What is the IHSS Career Pathways Program?

IHSS/WPCS providers to enhance providers skills and improve the quality of care for IHSS/WPCS recipients. IHSS/WPCS providers who have completed provider enrollment are eligible to participate. Participation is voluntary, and the training is available statewide and free to IHSS/WPCS providers.

How do providers register and sign up for training classes with the IHSS Career Pathways Program?

The IHSS Career Pathways Program course catalog, registration information, and payment information is available online at the IHSS Career Pathways Program website. Some classes will be available as soon as October 2022. Additional courses will be added to the course catalog as CDSS continues to build this program.

What are the IHSS Career Pathways?

There are five separate pathways, in two categories, available to IHSS/WPCS providers that include:

Category 1: General Pathways

  1. General Health and Safety
  2. Adult Education

Category 2: Specialized Skills Pathways

  1. Cognitive Impairments and Behavioral Health
  2. Complex Physical Care Needs
  3. Transition to home and community based-living from out-of-home care or homelessness

Classes may be online with an instructor, self-paced, or in-person. The course catalog includes a description of each IHSS Career Pathways Program course and includes course registration information. All available classes are included in the course catalog. Additional information is also available for providers to explore a future in healthcare careers.

Do providers get paid for the IHSS Career Pathways Program?

Providers will be paid for attending and completing training courses and can earn incentive payments for completing training classes. Providers will be paid at their normal county wage rate and are required to claim payment through the IHSS Electronic Services Portal (ESP). Providers can only be paid for attending classes that are in the IHSS Career Pathways Program course catalog and attendance will be verified before any payments are made.

For assistance with entering Career Pathways training time and incentive claims, IHSS/WPCS providers can review the IHSS Career Pathways Program website or contact the IHSS Service Desk at 1-866-376-7066.

What are the types of incentives available to providers?

Upon completing one or more training pathways and providing specialized care to a recipient, providers may also qualify for incentive payments. Providers can receive additional payments for:

  • Completing 15 hours of training in one of the five Career Pathways
  • Completing 15 hours of training in Category 2: Specialized Skills Pathways and providing services to a recipient who requires that type of specialized care.

To find out more about the requirements you must meet to qualify for additional incentive payments, please go to the IHSS Career Pathways Program incentives website.

Where can providers get help and find out more information about this program?

The IHSS Career Pathways Program website includes the information mentioned in this letter and much more! The resources listed below are also available:

  • Beginning in October 2022, IHSS/WPCS providers participating in the IHSS Career Pathways Program will have access to free coaching services regarding a variety of topics including, use of the course catalog, the payment process, and IHSS Career Pathways technology-related topics, such as how to operate a communication platform tool which allows an IHSS/WPCS provider to use video, audio, and chat features to attend online classes.
  • Questions regarding the IHSS Career Pathways course registration for a specific course should be directed to the course training provider listed in the course catalog.
  • Additional questions can be sent to the IHSS Career Pathways Program email inbox at: IHSSCareerPathways@dss.ca.gov.