Activities Aide Certification and Training Program Information
An activities aide plans, manages and implements activities for those who reside in senior living centers or visit adult daycare and community centers. While it is not always necessary, many organizations prefer the applicant be certified. The National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP) sets the standards for certification. Certification programs involve training and will yield an Activity Assistant Certified (AAC) certification.
Certification for an Activities Aide
Generally, those applying for an activities aide position do not need to be certified to work in the field. Most employers prefer the applicant have a bachelor's degree for higher-level recreational activities; however, an associate's degree is often sufficient for many positions in this field. Therefore, activities aides who have become certified have often done so on their volition. An activities aide can become certified through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP). The NCCAP offers the standard Activity Assistant Certified (AAC) certification (www.nccap.org).
Education Prerequisites
The NCCAP has three tracks that allow the individual to acquire an AAC. The first track requires 30 college credits, and track two requires a high school diploma or a GED and six college credits. Track three requires a high school diploma or a GED plus an education program designed specifically for activity professionals, including a required 90 hours of study.
Program Coursework
Certification is often the gateway to an associate's or bachelor's degree in gerontology or recreational therapy. Certification coursework typically includes:
- Sociology
- Cultural issues in gerontology
- Sociology of the aging
- Substance abuse
- Ethical issues and aging
- Physical fitness
Employment Outlook and Career Info
Certification increases an applicant's chance of becoming hired as an activities aide at many elder care facilities, reported NCCAP. Payscale.com reported that the median salary of a certified activity assistant was $23,696 as of December 2010. This figure was based upon a company size of 10-49 people. Certification in this specific field may be combined with other professional credentials such as those in health education, wellness and fitness studies and occupational therapy.
Continuing Education and Training
The NCCAP has continuing education standards for all certified activities aides. Qualifying continuing education includes content from the Modular Education program for Activity Professionals (MEPAP) or coursework from the NCCAP's Body of Knowledge topics. Body of Knowledge courses reinforce the fundamentals of working with clients, management and ethical issues, as well recreational program management. Further, many activities are applicable toward continuing education credits, such as facility tours, home-study courses, adult education workshops and seminars, college or university studies and published educational articles. These continuing education courses are similar to those found in training programs.
The three tracks involved in the NCCAP's activity assistant certification program involve differing degrees of activity and training experience. Track one involves 2,000 hours of activity experience within a five-year period; track two involves 4,000 hours within five years and track three involves 2,000 hours within five years.
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