Options for individuals and providers

High-quality dementia care training can lead to an improvement in communication between caregivers and individuals living with dementia, a reduction in dementia-related behaviors and an increase in job satisfaction for staff.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers flexible choices to implement quality care. Informed by leading dementia researchers and practitioners, our resources provide individuals and providers pathways to training and certification reflecting the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations.

How to choose a training and certification option

Do you need a training program?

• Purchase essentiALZ® — Alzheimer's Association training and certification, which is suitable for professionals working in long-term or community-based settings. The convenient, self-paced curriculum is available in both English and Spanish. This program offers essentiALZ certification and continuing education credit.
• Purchase the Dementia Care Navigation Training Series, a pre-recorded, instructor-led online course for individuals serving in care navigation roles to complete at their own pace. This program meets GUIDE Model requirements, and offers essentiALZ certification for dementia care navigation and continuing education credit.
• Register for the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care ECHO^® Program for Professional Care Providers, a free virtual learning program for professional care providers to learn collaboratively with peers and experts. This program offers continuing education credit.
• Alternatively, register for the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care ECHO^® Program for Care Navigation, a free virtual learning program for care navigators to gain practical experience in an interactive setting. This program offers continuing education credit.
• Or, learn about other recognized training programs that are eligible for essentiALZ certification.

Do you have your own proprietary training program?

• Purchase curriculum review to ensure that your organization’s proprietary dementia care training program reflects the most current, evidence-based information. essentiALZ certification exams must be purchased separately.

Have you already trained your staff with a recognized training program?

• Purchase essentiALZ certification exams. With a passing exam score of 90% or higher, individual staff members will be certified in essentiALZ for two years.

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