A personal care assistant (PCA) helps with daily living tasks, such as eating, bathing, using the bathroom and getting dressed. Here, see common questions about PCA services.
You can hire your own PCAs if you're using PCA Choice or you're eligible for a waiver and are using consumer-directed community supports (CDCS). To find PCAs, create an account at Direct Support Connect.
Normally, a spouse can't be paid to provide PCA services. During the COVID-19 federal public health emergency a spouse was allowed to be paid to provide services through May 11, 2023.
A temporary six-month extension now allows spouses to be paid to provide PCA services until November 11, 2023.
Contact your partner's PCA agency or county/tribal case manager with questions.
Normally, a parent can't be paid to provide PCA services. During the COVID-19 federal public health emergency parents, stepparents and legal guardians of minors were allowed to be paid to provide PCA program services through May 11, 2023.
A temporary six-month extension now allows parents to be paid to provide PCA services for their minor child until November 11, 2023.
Contact your child's PCA agency or county/tribal case manager with questions.
To become a PCA, you must complete a PCA training course and pass a one-time online test offered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. When you pass the test, you'll receive a PCA certificate (which you should keep as proof of passing the PCA test). Get the details on PCA training. If you're interested in additional training, you can take online classes through the College of Direct Support.
When you're ready to look for PCA work, go to Direct Support Connect. Here, you'll find people who are looking for PCAs. If the person is associated with a provider agency, you may need to enroll with the agency. You can also apply directly to provider agencies. Check MinnesotaHelp to find PCA provider agencies.
You'll need to pass a background check before you can be paid to provide PCA services. If you enroll with a provider agency, the agency may require additional training.
