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Professional Development

Personal Support Specialist (PSS) Train-the-Trainer Program

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a PSS Trainer?

If you have an interest in becoming a Trainer for the entire PSS Curriculum, contact BHSI at 321-6081 or info@bhsi.net. You will be asked to complete an application and a three-day (18-hour) program. For those individuals that are current CNA/CRMA Trainers, the remaining time involved to become a PSS trainer is approximately 12 hours.

What is covered in the Trainer re-certification course?

The re-certification course focuses on changes to the curriculum, new best practice information, as well as effective strategies for teaching the adult learner.

How are the first 6 modules of PSS and CNA Training related?

Modules 1-6 of the PSS Training constitutes the first 20 hours of both the PSS and the CNA curricula. This “Core” (Modules 1-6) was created to set up a career path for people working in the human services field. Both the PSS and CNA curricula will provide all students with the same first 6 modules. As a Trainer, you will be required to present these first six modules as they are designed and presented in the Instructors Manual.

When I deliver the PSS Training, does completion of the first six modules (20 hours) entitle the student to any credit?

Any student who only completes the first 20 hours of either the PSS or CNA training will not be considered a PSS or a CNA. In order to transfer the first 20 hours of the training a person must complete one of the courses in its entirety, or must enter into another course immediately. It is up to the individual Trainer to provide any verification that a student completed the first 6 modules.

Who will provide certificates for the PSS?

The Department of Human Services will provide all certificates for students successfully completing a PSS Training. If a new hire comes with an official PSS certificate signed by an authorized DHS employee, it means they have completed the PSS Training, which includes the first 20 hours (modules 1-6) of the Core Curriculum. The new hire must enter the CNA training program at Module 7 within 2 years of completing the PSS.