker Resume templates

Apply for direct care worker jobs

How Did You Land Your First Direct Care Worker Job

Average direct care worker salary

How do direct care workers rate their job?

Direct Care Worker reviews

Direct Care Worker FAQs

How long does it take to become a Direct Care Worker?

Search for direct care worker jobs

Direct Care Worker jobs by state