How to Become a Certified Dementia Practitioner
Imagine walking through a familiar neighborhood, but each day, the roads shift, houses look different, and even once-familiar faces look foreign. Caring for someone with dementia is like navigating a constantly changing landscape, requiring specific education, skills, and experience. The Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) certification will equip you with everything you need to know to work with this vulnerable population.
If you’re considering getting CDP certified, you’re in the right place. This article will explain what this certificate is, map out the steps to get it, and highlight the benefits of having one.
Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP): Snapshot
- Eligibility: At least 1 year of paid work experience in a geriatric settings, proof of meeting education requirements for your role, and attending an Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care (ADDC) seminar
- Application process: Complete the CDP application for consideration and submit all required documents
- Cost: $160
- Exam: CDP certification doesn’t require an exam, but state regulations might. Check with your instructor to confirm if there’ll be a test.
- Renewal: Every 2 years
What Is a Certified Dementia Practitioner?
A dementia practitioner is a trained specialist who provides care and support to patients living with cognitive decline. Dementia is an umbrella term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving, and other mental functions that are serious enough to disrupt daily life. The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.
Wondering about the specific needs of these patients? Here are the tasks to keep in mind when designing care plans for dementia patients:
- Conducting comprehensive assessments to evaluate cognitive and emotional needs
- Addressing behavioral issues that may arise, such as confusion or agitation
- Implementing therapeutic activities that promote mental stimulation and social interaction, such as art and music
- Ensuring patients’ basic needs are met, such as feeding, hydration, and hygiene
- Using effective communication techniques to interact with dementia patients, including welcoming body language and nonthreatening voice tone
- Providing guidance and support to family members about dementia, caregiving techniques, and available resources
Curious to know where dementia care practitioners may work? These professionals may find employment in different geriatric care settings, including:
- Ambulatory care centers
- Assisted living facilities
- Home health care centers
- Hospices
- Long-term care facilities
- Memory care facilities
- Mental health clinics
- Nursing homes
- Palliative care centers
- Post-acute care facilities
- Skilled nursing facilities
What Is a CDP Certification?
Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) is a specialized credential that’s awarded to the members of the geriatric care team who have received specialized training in caring for patients with dementia. This credential is awarded by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP), a professional organization dedicated to transforming care for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia all over the globe.
Steps to Get a CDP Certification
Let’s explore the key steps to start your journey as a CDP-certified professional:
1. Meet Eligibility Criteria
Anyone with a degree, license, diploma, or who meets state requirements to work in the field of geriatric care can get this credential, as long as they have at least a year of paid experience in their role. Your experience can be earned in any of the following roles:
- Emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Home health aide
- Certified medical assistant
- Certified medication aide
- Certified nursing assistant
- Registered nurse
- Licensed practical nurse
- Nurse practitioner
- Physician
- Physician assistant
2. Take Certified Dementia Practitioner Training
Next, enroll in the seminar, which must be a minimum of eight hours and taught by an approved Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT).
You training will include a list of speciality topics, including:
- Overview of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- Tests and evaluations used for dementia
- Communication
- Feelings and repetitive behaviors
- Wandering, hoarding, paranoia, and hallucinations
- Sundowning
- Intimacy, sexuality, and aggressive behaviors
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Multicultural considerations
- End-of-life care
If you previously completed dementia training from another accredited organization, you may qualify for CDP Grandfather certification, which can be attained without completing a seminar.
3. Submit an Application
After completing your training, you’ll have 30 days to submit your application online or by mail. As a part of your application, you’ll need to upload multiple documents, such as:
- Your certificate of completion from the ADDC seminar, including your instructor’s information.
- College diploma or transcripts (if applicable).
- Professional license or certification (if applicable).
- A letter from your agency’s administrator stating that you don’t need certification or a license for your position, plus a copy of the relevant state regulations proving that information.
- Association discount (if applicable).
The exact documents you’ll need to submit will vary based on your qualifications, and there are five options available:
| Option: | Documents: |
|---|---|
| Licensed professionals, such as RNs, LPNs, LVNs, and NPs with a degree from an accredited institution |
|
| GED or high school diploma |
|
| Graduate degree from an accredited institution |
|
| No license or certification |
|
| Grandfather |
|
3. Pay the Fee
When you apply, you’ll need to submit payment. Here’s the breakdown of the fees associated with getting CDP-certified:
- Seminar fee: $195
- Certification fee: $165
- Grandfather certification fee: $150
- Certification group rate fee: $50
After you submit the payment, your certification will be emailed to you. You have the option to request a hard copy for an additional fee.
4. Maintain the Certification
Once certified, you must renew your certification every two years. To renew, simply obtain 10 continuing education units in any healthcare-related topic, submit a renewal application form, and pay a fee of $160 for regular certification and $135 for Grandfather CDP.
What Does a Certified Dementia Practitioner Make?
A certified dementia practitioner salary can vary depending on your role in the healthcare team. Here are some examples of salaries for different healthcare professionals in the U.S.:
- NP salary: $128,490 per year or $61.78 per hour
- RN salary: $94,480 per year or $45.42 per hour
- LPN salary: $60,790 per year or $29.23 per hour
- CNA salary: $39,610 per year or $19.04 per hour
Plus, where you work matters too. For example, the top five top-paying states for registered nurses include:
FAQs: Certified Dementia Practitioner
What is the career outlook for dementia practitioners?
Around 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer’s dementia, and that number could reach 13.8 million by 2060. This means that your employment prospects in this specialty are promising.
How long does it take to become a certified dementia practitioner?
If you’re already a healthcare professional with at least a year of experience in geriatric care, you could get certified within a few weeks to a few months. But if you’re not currently working and don’t have the training, it might take you around two to four years to become a CDP-certified professional.
Is CDP certification worth it?
Credentials after your name carry a lot of weight in healthcare, serving as clear proof of your expertise and skills. Beyond that, becoming CDP certified comes with several added benefits:
- Career advancement: It can boost your geriatric care resume, making you a top candidate in the job market.
- Higher pay: It can lead to higher salaries or better job opportunities, as specialized skills are often in demand.
- Opportunities for promotion: It can open doors to leadership and teaching opportunities within your team.
- Improve your workflow: It equips you to handle clinical scenarios like wandering and agitation more effectively, improving your daily work experience.
What are the challenges faced by dementia care professionals?
Caring for patients suffering from dementia comes with unique challenges. One challenge working in this role is behavioral issues. Patients may exhibit unpredictable behaviors, making it crucial for caregivers to be trained in de-escalation techniques and behavior management strategies.
Relevant Certifications
- Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Hospice Aide Certification
- National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)
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