Occupation AtlasPersonal Care Aides
O*NET · 31-1122.00
Personal Care Aides
Provide personalized assistance to individuals with disabilities or illness who require help with personal care and activities of daily living support (e.g., feeding, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and ambulation). May also provide help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry. Work is performed in various settings depending on the needs of the care recipient and may include locations such as their home, place of work, out in the community, or at a daytime nonresidential facility.
38 more
Companion · Companion Caregiver · Convalescent Sitter · Direct Care Staffer · Direct Care Worker · Direct Support Staff Member · Elder Care Caregiver · Elderly Companion · Family Member Caretaker · Geriatric Aide · Geriatric Personal Care Aide · Guardian Family Member · Health Service Worker · Home Care Aide · Home Care Attendant · Home Care Provider · Home Caregiver · Home Health Care Provider · Home Help Aide · In Home Caregiver · In-Home Care Aide · In-Home Caregiver · Live In Caregiver · Live-in Caregiver · Medication Aide · Nutrition Aide · Patient Sitter · PCA · Personal Attendant · Personal Care Aide · Personal Care Assistant (PCA) · Personal Care Attendant (PCA) · Personal Support Worker · RCA · Resident Assistant · Resident Care Assistant (RCA) · Sitter · Special Needs Caregiver
Compare with another occupationCompare with Nursing Assistants
Job Zone
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed
Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.
Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.
Occupational interest profile
SCRSocial · Conventional · Realistic — the three strongest interests, in order
- S Social6.19
- C Conventional3.92
- R Realistic3.51
- E Enterprising2.55
- I Investigative1.80
- A Artistic1.79
RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.
Education and experience
The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.
- Related work experience
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (25%)
- On-site or in-plant training
- Up to and including 1 month (62%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months (36%)
Typically associated skills
All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.
- Service OrientationImportance 4.0Level 3.9Level 4 looks like: Make flight reservations for customers using an online booking site
- Social PerceptivenessImportance 3.9Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Be aware of how a coworker's promotion will affect a work group
- Active ListeningbasicImportance 3.4Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
- Critical ThinkingbasicImportance 3.3Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Evaluate customer complaints and determine appropriate responses
- MonitoringbasicImportance 3.3Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Monitor a meeting and revise the agenda to ensure important topics are discussed
- CoordinationImportance 3.1Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
- SpeakingbasicImportance 3.0Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
- Time ManagementImportance 3.0Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
- InstructingImportance 3.0Level 2.5Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
- Reading ComprehensionbasicImportance 2.9Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
- WritingbasicImportance 2.9Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
- Active LearningbasicImportance 2.9Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
Show the other 23
- Judgment and Decision MakingImportance 2.9Level 2.6Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
- Complex Problem SolvingImportance 2.9Level 2.4Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
- Learning StrategiesbasicImportance 2.8Level 2.8Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
- PersuasionImportance 2.4Level 2.4Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
- NegotiationImportance 2.4Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
- Operations MonitoringImportance 2.4Level 1.9Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
- Management of Personnel ResourcesImportance 2.3Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
- Systems EvaluationImportance 2.3Level 1.8Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
- Systems AnalysisImportance 2.1Level 1.6Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
- Quality Control AnalysisImportance 2.0Level 1.9Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
- MathematicsbasicImportance 2.0Level 1.8Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
- Operation and ControlImportance 2.0Level 1.5Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
- TroubleshootingImportance 1.9Level 1.1Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
- Management of Material ResourcesImportance 1.8Level 1.0Level 2 looks like: Reserve a room for a management meeting
- SciencebasicImportance 1.8Level 0.8
- Management of Financial ResourcesImportance 1.4Level 0.5
- Technology DesignImportance 1.3Level —
- Operations AnalysisImportance 1.1Level —
- ProgrammingImportance 1.1Level —
- Equipment MaintenanceImportance 1.0Level —
- Equipment SelectionImportance 1.0Level —
- InstallationImportance 1.0Level —
- RepairingImportance 1.0Level —
Tasks
8 core · 3 supplementalWhat people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).
- Administer bedside or personal care, such as ambulation or personal hygiene assistance.Importance 4.7
- Prepare and maintain records of client progress and services performed, reporting changes in client condition to manager or supervisor.Importance 4.7
- Perform healthcare-related tasks, such as monitoring vital signs and medication, under the direction of registered nurses or physiotherapists.Importance 4.5
- Participate in case reviews, consulting with the team caring for the client, to evaluate the client's needs and plan for continuing services.Importance 4.5
- Care for individuals or families during periods of incapacitation, family disruption, or convalescence, providing companionship, personal care, or help in adjusting to new lifestyles.Importance 4.4
- Instruct or advise clients on issues, such as household cleanliness, utilities, hygiene, nutrition, or infant care.Importance 4.4
- Perform housekeeping duties, such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes or dishes, or running errands.Importance 4.2
- Provide clients with communication assistance, typing their correspondence or obtaining information for them.Importance 4.2
Show the other 3
- Train family members to provide bedside care.Importance 4.6
- Plan, shop for, or prepare nutritious meals or assist families in planning, shopping for, or preparing nutritious meals.Importance 4.0
- Transport clients to locations outside the home, such as to physicians' offices or on outings, using a motor vehicle.Importance 3.7
Knowledge
Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.
- English LanguageImportance 3.6Level 3.6Level 4 looks like: Edit an article for a news website
- Customer and Personal ServiceImportance 3.4Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
- Education and TrainingImportance 3.4Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Lead a quality improvement seminar
- PsychologyImportance 3.4Level 4.3Level 4 looks like: Understand the impact of alcohol on human responses
- TransportationImportance 3.4Level 3.3Level 4 looks like: Drive a semi-truck through a busy city
- Public Safety and SecurityImportance 3.2Level 1.7Level 1 looks like: Use a seatbelt
- Food ProductionImportance 3.0Level 2.6
- Therapy and CounselingImportance 3.0Level 3.5Level 4 looks like: Provide job counseling to the unemployed
Show all 33
- Administration and ManagementImportance 2.9Level 2.2Level 1 looks like: Approve a reimbursement request
- Personnel and Human ResourcesImportance 2.9Level 2.8
- Sociology and AnthropologyImportance 2.8Level 1.8Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
- Foreign LanguageImportance 2.7Level 1.1Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
- Computers and ElectronicsImportance 2.6Level 2.9
- Medicine and DentistryImportance 2.5Level 1.7Level 1 looks like: Use a band-aid
- Philosophy and TheologyImportance 2.5Level 2.8
- AdministrativeImportance 2.4Level 1.7Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
- DesignImportance 2.4Level 2.1Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
- Building and ConstructionImportance 2.3Level 2.0Level 1 looks like: Choose the proper type of wood for adding a deck onto a house
- MathematicsImportance 2.3Level 1.2Level 1 looks like: Add two numbers
- Production and ProcessingImportance 2.3Level 2.0Level 1 looks like: Put a computer back into its packing materials
- Engineering and TechnologyImportance 2.2Level 2.1Level 1 looks like: Install a door lock
- BiologyImportance 2.1Level 1.1Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
- ChemistryImportance 2.1Level 1.4Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
- MechanicalImportance 2.1Level 0.7Level 1 looks like: Replace the filters in a furnace
- Sales and MarketingImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 1 looks like: Sell cakes at a bake sale
- TelecommunicationsImportance 2.0Level 1.1Level 1 looks like: Send an email
- Communications and MediaImportance 1.9Level 1.2Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
- Economics and AccountingImportance 1.9Level 1.8Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
- History and ArcheologyImportance 1.8Level 1.0Level 1 looks like: Take a class in US history
- Law and GovernmentImportance 1.8Level 1.0Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
- PhysicsImportance 1.8Level 0.6Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
- Fine ArtsImportance 1.7Level 0.9Level 1 looks like: Attend a popular music concert
- GeographyImportance 1.3Level —
Abilities
Enduring capacities the work calls for.
- Oral ComprehensionImportance 3.9Level 3.6Level 4 looks like: Understand a coach's oral instructions for a sport
- Oral ExpressionImportance 3.9Level 3.3Level 4 looks like: Give instructions to a lost motorist
- Problem SensitivityImportance 3.8Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't work
- Deductive ReasoningImportance 3.3Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
- Written ComprehensionImportance 3.3Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
- Near VisionImportance 3.1Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
- Speech ClarityImportance 3.1Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Make stadium-wide announcements during a sporting event
- Speech RecognitionImportance 3.1Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Identify a former customer's voice over the phone
Show all 52
- Inductive ReasoningImportance 3.0Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
- Information OrderingImportance 3.0Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
- Selective AttentionImportance 3.0Level 2.5Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
- Trunk StrengthImportance 3.0Level 3.0Level 2 looks like: Sit up in an office chair
- Written ExpressionImportance 3.0Level 2.9
- Category FlexibilityImportance 2.9Level 2.8Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
- Far VisionImportance 2.9Level 2.9Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
- Static StrengthImportance 2.9Level 2.5Level 1 looks like: Push an empty shopping cart
- Time SharingImportance 2.9Level 2.4Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
- StaminaImportance 2.8Level 2.3Level 1 looks like: Walk 1/4 mile
- Arm-Hand SteadinessImportance 2.6Level 2.6Level 2 looks like: Light a candle
- Auditory AttentionImportance 2.5Level 2.3Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
- Extent FlexibilityImportance 2.5Level 2.5Level 2 looks like: Reach to adjust the radio in a car
- Multilimb CoordinationImportance 2.5Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Row a boat
- Finger DexterityImportance 2.4Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
- Flexibility of ClosureImportance 2.4Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
- Fluency of IdeasImportance 2.4Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
- Hearing SensitivityImportance 2.4Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
- OriginalityImportance 2.4Level 2.0Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
- Perceptual SpeedImportance 2.4Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
- Gross Body CoordinationImportance 2.3Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
- Gross Body EquilibriumImportance 2.3Level 1.6Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
- MemorizationImportance 2.3Level 2.1Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
- VisualizationImportance 2.3Level 2.3Level 2 looks like: Imagine how to place paper in a printer so that the letterhead comes out on top
- Depth PerceptionImportance 2.1Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
- Manual DexterityImportance 2.1Level 1.9Level 1 looks like: Screw a light bulb into a light socket
- Number FacilityImportance 2.1Level 1.9Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
- Speed of ClosureImportance 2.1Level 2.0Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
- Visual Color DiscriminationImportance 2.1Level 2.0Level 1 looks like: Separate laundry into colors and whites
- Control PrecisionImportance 2.0Level 1.5Level 2 looks like: Adjust a room light with a dimmer switch
- Dynamic StrengthImportance 2.0Level 2.1Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
- Explosive StrengthImportance 2.0Level 1.4Level 2 looks like: Hit a nail with a hammer
- Mathematical ReasoningImportance 2.0Level 1.8Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
- Reaction TimeImportance 2.0Level 1.4Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
- Response OrientationImportance 2.0Level 1.1Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
- Glare SensitivityImportance 1.5Level 0.6
- Night VisionImportance 1.5Level 0.6
- Peripheral VisionImportance 1.5Level 0.6
- Rate ControlImportance 1.5Level 0.9Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
- Sound LocalizationImportance 1.5Level 0.8
- Spatial OrientationImportance 1.5Level 0.9
- Speed of Limb MovementImportance 1.5Level 0.9
- Wrist-Finger SpeedImportance 1.5Level 0.6
- Dynamic FlexibilityImportance 1.0Level —
Work activities
Kinds of activity the work is made of.
- Assisting and Caring for OthersImportance 5.0Level 6.1Level 7 looks like: Care for seriously injured persons in an emergency room
- Getting InformationImportance 4.7Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsImportance 4.4Level 5.2Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
- Training and Teaching OthersImportance 4.2Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Teach a social sciences course to high school students
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesImportance 4.1Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Report the results of a sales meeting to a supervisor
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsImportance 4.1Level 4.6Level 4 looks like: Evaluate a complicated insurance claim for compliance with policy terms
- Performing General Physical ActivitiesImportance 4.1Level 4.8Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
- Communicating with People Outside the OrganizationImportance 4.0Level 4.1Level 4 looks like: Present information to potential clients about available services
Show all 41
- Documenting/Recording InformationImportance 4.0Level 4.6Level 4 looks like: Document the results of a crime scene investigation
- Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsImportance 4.0Level 4.5Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkImportance 4.0Level 5.2Level 4 looks like: Plan and adjust a personal to-do list according to changing demands
- Handling and Moving ObjectsImportance 3.9Level 4.7Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsImportance 3.9Level 5.0Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
- Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicImportance 3.9Level 4.7Level 4 looks like: Sell shoes in a crowded shoe store
- Developing and Building TeamsImportance 3.8Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Lead an assembly team in an automobile plant
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersImportance 3.8Level 3.4Level 4 looks like: Interpret how foreign tax laws apply to U.S. exports
- Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeImportance 3.8Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Keep current on changes in maintenance procedures for repairing sports cars
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of OthersImportance 3.7Level 4.4Level 4 looks like: Organize the cleanup crew after a major sporting event
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsImportance 3.7Level 5.1Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
- Thinking CreativelyImportance 3.7Level 4.3Level 4 looks like: Adapt popular music for a high school marching band
- Coaching and Developing OthersImportance 3.6Level 4.0Level 4 looks like: Provide on-the-job training for administrative workers
- Developing Objectives and StrategiesImportance 3.6Level 4.1Level 4 looks like: Develop the plan to complete the merger of two organizations over a 3-year period
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsImportance 3.6Level 4.3Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleImportance 3.5Level 4.3Level 4 looks like: Determine the value of property lost in a fire
- Processing InformationImportance 3.5Level 4.2Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
- Working with ComputersImportance 3.5Level 3.8Level 4 looks like: Write software for keeping track of parts in inventory
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersImportance 3.4Level 3.8Level 4 looks like: Get two subordinates to agree about vacation schedules
- Analyzing Data or InformationImportance 3.3Level 3.7Level 4 looks like: Determine the interest cost to finance a new building
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationImportance 3.3Level 3.9Level 4 looks like: Estimate the time required to evacuate a city in the event of a major disaster
- Scheduling Work and ActivitiesImportance 3.3Level 3.8Level 4 looks like: Prepare the work schedule for salesclerks in a large retail store
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentImportance 3.2Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Drive an 18-wheel tractor-trailer
- Selling or Influencing OthersImportance 3.2Level 3.7Level 4 looks like: Make a sales pitch to convince others to buy a product
- Guiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesImportance 3.0Level 3.4Level 4 looks like: Manage a small team of employees in a dynamic workplace
- Monitoring and Controlling ResourcesImportance 2.8Level 3.1Level 4 looks like: Work as a chef responsible for ordering food for the menu
- Performing Administrative ActivitiesImportance 2.8Level 3.2Level 4 looks like: Complete tax forms for a small business
- Controlling Machines and ProcessesImportance 2.7Level 3.0Level 4 looks like: Operate a drilling rig
- Providing Consultation and Advice to OthersImportance 2.7Level 2.9
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentImportance 2.5Level 2.6
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentImportance 2.5Level 2.8
- Staffing Organizational UnitsImportance 2.5Level 2.6
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentImportance 2.3Level 2.3Level 1 looks like: Use display settings to adjust a television picture
Work context
The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.
Technology
8 toolsSoftware used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.
Hot (1)
- MEDITECH software
Other tools (7)
- Appletree
- August Systems Visit Wizard
- Computer reading software
- Email software
- FaceTime
- Mi-Co Mi-Forms
- Voltage SecureMail
Related occupations
O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.
ESCO equivalents
From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.
Closest occupations
Compare any occupation →Other O*NET occupations whose importance ratings on the 35 skills both rate are nearest to this one's, with the biggest differences named. A plain rule, not a hidden score.
Nursing Assistants
Average difference 0.2 points · Instructing −0.5, Negotiation −0.5
O*NET · Zone 3 · Compare
Occupational Therapy Aides
Average difference 0.2 points · Operations Analysis +0.8, Speaking +0.6
O*NET · Zone 3 · Compare
Psychiatric Aides
Average difference 0.2 points · Speaking +0.9, Negotiation +0.6
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Physical Therapist Aides
Average difference 0.2 points · Social Perceptiveness −0.8, Service Orientation −0.7
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Home Health Aides
Average difference 0.2 points · Management of Financial Resources +0.7, Operation and Control −0.6
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Skincare Specialists
Average difference 0.2 points · Equipment Selection +0.9, Operations Analysis +0.9
O*NET · Zone 3 · Compare
Tellers
Average difference 0.2 points · Mathematics +1.0, Service Orientation −0.9
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
Childcare Workers
Average difference 0.2 points · Operation and Control −1.0, Science −0.7
O*NET · Zone 2 · Compare
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.