Prepare to Care: Health Support Professional

Your Path to Becoming a Direct Care Worker

Want to become a Direct Care Worker and help others? In this fun and interactive program, you'll learn the skills needed to care for people, meet their basic needs, and help them stay healthy.

You'll practice in a safe environment with hands-on lab activities to build the basic medical and personal care skills needed to earn your Prepare to Care: Health Support Professional certificate.

The Health Support Professional certificate is awarded through Iowa's Prepare to Care curriculum. It is not the state-approved 75-hour CNA course. However, you'll gain the foundational skills needed to take the state Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) exam as a Challenger. Keep in mind that some employers may require CNA certification earned through a state-approved CNA course, so you may need to complete the standalone CNA course instead.

Health Support Professional At a Glance

Award
Workplace Certificate
Length of Study
10 weeks
Classes Meet
Daytime
Face-to-Face, Online
Program Start
Fall, Spring, Summer

See all Nursing options at Hawkeye

Your Health Support Professional Career

As a health support professional, you work in multiple settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and residential care facilities providing basic care and support to people of all ages with health conditions, illnesses, and disabilities. Graduates may find jobs as:

  • Nursing Assistants
  • Home Health Aides

Program Overview

Core

Obtain basic knowledge and an introduction to the direct care profession. Core competencies include:

  • Professionalism
  • Person-Centered Approach
  • Communication and Interpersonal Skills
  • Infection Control
  • Documentation
  • Mobility Assistance and Worker Safety

Personal Activities of Daily Living

Services to assist and individual in meeting their basic needs.

Health Monitoring and Maintenance

Services that support and maintain an individual's health and provide functional support for certain conditions.

Prepare to Care is a statewide training program that offers flexible career pathways in direct care, one of Iowa's fastest-growing fields. Direct care professionals, including nurse aides, home health aides, and personal care attendants, provide hands-on support in homes, hospitals, and care facilities. The training is open to both experienced workers and those new to the field.

Both Health Support Professionals and Certified Nurse Aides are vital for patient care. Use the guide below to see which track makes sense for your career journey.

  Health Support Professional CNA
Curriculum Iowa Prepare to Care (Core, Personal Activities of Daily Living, Health Monitoring) 75-Hour DIAL-Approved Course (Lecture, Lab, Clinical)
Credential Earned Health Support Professional Workplace Certificate Certified Nurse Aide State Certification
State Registry Gives you the core knowledge to register for and challenge the state CNA exams independently. Automatically qualifies you to take exams for placement on the Registry.
Where You Can Work Hospitals, assisted living, home health care, or facilities accepting non-certified nursing assistants. All healthcare settings, including mandatory eligibility for Long-Term Care facilities and nursing homes.
State Auditing Not governed or audited by DIAL. Governed and audited every two years by DIAL.

This program is not eligible for Federal Financial Aid, but other funding options may be available. We'll help you with the options.

Discover your funding options!

How to Get Started

Register and pay now for the next class or meet with a Pathway Navigator to discuss your goals.

Register Online Request Information

Program Contacts

Program Coordinator

Brenda Helmuth
319-296-2320 ext.3017
Email Hawkeye Health Education

Pathway Navigator

Marianne Hartz
319-296-4296 ext.3107
Email Marianne Hartz

Business and Community Education Registration

319-296-2490
Email to Register