Certification and Skill Advancement Center
Grow Your Skills, Elevate Your Future
We’re committed to helping you grow in your role and beyond. Whether you’re a nurse, dietary aide, or part of our culinary or care teams, this page is your one-stop destination for exploring certifications that can elevate your skills, boost your confidence, and open doors to new opportunities.
And the best part? Many of these certifications may be eligible for reimbursement through our Tuition Assistance Program, so you can grow without the financial burden. Visit the Tuition Assistance page on Saber University under the Tuition Reimbursement section, or talk to your HR Director to learn more.
Remember, investing in your education is the key to unlocking a brighter future. Let us guide you in realizing your full potential and achieving your aspirations.
“The best investment we can make is in ourselves. Every skill you gain today is a step toward the leader you’ll become tomorrow.”
Lead with Impact
Agile Leadership Principles and Practices
Overview: This course focuses on facilitation, empowerment, and communication skills that unlock the full potential of your team. Learn how to lead with agility, manage conflict, and foster innovation through inclusive, team-driven strategies.
What You’ll Learn:
- Overview of Agile and key roles: Scrum Master, Product Owner, Agile Team Member
- How to build self-organizing, high-performing teams
- Facilitative leadership and the power of play
- Decision science and human heuristics
- Negotiation styles and conflict resolution
- Managing bias through emotional intelligence and mindfulness
- Lean decision-making tools for Agile project managers
Who Can Enroll: Anyone
Course Format: 100% online, self-paced, approximately 4 weeks (2–3 hours per week)
Cost:
- Audit Track: Free (No certificate of completion)
- Certificate Track: Cost varies (includes certificate from University of Maryland)
Nursing Home Administration Series
Overview: Online series that is designed to strengthen the knowledge and decision-making skills of skilled nursing facility administrators. It offers a deep dive into the financial, clinical, regulatory, and leadership responsibilities that impact daily operations. Whether you’re new to the role or looking to reinforce your foundation, this series builds on Administrator Residency (AR) programs and provides practical guidance for navigating complex challenges in long-term care.
What You’ll Learn:
- Leadership development and team building
- Payers, PDPM, and revenue cycle
- CMS 5-Star and PBJ reporting
- Long-term care regulations and compliance
- Survey prep and post-survey actions (QAPI, plans of correction)
Who Can Enroll: Nursing Home Administrators or Administrators in Training.
Credits: Earn 21.5 CEs (NAB)
Cost: AHCA Members: $450
Use Google Chrome. Log in or create an account on the AHCA site. Click the green Register button.
Need help? Email educate@ahca.org
Foundations for Impactful Leadership
Overview: This beginner-friendly course helps professionals develop core leadership skills through self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and practical frameworks. Learn to lead across teams and hierarchies, regardless of your position or authority.
What You’ll Learn:
- Build inner stability and self-leadership
- Apply leadership styles and lead downward
- Understand biases in communication and decision-making
- Lead upward and across organizational boundaries
Who Can Enroll: Anyone
Cost:
- Audit Track: Free (No certificate of completion)
- Certificate and graded assignments: $49
Leader Up Program
Overview: The Leader Up Program is a year-long, voluntary leadership development experience designed for Administrators, Directors of Nursing, RVPOs, RDCSs, and equivalent roles. This program empowers leaders to grow through hands-on learning, self-reflection, and real-world application all while strengthening their impact on facility operations and team culture.
What You’ll Learn:
Key leadership concepts including:
- Team development
- Communication
- Strategic thinking
- Change management
- And more
Each lesson is designed to challenge and inspire you to think critically about your leadership style and effectiveness.
Who Can Enroll: Administrators, DONs, RVPOs, RDCSs, and equivalent leadership roles.
Enrollment: Leader Up Program is offered two times a year, enrollment is open in December and June. Please consider the time and commitment required before enrolling. Information about the 2026 program will be shared in December 2025. Email Kimberly.Chuma@saberhealth.com with any questions.
Cost: Free
Overview: Offered by Harvard University, this free online course from explores how to lead effectively in times of change and complexity. It’s designed to help professionals at all levels develop the mindset and tools needed to tackle adaptive challenges in their communities.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to identify and unbundle complex challenges
- The difference between formal and informal authority
- How to understand and navigate perspectives
- Strategies for building and renewing trust
- How to approach and manage conflict
- Personal tools for surviving and thriving through change
Who Can Enroll: Anyone
Course Format: This self-paced 4 week course is 100% online and takes approximately 2-3 hours per week.
Cost:
-
Audit Track: Free (No certificate of completion)
-
Certificate Track: $99-$199 (Includes certificate from Harvard)
Overview: Are leaders born or made? This course explores that question while helping you build essential leadership skills, design high-functioning teams, and develop win-win negotiation strategies. Through self-assessments, team-building exercises, and negotiation planning, you’ll gain practical tools to lead more effectively in any setting.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to identify and expand your leadership style
- How to design teams for collaboration and success
- How to negotiate effectively in both small and large business settings
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How to coach others and cultivate leadership in your team
Who Can Enroll: Anyone
Course Format: 100% online, self-paced, approximately 4 weeks (2-3 hours per week)
Cost: Free
Clinical Excellence
Wound Care Certification Programs
Crescent Wound Care – Online Certification Course
Self-Paced Online Learning
Overview: Crescent Wound Care offers a fully self-paced, online wound care certification course tailored for healthcare professionals seeking to elevate their wound management expertise. The course is accredited by the Maryland Nurses Association and provides lifetime access to comprehensive learning materials.
Highlights:
- 100% online and self-paced
- Lifetime access to all course content
- Accredited by the Maryland Nurses Association
- Covers acute/chronic wounds, ulcer care, infection control, and more
- Earn the Crescent Wound Care Nurse (CWCN) credential
Cost: Free
Wound Care Certification Program
WOCN Society – Wound Treatment Associate (WTA®) Program
Self-Paced Online Learning
Overview: The WTA® Program by the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society is a self-paced online course designed to empower nurses and allied health professionals with advanced wound care knowledge and skills.
Highlights:
- Self-paced, flexible online format
- Developed by the WOCN Society
- Accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Ideal for managing complex and chronic wounds
- Prepares learners for real-world clinical application
Cost: Varies by institution and format; typically ranges from $350–$500
CDC Nursing Home Infection Preventionist Training
Self-Paced Online Learning
Overview: This free, self-paced online course from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is designed specifically for individuals working in nursing homes and long-term care facilities who are responsible for infection prevention and control (IPC) programs.
What You’ll Learn:
- Core principles of infection prevention
- Outbreak identification and response
- Surveillance and data tracking
- Regulatory compliance and reporting
- Best practices for resident and staff safety
Who Should Enroll: Nurses, infection preventionists, and healthcare professionals working in long-term care settings.
Course Format:
- 23 modules
- Interactive quizzes and case studies
- Certificate of completion provided
Cost: Free
Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) – NCCDP
Overview: The Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) credential, offered by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP), is a nationally recognized certification for healthcare professionals who provide care to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This certification demonstrates a commitment to excellence in dementia care.
What You’ll Learn:
- Dementia-related behaviors and communication strategies
- Person-centered care planning
- Cultural competency in dementia care
- End-of-life considerations and caregiver support
Certification Process:
- Attend the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care (ADDC) Seminar
- Required one-day seminar
- Offered in person or via live webinar (not pre-recorded)
- Submit Online Application
- Must have at least 1 year of experience in a healthcare-related field
- Upload seminar certificate and supporting documents
- Receive CDP Credential
- Valid for 2 years with renewal options
Who Can Enroll: Anyone who has one year of experience in healthcare.
Time Commitment: One-day seminar + application process
Cost: Varies by seminar provider (typically $150–$250)
CPR & Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification Through AHA
Overview: CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) certification is a critical requirement for all clinical staff working in long-term care settings. This training equips caregivers with the skills to respond effectively to cardiac and respiratory emergencies.
What You’ll Learn:
- Adult, child, and infant CPR techniques
- Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs)
- Relief of choking in responsive and unresponsive individuals
- Team-based resuscitation strategies
Course Format:
- Online, blended, or in-person options available
- Hands-on skills practice and assessment (for full certification)
- Certificate valid for 2 years
Cost: Free or low-cost options available. Prices vary based on location.
American Red Cross – First Aid Training & Standards
Overview: This free online course from the American Red Cross provides essential first aid training for caregivers and healthcare professionals. It covers the foundational skills needed to respond confidently to common medical emergencies in clinical and long-term care settings.
What You’ll Learn:
- Basic first aid principles
- CPR and choking relief techniques
- Wound care and bleeding control
- Emergency response protocols
Course Format:
- 100% online and self-paced
- Interactive modules with real-life scenarios
- Certificate of completion provided
Time Commitment: Approximately 2 hours
Cost: Free
Mind and Behavior Mastery
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Certification
Overview: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training program that teaches staff how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to recognize common mental health conditions
- Strategies to support someone in crisis or distress
- The ALGEE action plan for early intervention
- Reducing stigma and promoting mental wellness
Who Can Enroll: Anyone
Course Format:
- Available in-person, virtual, or blended formats
- Taught by certified MHFA instructors
- Certificate valid for 3 years
Cost: Free or low-cost (often grant-funded)
Trauma-Informed Care Certification
Overview: Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) training equips staff with the knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to the effects of trauma in residents and coworkers. This approach fosters a culture of safety, trust, and empowerment.
What You’ll Learn:
- The impact of trauma on behavior and health
- Principles of trauma-informed care (safety, choice, collaboration, trust, and empowerment)
- Strategies to avoid re-traumatization
- Creating a supportive and healing environment
Who Can Enroll: Anyone
Course Format:
- Self-paced online or live virtual sessions
- Certificate of completion provided
Cost: Free or low-cost options available
Relias Trauma-Informed Care Training
Alzheimer’s Association – Dementia Care Training Center
Overview: The Alzheimer’s Association offers a comprehensive suite of free, self-paced online courses designed to support caregivers, healthcare professionals, and long-term care staff in delivering compassionate, informed dementia care.
What You’ll Learn:
- The science behind Alzheimer’s and other dementias
- Effective communication strategies for each stage of the disease
- How to navigate difficult conversations and behavioral changes
- Practical caregiving techniques for early, middle, and late-stage dementia
- Legal, financial, and safety planning for individuals living with dementia
Course Format:
- Modular, self-paced learning
- Interactive videos and real-life scenarios
- Certificate of completion available for most courses
Time Commitment: Varies by course (typically 30–90 minutes each)
Cost: Free
Expand Your Horizons
Maintenance Director Training Course
Overview: This course helps long-term care facility managers and maintenance directors build compliant environmental programs aligned with regulatory standards.
What You’ll Learn:
- Maintenance Director responsibilities
- Fire and smoke door inspections (NFPA 80 & 105)
- Generator testing and maintenance
- PCREE testing protocols
Who Can Enroll: Anyone
Course Format:
- Self Paced
- 4-module course with videos, PowerPoints and handouts
- Certificate of completion provided
Cost: Free for AHCA/NCAL Members. Cost: Free for AHCA/NCAL Members. Use your saber Email to create an account.
Improving Work Processes for Better Performance
Overview: Three part webinar series that helps teams design, manage, and improve operations using real-world examples.
What You’ll Learn:
- Webinar 1: Designing Effective and Efficient Work Processes – Available Now!
- Webinar 2: Managing Processes for Optimal Results – Coming Soon
- Webinar 3: Evaluate, Improve, and Excel – Coming Soon
Who Can Enroll: Anyone
Course Format: Self Paced
Cost: Free for AHCA/NCAL Members. Use your saber Email to create an account.