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What is a resident care assistant and how to become one
Many elderly patients are best able to get the end-of-life care they need in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. There, resident care assistants provide much of the day-to-day care that patients require in order to live out their lives in dignity and comfort.
The day-to-day tasks of a resident care assistant usually involve doing whatever residents need in order to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Sometimes, this involves helping residents with physical tasks such as bathing and eating. Other times, a resident care assistant helps plan activities for residents or assists them with any treatments.
Most resident care assistants don't have a bachelor's degree because this is the kind of position where the most important skills are learned on the job. Resident care assistants need to be highly organized, efficient, and have physical stamina, as they often need to physically move the patients. Above all, resident care assistants need to be compassionate and provide a caring environment for patients to live out their lives.
What general advice would you give to a resident care assistant?
Jeanne Martin PhD, MSN, RN, CNE
Clinical Associate Professor
Avg. Salary $30,930
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 9%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.85%
Asian 6.64%
Black or African American 8.47%
Hispanic or Latino 12.76%
Unknown 4.79%
White 66.48%
Genderfemale 87.57%
male 12.43%
Age - 41American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 41Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Resident care assistant career paths
Key steps to become a resident care assistant
Explore resident care assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific resident care assistant skills
Skills Percentages Resident Care 17.53% Customer Service 8.25% Patients 8.14% Home Health 8.04% Compassion 5.68% Complete relevant resident care assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New resident care assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a resident care assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real resident care assistant resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming a licensed resident care assistant usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed resident care assistant in most of states. 25 states require resident care assistants to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License url Alaska Degree required Third-party exam required Nurse Aide Arkansas Specific course required Both state and third-party exams required Nursing Assistant (Certified) California Specific course required State exam required Certified Nurse Assistant Colorado Specific course required State exam required Nurse Aide Connecticut Specific course required State exam required Nurses Aide Gain additional resident care assistant certifications
More About CertificationsResident care assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific resident care assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for resident care assistants include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.
Research resident care assistant duties and responsibilities
- Conduct and facilitate PCA lead group activities as scheduled
- Perform patient care, to include ADL's and assistance with ambulation and activities in an Alzheimer's unit.
- Provide care and assistance with ADL's to the residents of the memory care and rehab units.
- Work with a team to care for 48 residents with Alzheimer's disease, chart conditions, administer treatments
Prepare your resident care assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your resident care assistant resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a resident care assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable resident care assistant resume templates
Build a professional resident care assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your resident care assistant resume.
Apply for resident care assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a resident care assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first resident care assistant job
Are you a resident care assistant?
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Average resident care assistant salary
The average resident care assistant salary in the United States is $30,930 per year or $15 per hour. Resident care assistant salaries range between $24,000 and $39,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do resident care assistants rate their job?
Resident care assistant reviews
Very fulfilling and rewarding
Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!
The ability to show care, love & compassion to those whom have none or family can't give time to show any. It's like being the missing piece to a puzzle we all if lucky enough get to live long enough to experience. It's making someones day by just remembering to watch their hands and face before/ after meals. To give proper attention to teeth, to let dressing am or pm still br a choice they make. I know im a good human with an oversized caring heart and although sometimes its exhausting working extra hrs or having to do all or extra work on short staffed days it's worth it. And slow and steady wins the day. They are people whom have gone through & experienced more then we will ever get too.
All the changes with certification and how you can be on the floor of a facility and know not even common sense. How they have hospitality aides, hca, and people going to start a free class. Back in the day we were called glorified babysitters I never agreed until we have just a warm body with no license(s) whom can't do anything even as small as getting ice waters. I've worked hard tobe where i am and these people take a computer class and pass we would call that our continuing education hrs but what do i know after 23 yrs. I once REALLY loved my job and still do but it's almost like being in grade school with people who have phone's lol It bothers me that many new or non licensed bodies have the audacity to come in these facilities and act like the residents are on their time! We are in their home to help provide ADL's amongst other things like them still trying to be & keep their independence. The ridiculous amount they have to spend to have the care they get from some people makes me wanna die young!! Our system sucks unless its the government making the dollar. I just wish they'd spend an 8 hr shift in these facilities before signing off on some rules & regs. Im not political by any means but those who take the dollar should get to live and experience a day of what our elderly lived ones are forced to experience daily , monthly, yearly! In fact the state hasn't even done the 18 month annual expectation in over 2 yrs at the place im contracted at 👍way to keep up on stuff and by stuff I mean our elderly living human beans. People who deserve to be served on gold plates or at least gave better food then what they serve daycares and if not that at least for it to be at high minimum warm food !! In 23 yrs of being a CNA I can only try to write a book to get out all the things I've seen ,heard. & witnessed in the years.
Working behind a caregiver that’s not well trained
Updated January 8, 2025
