Earn Your Dementia Specialist Certification
Build Dementia Care Skills
UNT Health Fort Worth and the James L. West Center for Dementia Care designed the Certified Dementia Specialist Microcredential program to address the growing shortage of dementia care workers while creating career pathways for healthcare professionals and providing support for family caregivers.
The partnership combines expertise from both organizations to provide evidence-informed instruction and practical training that is free, online and self-paced.
With the more than 7 million Americans age 65 and older who are living with Alzheimer’s Disease, now is the time to build your skills with the Certified Dementia Specialist Microcredential.
Program Details
CE Credits Available
Self-paced
Online
Free
What you'll learn
- Practical, proven strategies you can use in real-world care settings
- Skills that are validated through assessments — not just participation
- Training built for immediate application, not theory alone
How the Pathway Works
The Dementia Specialist certification pathway includes three tiers of courses you can move through at your own pace. Each course you complete earns one continuing education (CE) credit hour.
After completing the first three courses, you are eligible to take the assessment and earn a Dementia Informed microcredential badge. As you progress through the program, additional course group assessments unlock higher-level badges.
Upon successfully earning digital badges for all three tiers, you will receive the final microcredential badge, recognizing your achievement as a Certified Dementia Specialist.
Who should take this course?
Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals will benefit from the confidence that comes with being able to care for patients suffering with dementia.
Family
Caregivers
This training also equips family caregivers to support their family with the dignity and respect they deserve.
Key Outcomes
Apply what you learn immediately. This certification pathway is designed to
help you translate knowledge into action, so you can improve care from day one.
You’ll learn how to:
- Manage challenging behaviors with confidence.
- Communicate effectively with individuals living with dementia.
- Support families navigating complex care needs.
- Improve quality of life through person-centered approaches.
Designed for you:
- Learn at your own pace.
- Start when you’re ready.
- Come back whenever you need.
This program helps you:
- Reduce stress and uncertainty.
- Build confidence in your decisions.
- Feel more in control of everyday situations.
The Dementia Care Workforce Gap is Growing
Whether in hospitals, long-term care, home health or community-based care, healthcare professionals are on the front lines of a rapidly expanding need for specialized dementia care training.
- More than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s.
- Nearly 1 million additional direct care workers will be needed by 2032.
- Demand for dementia-trained professionals is rising across all care settings.
What learners are saying
"This was very helpful! I appreciated the personal experience displayed in the videos."
"I really appreciated this CE activity and found it helpful for my role as a CNA. The information was clear and easy to follow, and I was able to connect it to situations I see at work."
"Thank you for all of the knowledge you provided. I learned so much."
Family Caregivers
Care Confidently for Someone Living with Dementia
Caring for someone living with dementia can feel overwhelming. You may be navigating changes in memory, behavior and communication, often without clear guidance on what to do next.
Family caregivers deserve access to the same high-quality dementia care education trusted by healthcare professionals. That’s why the James L. West Center for Dementia Care and UNT Health Fort Worth designed these free, online and self-pace courses to provide practical tools and real-world strategies you can use every day.
Built by Experts
This program is developed by:
- James L. West Center for Dementia Care
- UNT Health Fort Worth
James L. West is a faith-inspired, not-for-profit organization serving persons impacted by dementia for over 30 years. As a trusted expert, they provide personalized, innovative care and support for families, as well as specialized education for caregivers, healthcare professionals, and the community at large.
Together, they bring decades of experience supporting individuals living with dementia and the people who care for them.
Dementia Caregiver Training
This program is developed by:
- James L. West Center for Dementia Care
- UNT Health Fort Worth
Together, they bring decades of experience supporting individuals living with dementia and the people who care for them.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
Learn practical skills, feel more prepared and create better moments for both you and your loved one.