Gallaudet University and the American Caregiver Association Offer the First and Only ASL-Based Caregiver Certification Pathway in the United States

Deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans can now train and certify as caregivers entirely in American Sign Language, in a field the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects will add roughly 765,800 openings a year

Colorado Springs, CO. — 8-4-2026 . The American Caregiver Association (ACA) and Gallaudet University offer the only caregiver certification pathway in the United States delivered in American Sign Language. The program, called the Deaf Centered National Caregiver Course, is taught in ASL and English through Gallaudet’s Center for Continuing Education and prepares learners to sit the American Caregiver Association certification examination.

Gallaudet University describes the program as the first of its kind, making this a unique partnership with the ACA. It is designed both for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people entering caregiving as a career, and for caregivers who support Deaf senior citizens.

Home health, personal care aides, family and companion caregivers are now the largest occupation in the United States by employment, with more than 4.3 million workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the field will grow 17 percent between 2024 and 2034, far faster than the average for all occupations, with roughly 765,800 openings each year. Caregiver training in the United States has historically been delivered in spoken English, which has left Deaf and hard-of-hearing candidates without an accessible route into one of the country’s fastest-growing occupations.

The pathway has been available since 2021. To date, about 100 caregivers have completed certification through it. The course is delivered fully online and is self-paced. Coursework covers client rights, hygiene, dementia care and disease prevention. On completing the course and passing the examination, participants receive caregiver certification from the American Caregiver Association.

ACA President Vincent S. Pettis was cited in a February 2025 United States Senate release supporting the Paid Family and Medical Leave Tax Credit Extension and Enhancement Act, appearing alongside statements from the Society for Human Resource Management, the National Federation of Independent Businesses and Bipartisan Policy Center Action.  Pettis says that the “American Caregiver Association is fully committed to supporting our caregivers in as many ways as we can.  This includes common sense legislation, quality training and certification, and advocacy where it’s needed.”  

Information about the Gallaudet University program is available at https://gallaudet.edu/goal/pst-93-deaf-centered-national-caregiver-course-5.  You can also watch the YouTube video about this course here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rEOaQA4kj8. Information about cost and course specific information can be found here: https://us.extensions.blackboard.com/tools/9ae04c. 

The Information about American Caregiver Association certification is available at 

About the American Caregiver Association

The American Caregiver Association (ACA) is the national certifying organization for caregivers in the United States and the largest caregiver certifying body around the globe. The ACA provides online certification courses for non-medical caregivers in the United States and internationally. Its programs include its core courses such as the  (NCCC), the  (ANCCC). 

In addition to its core certification courses (e.g., NCCC, ANCCC) and specialist courses in Alzheimer’s care, dementia care and activities of daily living, along with certification for assisted living managers and an accreditation program for assisted living facilities.  The ACA also offers a or MCC.

American Caregiver Association certification covers non-medical caregiving, including personal care, safety, client rights and emergency response. Caregivers who complete ACA certification are recorded in the National Caregiver Registry (NCR) , which allows employers, families and insurers to confirm a caregiver’s certification status on request. The NCR is the world’s largest database of certified caregivers.  Learn more about the NCR at 

Media contact for American Caregiver Association

Nancy Stahl, American Caregiver Association 1-800-625-8108,  [email protected]

About Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University, chartered by the United States Congress in 1864, is a private federally chartered university in Washington, D.C. serving deaf and hard of hearing students. Its Center for Continuing Education delivers professional training programs to learners nationwide.