Skip to main content

WisCaregiver Careers: CDCP—Connect Students to Health Care Careers

Help your students launch their health care careers

The WisCaregiver Careers Certified Direct Care Professional program offers a free, online, and turnkey curriculum that takes about 30 hours to complete. The CDCP program is approved by the Department of Public Instruction as a career pathway option. Watch this video to see how students will earn credentials to give back to your community, gain employment, and advance in health care.

Students who are completing their free, online certified direct care professional training look forward to launching their careers and building their college resumes. What’s more, they’ll soon be able to work flexible hours in their communities, helping neighbors stay in their own homes. See what students are saying in this video.

Choose the lesson approach that’s right for you

It’s easy to incorporate the 30-hour Certified Direct Care Professional training into your curriculum. Lesson plans are available for:

  • An independent learning course
  • A high school course to supplement other industry-recognized credentials
  • A high school course to complement other health science curriculum

There are 14 lessons with interactive content that can be taken in 14 weeks or less. Teachers choose the pacing that’s right for their classroom. Download a copy of the CDCP Teacher Guide (PDF) to get started.

Receive support from a team of experts

WisCaregiver Careers has partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) to create the CDCP curriculum. UWGB manages the courses, testing, and certification of your students. The CDCP helpdesk (cdcp@uwgb.edu) can provide support during registration and during course work, as needed.

Earn $250 for every CDCP referral​

When students earn their CDCP certification, teachers are eligible to receive bonus incentives to support their Health Science Career Pathway programs. Here’s how it works:

  • Teachers from any discipline can refer a student to the CDCP program
  • Students must include the referring teacher’s name at registration (only one referral per individual registration)
  • Referring teachers receive $250 for every student who completes the program and earns their CDCP certification (incentives are sent to the school in care of the teacher)
  • There is no limit to the number of students a teacher can refer

Learn more about all the WisCaregiver Careers CDCP referral incentives.

The value of CDCP certification

Students who successfully complete the CDCP training and competency test will be added to Wisconsin’s Certified Direct Care Professional Registry. CDCPs will:

  • Help older adults and individuals with a disability live their best lives
  • Be eligible to earn bonuses up to $500
  • Learn essential skills to succeed in a caregiving career and beyond
  • Connect with employers, from home health to residential care apartment complexes
  • Have access to microcredentials to upskill their resume
  • Grow into future positions, such as a certified nurse aide (CNA), medication aide, licensed practical nurse, and more

Start participating in the CDCP program

Glossary

 
Last revised June 30, 2026