About this Program
Guardians and conservators are entrusted with the responsibility of making decisions and coordinating services for people with cognitive disabilities — those who lack capacity to make decisions by themselves about their health, safety and finances.
In this certificate program, you’ll acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become an effective guardian and financial conservator for adults who need help making decisions, as determined by the courts. The program fulfills the educational requirements to become a certified professional guardian and conservator (CPGC) in Washington state.
▸ Related Article: Discover a Meaningful Career Serving Older Adults
DESIGNED FOR
People who want to become a certified professional guardian and conservator or do other work related to guardianship.
See Requirements
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
To apply, you must have ONE of the following sets of requirements:
- A master’s degree, J.D., Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree from an accredited institution and at least one year of experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship services. Relevant experience must include decision-making or the use of independent judgment for the benefit of others in the area of legal, financial, social services or health care, or other disciplines pertinent to the provision of guardianship and conservatorship services.
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and two years of relevant experience.
- An associate of arts degree from an accredited institution and four years of relevant experience.
- A high school diploma and at least five years of relevant experience.
- Be a certified professional guardian and conservator (CPGC) who is applying to the program as a requirement to be a consultant for the Office of Public Guardianship.
You can meet the experience requirement through relevant supervised volunteer work — but not by providing services to a family member. We occasionally make exceptions to the experience requirement; please contact us to discuss.
TIME COMMITMENT
Including time in class, you should expect to spend about five to 10 hours each week on coursework.
English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, you should have at least intermediate English skills to enroll. To see if you qualify, make sure you are at the B2 level on the CEFR self-assessment grid. To learn more, see English Language Proficiency Requirements – Noncredit Programs.
International Students
Because this offering is 100% online, no visa is required and international students are welcome to apply. For more information, see Admission Requirements for International Students.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
- Access to a computer with speakers, a recent operating system and web browser (Google Chrome or Firefox recommended)
- High-speed internet connection
- Microsoft Word and Excel
- Headset and webcam
Earning the Certificate
You earn a certificate of completion by successfully completing all required courses. For more information, see Earning the Certificate.
What You'll Learn
- Fundamental tasks and responsibilities of guardians and conservators
- The laws and standards governing the profession
- The rights of vulnerable adults and the ethical issues connected with guardianship and conservatorship
- How to communicate effectively with clients and stakeholders and work with government agencies
- Business practice standards and tools for running an effective guardianship practice
GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
- Participate as a CPGC in an online simulation for hypothetical clients
- Prepare court reports for case-study clients
- Role-play difficult conversations that CPGCs may encounter in their practice
PREPARE FOR CERTIFICATION
By completing this program you’ll meet the mandatory training requirements of the Washington State Supreme Court Certified Professional Guardianship and Conservatorship Board for becoming a CPGC.
Note: Completing this program doesn’t guarantee that you’ll become a CPGC. For details about this process, review this informative video and read about the steps for becoming a CPGC on the Washington Courts website. We recommend that you apply to the CPGC board for conditional certification before starting our program to get a head start on the certification process. (The certification process can take up to four months.) You must be fully certified as a CPGC within two years of completing the certificate program; after that, you'll need to repeat your UW credential.
If your intention is to practice in a state other than Washington, this program complies with the Uniform Adult Guardianship, Conservatorship and Other Protective Proceedings Act, which some states have adopted.
APPLY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP
You may be eligible to apply for a UW Certificate Scholarship or Rotary Scholarship to cover most of the costs of this program. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need and the potential of the program to positively impact your career. For more information, see the Scholarships page.
Career Stats
67%
Alumni working in field
Sample Employers
Various guardianship agencies, health care organizations, government offices and senior services
OUR ENROLLMENT COACHES ARE HERE TO HELP
Connect with an enrollment coach to learn more about this offering. Or if you need help finding the right certificate, specialization or course for you, reach out to explore your options.