About this Program
Guardianship is about professional advocacy for vulnerable people — those who, for whatever reason, require supported decision-making to determine or communicate safe choices for themselves. Conservatorship involves financial and property decision making authority on behalf of individuals.
In this three-course certificate program, you’ll acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to become an effective guardian and financial conservator for developmentally disabled adults, elderly individuals with diminished capacity, and other adults determined to be incapacitated by the courts. The program fulfills the educational requirements to become a certified professional guardian (CPG) in Washington state.
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DESIGNED FOR
People who want to become a certified professional guardian or work on issues 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. Your experience must include decision-making or the use of independent judgment for the benefit of others in at least one of the following areas: law, finance, social service or health care.
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and two years of experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship services. Experience must include decision-making or the use of independent judgment for the benefit of others in at least one of the following areas: law, finance, social service or health care.
- An associate of arts degree from an accredited institution and four years of experience working in a discipline pertinent to the provision of guardianship services. Experience must include decision-making or the use of independent judgment for the benefit of others in at least one of the following areas: law, finance, social service or health care.
- Be a certified professional guardian (CPG) 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 though 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.
English Proficiency
If English is not your native language, you should have at least intermediate English skills to enroll. 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 (recommended)
Earning the Certificate
You earn the certificate by adhering to the program's attendance policy and 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 governing the guardianship 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 guardian in an online simulation for fictional clients
- Prepare court reports for case-study clients and present them in a mock-court session
- Role-play the types of difficult conversations CPGs can encounter with a client’s family members
PREPARE FOR CERTIFICATION
By completing this program you’ll meet the educational requirements of the Washington State Supreme Court Certified Professional Guardian Board for becoming a CPG.
Note: Completing this program doesn’t guarantee that you’ll become a CPG. For details about this process, read about the steps for becoming a CPG on the Washington Courts website. We recommend that you apply to the CPG board for conditional certification before starting our program; note that the board .is typically on break from July 1 to September 1. You must be fully certified as a CPG within two years of completing the certificate program; after that, your UW credential is invalid.
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 states have adopted.