If you are looking to expand your skill set and enter in to the aging in place field, it is very helpful to have a certification. But which one? In this guide, we will break down the top ones and best quality and resources for your time and money. 

1. Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS): 

Key take aways: Great value, reasonable price, easy to take, additional business training for free, well known, free coaching call, AOTA and APTA credits as well as CEUS for other providers. 

This is a certification awarded by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in partnership with Lowes. It has undergone rigorous review and is well recognized by the AARP and is commonly known to the public. 

• How is it provided? You can sign up for just 1 or all 3 classes in the series. They are each 6 hours, are fully online, but are live training with handouts and brief quiz at the end. There are plenty of breakout times to discuss questions and the class walks through examples of a variety of home set up scenarios.  And don't worry, you don't have to keep your microphone and camera on at all times. 
• Does this come with CEUS: yes, home builders are awarded credits, as well as certain providers like Alternative Healthcare Careers here comes with AOTA and APTA CEUs (18 live continuing education hours)
• What are the requirements? There are no educational or background requirements to take this certification
• Who is this best for? Occupational Therapists, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Relator, General Contractors, Interior Designers, Project Managers, Builders, Case Managers, Nurses, Social Workers, Equipment Specialists like ATPs
• What does the course cover?
  • CAPS I is about marketing.  Here are the NAHB's key objectives for CAPS I: 
    • Identify access points and marketing opportunities within targeted AIP market segments.
    • Explain how allied professionals can collaborate effectively to serve a targeted AIP market.
    • Identify common challenges of functioning in a real-world environment for the AIP population.
    • Enhance the client consulting process with effective needs assessment and communication techniques.
  • CAPS II is about design.  Here are the NAHB's key objectives for CAPS II: 
    • Identify special considerations for estimating, scheduling and executing livable home and AIP jobs while the client is in residence.
    • Identify legal and contractual considerations for building professionals providing livable home and AIP design solutions for residential clients.
    • Describe the categories of design and how they relate and apply to the three AIP market segments.
    • Describe specific design concepts for the livable home and AIP client. The course presents various methods and techniques for modifying home design, from the perspective of new construction and retrofitting
  • CAPS IIL goes even deeper into modifications, design, but also budgets and installation. Here are the NAHB's key objectives for CAPS III: 
    • Create comprehensive designs for aging in place projects.
    • Become familiar with available innovative and specialized products.
    • Practice design and installation for key components of in AIP home design.
    • Implement techniques of budget integration into design and product selection
    • Identify common missteps for design and installation of AIP solutions.
    • Review and apply solutions for common single-room modifications cases
    • Identify common installation considerations for modifications of a specified space.
    • Prioritize solutions in a whole house multi-generational case study while being compliant with budgetary constraints with consideration given to phased construction application.
    • Prioritize individual tasks relative to a projects budget
• What is the cost? The most reasonable provider is Alternative Healthcare Careers. The price for the 3 day live training is $750 if you are a NAHB member or $765 for a non member. You can also take one class at a time too. 
• Who is the best provider to take this class from? 

We are a little biased but Alternative Healthcare Careers has the most robust bonuses and extra features for it's CAPS training as well as the best price for the CAPS currently. Here is their CAPS link to learn more: https://www.alternativehealthcarecareers.com/homemod.

Why choose Alternative Healthcare Careers as your CAPS provider? 

1. Their program is AOTA approved and approved for nearly every state for PT/PTA credits. Not every provider has take the time to ensure this extra benefit. This is in addition to the normal credits that any CAPS provider awards to interior designers and home builders. 

2. Their program also comes with free marketing templates and website templates you can use

3. They have created additional business trainings that you have lifetime access to

4. They have a Facebook group just for students and also often share client opportunities

5. They offer a flexible schedule. You can mix and matches dates if you give them notice. This makes it much easier for working individuals to take their classes. 

6. They have the most reasonable price and also a payment plan

7. They have excellent customer support and even offer a free private phone call to answer any of your post CAPS questions. 

Certified Living In Place Professional (CLIPP)

Key take aways: reasonable price, easy to take, less well known, no healthcare CEUS. 

The CLIPP certification is provided by the Living In Place Institute. Similar to the CAPS, it focuses on home accessibility, safety, and aging in place with a team approach. 

Who is the CLIPP for? 

• Architects, developers, and builders, contractors
• Kitchen & Bath Designers / Interior Designers
• Home inspectors
• Lighting specialists
• Smart Technology System Desigers / Intergrators
• Medical providers (OTs, PTs, physicians, nurses, etc...)
• Real estate professionals
• Non-profit and government design / construction staff
• Anyone who wishes to learn more about helping make clients homes more accessible, healthier, safer, more secure, beautiful, functional, and connected

What is the cost? The cost is $600

How is it provided?  CLIPP classes are a combination of live-interactive, and on-demand pre-recorded classes that can be viewed at your convenience. Total of 16 hours of class time. There is a brief quiz after each class.

Are there CEUS? No CEUs are provided for PTs, OTs, and other health professionals. You do get 16 ceus for 

• National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
• American Society for Home Inspectors (ASHI)

Here is the CLIPP Agenda:

• Introduction to Living In Place
• Overview of Course Objectives
• Experiential Meal

• Interprofessional Teams
• Statistics & Trends (The Why of Living In Place)

• Medical Issues & Solutions
• Home Assessments
• Living In Place Institute Network

• Electrical, Color, Halls & Walkways, Doors, Windows

• Faucets, Countertops, sinks, Cabinets
• Drawers, Appliances, Flooring​

• Kitchens, Class Exercise for Kitchen Design, Bathrooms, Laundry, Exteriors, Yards
• Memory & Cognitive Solutions. Unique Needs, Building Permits, Wellness
• Business Structure, Marketing
• Final Exam
• Course Evaluation

Executive Certificate in Home Modification Program

Key take aways: most expensive, classes fill up fast so it can be hard if you don't sign up for the whole series right away, more for healthcare professionals, no PT/PTA CEUS, rigorous with much more time to be put into assignments and quizzes and it takes longer to achieve the certification.  But it is high quality. I think of this as a great 2nd certification. Once you know you really like this field, then this could be a good 2nd program to take. 

This program is hosted by USC, The University of Southern California and roughly 4 months of online training, PDFs, assignments and online discussions. 

What is the cost? If you buy all the courses at once it is $1100 or if you buy one at a time it adds up to $1250. 

What is the format, how is the program provided? It is all on demand. There are some videos you must watch, written lectures to read, PDFs to read, and then tests and assignments to complete.  I've taken these classes and when they say each class is about 12 hours, they are right as it can take a lot of time to finish the assignments. 

Who is USC ECHM Certification best suited for? 

This is best for OTs and COTAs as well as other healthcare professionals. Remodelers/contractors, planners, personnel of organizations representing the elderly and people with disabilities, policymakers, and others interested in starting their own home modification business are all able to take and benefit from this certification. 

Are there CEUs provided? Courses 1-4 offer 12 learning hours approved by the AOTA and course 5 offers 6 hours. No PT/PTA approvals nor CEUs for others. 

What will you learn? 

Home Modification Course #1: The Basics and Beyond covers important aspects of universal design and assistive devices in maintaining independence. Students will become familiar with home assessment instruments and safety checklists. 

Home Modification Course #2: How to Get it Done equips students with the skills to: identify a qualified contractor; negotiate for contractor services; read architectural drawings and plans; individualize home modification strategies to meet users’ needs; locate products; and evaluate a project upon completion. 

Home Modification Course #3: Funding Resources and Financing Mechanisms covers how to fund home modifications and how to tap into community resources. 

Home Modification Course #4: Raising Community Awareness and Coalition Building examines the process of raising community awareness about the need for home modifications. It will teach students how to assess the home modification needs of their community and how to build strong, effective community coalitions.

Home Modification Course #5: The Ethics of Home Modification is designed to raise your awareness of ethical issues related to home modification. It will address what ethics are, why they are important and how they apply to special populations including older persons and persons with disabilities.