To become a certified caregiver in Arizona, you need to be at least 18, hold a valid Fingerprint Clearance Card, complete a 62-hour training program approved by the Arizona Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers (the NCIA Board), pass a written competency exam, and submit a certificate application to the board. Plan on a few weeks to a few months from start to finish, and roughly $550 to $900 in total costs.
Who Can Apply
You must be 18 or older to work as a caregiver in an Arizona assisted living facility. The age threshold for assisted living facility managers is higher, at 21, so don’t confuse the two.1Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers. How to Start a Manager Certificate Application Individual training schools may add their own admission requirements, such as a high school diploma or GED, so ask before you enroll.
You also need a valid Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The card confirms you have passed a criminal background check and have no disqualifying offenses. The DPS fee is $67 and is non-refundable whether you are approved or denied.2Department of Public Safety. Fingerprint Clearance Card Apply early. Processing times vary, and you will need the card before your certification application can be finalized.
The 62-Hour Training Program
The training is the core of certification. Under Arizona Administrative Code R4-33-703, the 62 hours split into 50 hours of classroom instruction (up to 20 of which may be completed by distance learning) and 12 hours of instructor-supervised skills training.3Arizona Board of Examiners for Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers. Title 4 Professions and Occupations Chapter 33 – Board of Examiners for Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers The program must be NCIA Board-approved. Hours from an unapproved school will not count.
The curriculum covers 14 required subjects. The heaviest blocks are:
- Medication management, 16 hours minimum
- Basic caregiver skills such as transfers, vital signs, and assistance with daily living, 8 hours minimum
- Infection control, 3 hours
- Legal and ethical issues, including resident rights, mandatory abuse reporting, HIPAA confidentiality, and advance directives, 2 hours
- Fire, safety, and emergency procedures, 2 hours
The remaining hours cover nutrition and food preparation, communication skills, service plan development, care for cognitively impaired residents, mental health and social services, job management, restorative care, and home environment maintenance.3Arizona Board of Examiners for Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers. Title 4 Professions and Occupations Chapter 33 – Board of Examiners for Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers
Adult CPR and basic first-aid training are also required. Some programs bundle these in; others expect you to complete them separately through a provider like the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. Check before you pay tuition.
What Training and Certification Cost
Tuition for the 62-hour program generally runs $400 to $700. If you are already a Certified Nursing Assistant, some schools offer a shorter, cheaper course covering just the medication management portion.4AZ Job Connection. Assisted Living Caregiver Training Program The NCIA Board publishes a list of approved schools on its website.
On top of tuition, budget for the $67 Fingerprint Clearance Card and the $65 competency exam fee, plus any separate CPR and first-aid course fees. Total out-of-pocket typically lands between $550 and $900.
Passing the Competency Exam
Once training is finished, you take the Arizona caregiver competency exam. It is administered by D&S Diversified Technologies, known as Headmaster, the NCIA Board’s official testing vendor.5Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers. Title 4 Professions and Occupations Chapter 33 – Board of Examiners for Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers The written knowledge exam is $65 and offered in English only.6Headmaster. Arizona Assisted Living Facility Caregiver Scheduling and Payment Form You need 75% or higher to pass.7Headmaster. Arizona Assisted Living Facility Caregiver Candidate Handbook Bring valid photo ID to the test site.
If you fail, you can retake by paying the $65 fee again. The exam draws heavily from medication management and resident safety content, which are also the largest training blocks, so spend your review time there. Headmaster charges a $35 rescheduling fee and does not refund no-shows, so book your date only when you are ready.6Headmaster. Arizona Assisted Living Facility Caregiver Scheduling and Payment Form
Submitting Your Certificate Application
With training done and the exam passed, you file through the NCIA Board’s online portal. Gather these documents first:
- Your training completion certificate showing all 62 hours were finished at an approved school
- Your passing exam score report from Headmaster
- A copy of your valid Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Current proof of adult CPR and basic first-aid certification
Upload the documents through the portal along with your training provider information, and pay the current application fee at submission. Make sure the name on every document matches exactly to avoid processing delays. After the board reviews and approves your materials, you get electronic notification of your caregiver certificate. Certificates issued after August 2, 2013, can be verified through Headmaster’s online verification system.8Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers. Caregiver Certificate Verification
Where You Can Work Once Certified
The certificate qualifies you to work in Arizona assisted living facilities across all levels of care, from supervisory care (residents who are largely independent) to directed and personal care (residents needing physical assistance and health monitoring). Some certified caregivers also work through home health agencies.4AZ Job Connection. Assisted Living Caregiver Training Program
The certificate can also feed a longer career path. With enough paid experience in a health-related field (2,080 hours) and a separate exam, caregivers can later apply for the assisted living facility manager certificate.9Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes 36-446.04 – Qualifications, Period of Validity, Exemption Others move on to CNA roles, home health aide work, or nursing programs.
What Certified Caregivers Earn
Pay for certified caregivers in Arizona typically runs $15 to $20 per hour, with experienced caregivers in higher-acuity or metro settings sometimes reaching the mid-$20s. The state minimum wage sets a floor of $15.15 per hour as of January 1, 2026.10Arizona Industrial Commission of Arizona. New 2026 Minimum Wage – Effective January 1, 2026 Phoenix and Tucson facilities generally pay more than rural ones, and evening or weekend shifts often carry a differential.