Category B Requirements
Unless you are a current LPN, CNA, RN, or Home Health Aide, you must complete at least one approved in-person or virtual instructor-led Category B training. Follow the instructions below to sign up for the free trainings.
- If you are applying via Option 2, you'll need one (1) Category B training.
- If you are applying via Option 3, you'll need to take the training “Personal Care Essentials”.
This is a 12-hour training that takes place over three (3) days.
This training is not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services. - If you are applying via Option 4, you'll need to take two (2) Category B trainings.
Category B: In-Person or Virtual Instructor-Led Trainings
Category B trainings are free instructor-led in-person or virtual trainings.
Training availability depends on which services you provide.
Training availability depends on which services you provide.
List of approved Category B trainings:
- American Heart Association CPR/BLS (in-person)
- American Heart Association First Aid (in-person)
- American Red Cross CPR/BLS (in-person)
- American Red Cross First Aid (in-person)
- Caregiver Wellness: Regaining your Energy, Optimism and Hope (in-person/virtual)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
- Caring for Yourself as a Caregiver (in-person/virtual)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
- Death and Dying for Caregivers (in-person/virtual)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
- In the Know: Home Care Safety Tips (in-person/virtual)
- In the Know: Standard Precautions (in-person/virtual)
- Intro to Conflict Management Resolution Skills (in-person/virtual)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
- Intro to Trauma Informed Care (in-person/virtual)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
- Mental Health First Aid (in-person/virtual)
- Minnesota State CPR/BLS (in-person)
- Minnesota State First Aid (in-person)
- Minnesota State Mental Health First Aid
- Minnesota State OSHA (in-person)
- Minnesota State safe patient handling (in-person)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
- Personal Care Essentials (in-person/virtual)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
- Suicide Awareness Training (in-person/virtual)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
- Supporting the Challenging Client (in-person/virtual)
- Not available to workers providing Traditional PCA services
Signing Up for Category B trainings
For workers providing Traditional PCA services:
- You will need to register yourself at your own cost for a Category B training through Minnesota State's continuing education website.
- Otherwise, you can also register yourself for a First Aid or CPR/BLS training through the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. Note that these trainings must be taken in-person as online-only First Aid and CPR/BLS trainings are not accepted. The hybrid online/in-person trainings through the American Red Cross are accepted.
For workers providing PCA Choice, CDCS and CSG services:
- Visit the PCA Choice, CDCS and CSG services free Category B trainings page.
- Follow the instructions at the top of the page.