WisCaregiver Careers: CNA—Frequently Asked Questions
WisCaregiver Careers is a public-private partnership administered by Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) in partnership with the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay.
WisCaregiver Careers offers you a choice of different career pathways:
- The Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP) program is a free, online training program that takes about 30 hours to complete. It's designed for people who are new to health care and provides the knowledge and skills needed to start an entry level career as a direct care professional. CDCPs provide care in clients' homes and in community-based group settings.
- The Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) program through WisCaregiver Careers is an earn-while-you-learn opportunity. This program combines paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction. CNAs provide care to residents of nursing home facilities.
WisCaregiver Careers CNA is an employment-first program, meaning you apply for employment in a nursing home setting first. WisCaregiver Careers helps connect interested individuals who want to become a CNA with participating employers.
When you sign up for WisCaregiver Careers, you will be connected with participating employers in your area.
You can also contact our program partner at your local FSET (Food Share Employment and Training) office to receive additional support that will help you get your CNA certification. FSET offices can provide uniforms, shoes, transportation vouchers, and other help to those who qualify. Make sure to tell them that you are interested in WisCaregiver Careers.
Please note that to become a CNA you must complete competency testing. The cost for the exam may be covered through your employer.
WisCaregiver Careers is an employment-first model in the nursing home and extended care field. This means that you apply first for any open position or entry-level position with an employer of interest. Some employers may hire you first in another position while you get trained as a CNA. You will be able to choose from participating employers across the state.
To be part of WisCaregiver Careers, you will apply directly to the employer indicating during the application or interview process you are interested in becoming a WisCaregiver.
It’s easy to get started, simply sign up for WisCaregiver Careers.
WisCaregiver Careers is a job search tool powered by the Handshake platform.
Once you sign up for WisCaregiver Careers, you will automatically be added to the platform. Your name and contact information will be searchable by participating WisCaregiver Careers employers.
Approximately 72 hours after registering, you will receive an email from WisCaregiver Careers with instructions for completing your Handshake profile. During periods of high registration volume, holidays, or office closures, this email may take longer to arrive.
Please do not create a Handshake account on your own. Wait until you receive an email from our team and follow the instructions provided. This ensures your account is connected correctly to the WisCaregiver Careers program.
Completing these final steps is required so participating WisCaregiver Careers employers can see that you are actively seeking employment.
The CNA career pathway opens up many opportunities to care for residents of nursing home facilities. CNAs can advance their careers to medication aide, LPN, RN, and on to director of nursing and nursing home administrator. In addition, CNAs can choose many other management positions in nursing homes related to activities, facilities, food service, human resources, and business office services.
You can take the first step to a meaningful career right on this website. Sign up for WisCaregiver Careers.
If you’d like to check out all participating employers in our program, go to the CNA—Find Employers webpage. You will find an up-to-date map showing the growing number of employers currently offering WisCaregiver Careers benefits across the state. Click on any one of the map markers, and you can learn more about a potential employer, including their address, a link to their website, and more.
The great thing about WisCaregiver Careers CNA program is that you are in charge of deciding where you want to work and learn. You apply directly to your chosen employer as a CNA or a CNA trainee, depending on how the employer has structured their application.
Wiscaregiver Careers does not match participants with employers or guarantee employment. Each participating skilled nursing facility independently decides which positions are available, who to interview, and who to hire.
Individuals are responsible for finding and applying to an actively participating skilled nursing facility. Check the participating employer map and facility websites for entry-level opportunities, such as CNA trainee, dietary aide, activities aide, hospitality aide, housekeeping, or food service positions.
Individuals may also contact a participating facility directly to ask whether it is currently hiring and how or when you may be considered for their CNA training pathway through WisCaregiver Careers.
Registration with WisCaregiver Careers is not a job application. All individuals must apply directly to the facility and complete their standard hiring process to qualify for WisCaregiver Careers reimbursement funding.
WisCaregiver Careers does not set a minimum age or require participants to work a specific number of hours. Participating employers establish their own hiring, scheduling, and employment requirements, including whether part-time, full-time, on-call, or per diem positions qualify.
Employers must clearly communicate these requirements during the hiring process and follow all applicable employment laws for minors, including work permit requirements and restrictions related to certain job duties or equipment. For example, employees must be at least 16 years old to operate mechanical lifts.
Applicants should discuss age, scheduling, and employment-status requirements directly with the employer before accepting a position. For questions about Wisconsin nurse aide training requirements, contact DHSWIDQA_NATCEP@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
No. State funding guidelines limit WisCaregiver Careers CNA funding to Medicaid-certified Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities. Participants must be employed by an eligible skilled nursing facility while completing CNA training and the six-month retention period.
Individuals interested in working in an assisted living facility may want to explore the Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP) program.
No. Effective January 1, 2026, WisCaregiver Careers no longer provides funding for CNA recertification. The program is limited to individuals pursuing initial CNA certification.
Contact the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry or an approved testing provider for information about recertification options outside the WisCaregiver Careers program.
Yes! WisCaregiver Careers has expanded and there's now an option to become a Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP). Though it is all through WisCaregiver Careers, there are two separate programs for those who want to be Certified Nursing Aide (CNA) and those who want to become Certified Direct Care Professional (CDCP). If you are interested in becoming a CNA, you're in the right place.