Specialized Certifications & Training Pay

The Oregon Home Care Commission (OHCC) offers certifications and training programs that help eligible providers develop additional skills. Eligibility differs by certification and provider type.

Some certifications may qualify a provider for additional hourly pay. Certification alone does not guarantee a wage increase. The provider may also need to work for a consumer-employer who is approved for the corresponding level of services.

A training stipend is different from a certification wage differential:

• A training stipend is payment for eligible time spent attending certain OHCC courses.

• A certification wage differential is additional hourly pay for eligible work after a certification becomes effective.

Requirements, renewal dates and pay eligibility can differ by program. Always review your OHCC award letter and current official program information.

Provider Eligibility at a Glance

Being listed for a program does not mean that every provider automatically qualifies. Certifications may have prerequisites, application requirements or consumer-employer eligibility requirements.

A current CPR/First Aid certification with a skills demonstration is required for PDC, Enhanced, HCW Exceptional, PSW Exceptional and VDQ certifications. OIS-G and COMPASS have different requirements, which are explained below. 

Professional Development Certification (PDC)

Available to: HCWs, PSWs and PCAs

The Professional Development Certification allows active providers to develop additional skills through OHCC training courses. Once OHCC approves the certification, a provider can receive an additional $1.25 per hour for each person they serve for up to two years.

PDC requirements include:

• Five required core courses

• At least five credit hours of approved safety courses

• At least five credit hours of approved elective courses

• A current CPR/First Aid certification with a skills demonstration

The PDC also satisfies the continuing-education training requirement that began in March 2026.

Providers may begin working toward renewal after holding the certification for one year, but not before. CPR/First Aid has its own expiration date and must remain current. If it expires during the PDC certification period, the PDC pay increase stops until CPR/First Aid is renewed.

For complete course, progress-tracking and renewal information, use MHC’s dedicated PDC page.

Enhanced Certification

Available to: HCWs and PSWs

Enhanced Certification prepares providers to support people with heightened support needs. The training includes 24 hours across eight modules: five self-paced online courses and three instructor-led webinars.

To begin the certification, a provider must:

• Have an OHCC Training Website account

• Hold a PDC or pass the Enhanced Certification Readiness Assessment with a score of at least 80%

• Maintain a current CPR/First Aid certification with a skills demonstration

• Upload the CPR/First Aid certificate to the OHCC Training Website

Providers who already hold a PDC may register for Enhanced Certification without completing the Readiness Assessment.

Enhanced certification alone does not guarantee additional pay. To receive the additional $1.00 per hour:

• The provider must earn the Enhanced Certification, and

• The consumer-employer must be approved for Enhanced services

The Enhanced differential may be combined with the PDC differential. Ask the consumer-employer’s case manager or service coordinator if you are unsure whether the person qualifies for Enhanced services.

Providers may begin the renewal process after holding the certification for one year, but not before. Renewal must be completed before the current certification expires. If it expires first, the provider must complete the full Enhanced Certification course again.

If you do not have a PDC, use the current Enhanced Certification Readiness Assessment linked in the Enhanced Certification section of the official OHCC certification page. 

HCW Exceptional Certification

Available to: Homecare Workers (HCWs)

HCW Exceptional Certification is designed primarily for Homecare Workers who support consumers approved for Exceptional services.

The certification includes 49 hours of training delivered through 10 webinar sessions. Topics include traumatic brain injuries, stages of dementia, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed care and effective communication.

To earn the certification, an HCW must:

• Complete the required training and pass all assessments

• Maintain a current CPR/First Aid certification with a skills demonstration

Once certified, an HCW may receive an additional $3.00 per hour while supporting a consumer-employer approved for Exceptional services.

The Exceptional differential cannot be combined with other certification wage differentials.

The course provides general HCW training. The provider must still receive any necessary consumer-specific training in the consumer’s home.

Providers may begin renewing the certification after holding it for one year, but not before. Renewal must be completed before the certification expires. If it expires first, the provider must complete the full HCW Exceptional Certification course again.

Contact the OHCC Certification Team for registration and questions.

PSW Exceptional Certification

Available to: Personal Support Workers (PSWs)

PSW Exceptional Certification is for Personal Support Workers who provide services to someone requiring extensive medical or behavior-related services and supports. Exceptional-level eligibility is determined through an assessment conducted by the person’s Personal Agent or Service Coordinator.

The certification includes approximately 12 hours of blended training.

Before beginning the certification, a PSW must have:

• A current Enhanced Certification

• A current CPR/First Aid certification with a skills demonstration

• A current Oregon Intervention System General (OIS-G) certification

After completing the prerequisites, the PSW must:

• Email a copy of the current OIS-G certificate to the OHCC Certification Team

• Complete the current Exceptional PSW Certification Assessment linked on the official OHCC certification page

Once certified, a PSW may receive an additional $3.00 per hour while supporting someone approved for Exceptional services.

The PSW Exceptional differential cannot be combined with other certification wage differentials.

Providers may begin the renewal process after holding the certification for one year, but not before. All prerequisites must remain active when the certification is renewed.

Ventilator-Dependent Quadriplegia (VDQ) Certification

Available to: HCWs only

VDQ Certification prepares Homecare Workers to support people experiencing quadriplegia who depend on ventilators.

The certification includes 49 hours of blended training through self-paced online learning and instructor-led webinars. Topics include:

• Body, respiratory and nervous systems

• Diagnoses associated with quadriplegia

• Ventilators and generators

• Tracheostomy care and suctioning

• Autonomic dysreflexia

• Behavioral health and emotional support

A provider must maintain a current CPR/First Aid certification with a skills demonstration.

To receive the additional $3.00 per hour:

• The HCW must hold the VDQ Certification, and

• The person receiving services must be approved for the VDQ program

OHCC contacts qualifying HCWs with an invitation before scheduling a VDQ certification cohort. The VDQ differential may be combined with the Enhanced differential.

VDQ coursework provides general training. The HCW must still receive consumer-specific training in the person’s home.

Providers may begin renewing after holding the certification for one year, but not before. Renewal must be completed before the certification expires. If it expires first, the HCW must complete the full VDQ Certification course again.

Oregon Intervention System General (OIS-G)

Available to: PSWs only

OIS-G teaches knowledge and practical skills for safely supporting people through Positive Behavior Support principles. Successful participants receive a two-year OIS-G certification.

OIS-G is a prerequisite for PSW Exceptional Certification. OHCC may pay the cost of OIS-G training for qualifying PSWs.

To qualify for OHCC-paid OIS-G training, a PSW must:

• Have an active PSW provider number or provide proof of approved, paid employment through a CDDP, CIIS program or Brokerage

• Provide proof of paid PSW hours during one of the three full calendar months before submitting the request

• Have completed at least two OHCC training classes, excluding MoneyWise and Challenging Behaviors

The in-person course includes approximately 12 hours of instruction over two or more days. Participants learn person-centered and trauma-informed approaches, ways to reduce restrictive responses, and hands-on techniques for safely evading, deflecting and releasing from grabs.

The PSW must personally complete the current OIS-G request form linked on OHCC’s official certification page. If approved, OHCC will send registration instructions by email. After completing the course, send a copy of the OIS-G certificate to OHCC.

Important Payment Rules

• OHCC pays for qualifying OIS-G training only once every two years.

• OHCC does not reimburse providers who pay for training themselves.

• OHCC does not reimburse instructors who were not approved in advance.

• OIS-G does not provide a training stipend.

PSWs enrolled in the Exceptional PSW Certification program who do not already hold OIS-G may be enrolled in an OHCC OIS-G course through that program.

COMPASS

Available to: HCWs and PSWs

Communities of Practice and Safety Support (COMPASS) is a peer-led training program focused on provider safety, health and well-being. Participants learn and solve problems together, share effective practices and develop strategies for making healthy changes at work and in their personal lives.

A COMPASS cohort includes seven online meetings held approximately every two weeks. Each meeting generally lasts two to three hours.

The first meeting is required. A participant who misses the first meeting cannot continue with the remainder of that cohort.

Topics include:

• Reducing workplace hazards and injuries

• Healthy spine posture and functional fitness

• Using tools to prevent injuries

• Communication that reduces hazards and workplace challenges

• Mental health and coping with stress

• Healthy eating, hobbies and personal action planning

Completing COMPASS satisfies all five safety-course credit hours required for the Professional Development Certification (PDC).

COMPASS does not provide an hourly certification wage differential. Participants may be eligible to receive a training stipend for each meeting. Stipend eligibility depends on the current OHCC training-payment requirements and verified attendance.

Find the current cohort schedule in Elevate and register through PACE.

Understanding Training Stipends and Certification Pay

Training stipends and certification wage differentials are separate types of payment.

Training Stipends

A training stipend pays an eligible provider for verified time spent attending certain OHCC courses.

To qualify:

• You must have received payment for state-funded services during the month of the training or during one of the previous three months.

• Stipends are paid at your base hourly rate.

• Payment is based on attendance records and calculated in 15-minute increments.

• You may receive a stipend for the same PDC course only once every 12 months, regardless of whether it is taken under an on-demand, webinar or in-person format.

• You may not claim paid provider work or attend another class during the same time.

Not every course provides a stipend. OIS-G and OHCC CPR/First Aid training do not provide training stipends. COMPASS participants may be eligible for a stipend for each meeting.

Allow 4–6 weeks after a class ends for stipend processing before contacting the OHCC Training Unit.

Certification Wage Differentials

A certification wage differential increases the provider’s hourly rate when all applicable requirements are met. Some differentials also require the provider to serve a consumer-employer approved for the corresponding service level.

Current differentials described by OHCC include:

• PDC: An additional $1.25 per hour

• Enhanced: An additional $1.00 per hour while serving an employer approved for Enhanced services

• HCW Exceptional: An additional $3.00 per hour while serving an eligible Exceptional consumer-employer

• PSW Exceptional: An additional $3.00 per hour while serving an eligible Exceptional consumer

• VDQ: An additional $3.00 per hour while serving an eligible person approved for the VDQ program

Combining Certification Pay

• PDC may be combined with Enhanced.

• VDQ may be combined with Enhanced.

• HCW Exceptional cannot be combined with another certification wage differential.

• PSW Exceptional cannot be combined with another certification wage differential.

• The separate CPR/First Aid pay increase cannot be combined with another certification wage differential.

Do not assume that completing training automatically starts additional pay. Wait for the OHCC award letter and confirm its effective date. Keep every required certification and prerequisite current to avoid interruption of the differential.

Questions About Certification or Payment?

Certification eligibility, prerequisites and renewals:

certifications.ohcc@odhs.oregon.gov
877-867-0077

Course registration, attendance and training stipends:

training.ohcc@odhsoha.oregon.gov
877-867-0077

When contacting OHCC, identify your provider type and the certification or course involved. Do not send confidential personal information unless OHCC requests it through a secure method.