Please read this before you apply. The Care Certificate is not just a course. It is a set of induction standards, and your employer assesses you against them in the workplace. This course covers the knowledge side only. Your employer, or a competent assessor they appoint, observes your practice, assesses your competence and decides whether to sign off the full Care Certificate. Finishing our online course does not mean you have achieved the Care Certificate.
The course is free, but you need to apply for a place and every application is reviewed by a person before you are enrolled. Access is not instant.
Care Certificate course at a glance
- Cost
- free (application required; no payment is taken for the course, the assessment or the certificate)
- Study time
- around 20 hours of online training, at your own pace
- Format
- online and self-paced
- Covers
- the knowledge side of all 16 Care Certificate standards, as updated in 2025
- Assessment
- online knowledge assessment
- Certificate
- a certificate of completion issued by CareCertified
- Accreditation
- CPD accredited courses
- Not included
- workplace observation, competence assessment and final sign-off, which your employer does
- Application
- reviewed manually before enrolment
What is the Care Certificate?
The Care Certificate is a set of 16 standards that describe the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of health and social care support workers. It was developed for use in England after the Cavendish review of healthcare assistants and adult social care support workers, and Skills for Care and its partners publish the standards. Many employers use them as the backbone of induction training for new care workers.
It helps to be clear about what it is not. The Care Certificate is a set of workplace induction standards rather than a regulated qualification. It is separate from the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification, which is based on the same standards but involves further formal assessment. You can read the standards themselves on the Skills for Care Care Certificate standards page.
The standards were revised in March 2025. One change is a dedicated standard on learning disability and autism, which is now Standard 16. The course content we offer is organised around the 16 standards in that updated set.
What this course covers, and what your employer does
The Care Certificate has two halves. Knowing something and showing it at work are different, and the standards are only met when both are done.
| The online knowledge part (this course) | The workplace part (your employer) |
|---|---|
| Learning about each standard, in your own time | Observation of your practice in real work |
| Online knowledge assessment | Assessment of your competence against each standard |
| A certificate of completion for the course | Sign-off of the full Care Certificate |
Why the employer stays in charge
Employers remain responsible for training, supervision, assessment and the decision to award the Care Certificate, even when part of the learning is provided elsewhere. Practical skills such as basic life support, infection control and safe moving and handling need to be seen in person. If your employer already runs its own Care Certificate programme, speak to them before you start so you do not duplicate work.
The 16 Care Certificate standards covered
The course follows the order of the standards. Each one is covered as knowledge-based learning.
Standards 1 to 4: role, development, duty and equality
- Standard 1, understand your role
- what your job involves, working relationships and how to work within your employer's agreed ways of working.
- Standard 2, your personal development
- agreeing goals, reflecting on your practice and using feedback.
- Standard 3, duty of care
- acting in people's best interests, handling complaints and dealing with dilemmas and incidents.
- Standard 4, equality, diversity, inclusion and human rights
- treating people fairly and respecting their individuality.
Standards 5 to 8: person-centred, communicating, dignity, nutrition
- Standard 5, work in a person-centred way
- putting the individual's preferences, needs and choices first.
- Standard 6, communication
- talking and listening well, and supporting different ways of communicating.
- Standard 7, privacy and dignity
- protecting people's privacy while giving personal care.
- Standard 8, fluids and nutrition
- supporting people to eat and drink well and recognising when to raise a concern.
Standards 9 to 12: wellbeing, safeguarding, life support
- Standard 9, awareness of mental health and dementia
- understanding common conditions and how to support people sensitively.
- Standard 10, safeguarding adults
- recognising abuse and neglect and knowing how to report it.
- Standard 11, safeguarding children
- spotting signs of harm and responding in line with procedures.
- Standard 12, basic life support
- the principles of responding to an emergency. The hands-on skill itself must be shown in person.
Standards 13 to 16: safety, information, infection, learning disability
- Standard 13, health and safety
- safer working, handling risks and reporting accidents.
- Standard 14, handling information
- keeping records accurate and confidential.
- Standard 15, infection prevention and control
- hand hygiene, protective equipment and reducing the spread of infection.
- Standard 16, awareness of learning disability and autism
- understanding people's needs and supporting them with respect.
Who is this course for?
The course is a good fit if you are:
- new to a health or social care support role, such as a care assistant, support worker or healthcare assistant
- moving into care from another sector and want to learn the basics before or alongside your induction
- a home carer, or working in residential, nursing, hospice or agency settings
- in a non-clinical job with some contact with the people you support, for example catering, cleaning or maintenance
- experienced and looking for a structured refresher of the standards
It is not a substitute for your employer's induction, supervision or assessment. If you are not sure it is right for you, contact us before you apply.
What you will learn
By the end of the course you should be able to:
- describe your responsibilities and the limits of your role in a care setting
- explain how duty of care, dignity, equality and person-centred practice shape everyday care
- recognise different types of abuse and neglect and explain how concerns are reported
- describe good communication and why accurate, confidential record keeping matters
- explain the basic principles of infection prevention, health and safety, and responding to emergencies
- show a knowledge-level awareness of mental health, dementia, learning disability and autism
How long does the Care Certificate online training take?
We estimate around 20 hours of study for this online Care Certificate training. You can work through it in short sessions, and you do not need to finish it in one sitting. The full Care Certificate takes longer, because your employer's observation and assessment happens alongside your day-to-day work, and the timetable is set by your employer.
Assessment, certificate and accreditation
At the end of the course you take an online knowledge assessment. If you pass, you can receive a certificate of completion issued by CareCertified.
This certificate shows you completed the online knowledge course. It is not the Care Certificate, and it is not a regulated qualification. Your employer decides whether it counts towards your induction records.
Our courses are CPD accredited.
How to apply for this free Care Certificate training
- Choose this course and complete the short application form.
- We review your application manually. This is a check by a person, so access is not instant.
- If your application is approved, we email you with details of how to start.
- Complete the learning and the online assessment at your own pace.
There is more detail on our how to apply page.
Related free courses
Frequently asked questions
Can I complete the Care Certificate online?
You can complete the knowledge part of Care Certificate training online, and this course covers it. The full Care Certificate also needs workplace assessment: your employer observes your practice and decides whether you meet each standard. Our online course does not replace that.
Is this Care Certificate course really free?
Yes. There is no charge for the course, the assessment or the certificate of completion. You do need to apply for a place, and each application is reviewed by a person.
Will I get the Care Certificate when I finish?
No. You will receive a certificate of completion for the online knowledge course. The Care Certificate itself is awarded by your employer once all 16 standards have been assessed and signed off in the workplace.
Do I need a job in care to apply?
Not necessarily, but the course is written for people working, or about to work, in health and social care support roles in England. Your employer's assessment can only take place in a work setting.
How long does the Care Certificate course take?
We estimate around 20 hours of study. You can go at your own pace. The full Care Certificate depends on your employer's timetable for observation and sign-off.
Does the Care Certificate expire?
The standards do not carry an official expiry date, but employers may ask for refresher training in areas such as safeguarding, and they may want to reassess you if your role changes. Check your employer's policy.
Is the Care Certificate a qualification?
No. It is a set of workplace induction standards. It is separate from the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification, which involves further formal assessment.
Is the Care Certificate a legal requirement?
The Care Certificate is not a legal requirement in itself. Regulated providers in England must make sure staff are suitably trained and competent, as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) explains in its Regulation 18 staffing guidance, and many use the Care Certificate standards to structure induction. Your employer decides what training you need.