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.
Designed For
People who want to become a certified professional guardian and conservator or do other work related to guardianship.
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
How It Works & Next Steps
To earn the certificate, complete the courses in the order below.
To get started, visit the first course page to see upcoming offerings and apply.
Prepare for Certification
About Certification in Washington State
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 in Washington state. Please note:
Completing this program doesn’t guarantee that you’ll become a CPGC. For details about the certification process, review this informative video and read about the steps for becoming a CPGC on the Washington Courts website.
To get a head start on the certification process, we recommend that you apply to the CPGC board for conditional certification before starting our program. (The certification process can take up to four months.)
You must be fully certified as a CPGC in Washington state within two years of completing the certificate program; after that, you'll need to repeat your UW credential.
About Certification in Other States
If you intend 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.
If you’d like to be certified outside of Washington state, you’ll need to comply with the distinct certification requirements for any state in which you intend to practice.
If you choose to apply to our program, please keep this responsibility in mind.
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.
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.
Career Stats
67%
Alumni working in field
Sample Employers
Various guardianship agencies, health care organizations, government offices and senior services
