APS Core Curriculum

NAPSA has established 23 Core Competency Areas for APS professionals. Completion of one course in each area is required to earn the NAPSA Certificate. Instructor-led curricula, developed by NAPSA in partnership with APS Workforce Innovations (APSWI), are available nationwide at no cost to APS organizations.

Important Reminder: The Academy/APSWI, NAPSA, and NATC are separate organizations. NAPSA does not have access to the NATC Learning Management System (LMS) and is unable to track NATC course completion. At this time, the NATC LMS is unavailable, and we do not have an estimated timeline for its return. For questions related to NATC courses or the LMS, please contact NATC directly at natc@acl.hhs.gov. For NAPSA certificate related questions, please contact cert@napsa-now.org.

Additional details for each course are organized below in expandable sections for easy viewing.
Click a section heading to open or close each section and review the information at your own pace.

1. APS Overview

Description: Adult Protective Services sits at the intersection of safety, rights, and self-determination. This course provides a clear, practical overview of APS practice, including who APS serves, the responsibilities of APS professionals, the types of allegations investigated, and the core steps of an APS case. Participants will explore how person-centered practice and respect for self-determination guide decision-making and shape effective, ethical APS interventions.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the people APS work with
Identify APS roles and responsibilities
Recognize the types of referrals that APS investigates
Recognize the steps of APS referrals
Apply key terminology used in APS

Materials: COMING SOON

2. Ethics, Values, and Cultural Responsiveness in APS

Description: Ethical and culturally responsive practice begins with self-awareness. This training challenges APS professionals to examine their own values, assumptions, and decision-making processes when assessing complex situations. Participants will explore core ethical principles in APS practice and learn a practical framework for making thoughtful, culturally responsive decisions that respect individual rights and lived experiences.

Learning Objectives:

Identify major APS ethical principles for APS work
Recognize ethical dilemmas in practice
List factors that influence ethical decision-making
Recognize how the concepts of implicit bias, intersectionality, and cultural humility affect ethical decision-making
Apply a framework for ethical, culturally responsive decision-making using a case study

Materials:

APSWI Instructor Led Training

3. Regulations

Description: Adult Protective Services is grounded in both protection and choice. This course delivers a focused overview of APS practice, including who APS serves, the responsibilities of APS professionals, the types of allegations investigated, and the essential steps of an APS case. Participants will examine how self-determination and person-centered practice guide ethical decision-making and shape effective APS interventions.

Materials: COMING SOON

4. The Aging Process

Description: Understanding aging is essential to effective APS practice. This course explores the aging process from a lifespan perspective, helping APS professionals recognize how age-related changes can affect safety, capacity, and independence. Participants will leave with a solid foundation to conduct informed investigations and develop thoughtful, person-centered service plans that build on the strengths of older adults.

Learning Objectives:

Identify typical changes that affect most older adults
Describe common biases and stigmas about the aging process that affect older adults
Identify how typical changes that affect the aging process can reduce or cause risk for an older adult
Recognize how chronic medical conditions can cause risk for an older adult
Identify how psychological changes affecting the aging process can either reduce or cause risk for an older adult

Materials:

Instructor Guide

Participant Guide

Participant Guide Fillable PDF

PowerPoint Presentation

5. Physical and Developmental Disabilities

Description: Disability awareness strengthens APS practice. This course explores disability past and present, highlights key disability categories encountered in APS, and provides practical strategies for engaging individuals with a wide range of abilities using a person-centered approach.

Learning Objectives:

Identify disability-related terms and language
Describe the history of disability rights in the United States
Identify three common types of disabilities experienced by people in APS
Identify effective language and communication strategies to accommodate and promote meaningful interactions among persons with disabilities
Recognize various populations of people who experience a higher rate of victimization

Materials: COMING SOON

6. Mental Health in APS

Description: Mental health is essential to a person’s overall health and well-being. This course is designed for APS professionals to become familiar with working with people with mental health concerns by introducing common terms and behaviors used to describe and identify mental health conditions. While APS professionals do not diagnose the people they serve, a solid base of knowledge will help to develop person-centered service plans, make appropriate referrals, and communicate more effectively with mental health partners in the community.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the characteristics of the broad categories of mental health conditions
Identify when a person may be at risk of suicide and present an emergency mental health situation
Define terms used to describe mental health conditions
Analyze and respond to scenarios for serving older adults and adults with disabilities experiencing mental health conditions
Recognize ways to adapt the interview and case planning process to better accommodate a client experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition

Materials:

APSWI Instructor Led Training

7. Substance Use in Older Adults

Description: Substance use among older adults requires informed, compassionate response. This course equips APS professionals with foundational knowledge of substance use and practical strategies to support engagement, interviewing, and service planning using trauma-informed, person-directed approaches.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the unique factors that influence substance use in older adults.
Identify substances commonly used by older adults and their associated risks.
Recognize risk factors, protective factors, and observable signs and symptoms of concerning substance use in older adults.
Apply trauma-informed, person-directed strategies when engaging older adults with substance use concerns.
Identify APS-appropriate interventions, referrals, and collaborative responses to substance use involving older adults.

Materials: COMING SOON (Spring 2026)

8. Power and Control Dynamics

Description: Effective APS interventions center on respect, choice, and balance of power. This course helps APS professionals recognize power and control dynamics in abuse, neglect, and exploitation cases and apply person-centered strategies to provide effective, ethical protective services.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize abusive relationships between perpetrators and older adults and adults with disabilities
Identify the various dynamics which underlie maltreatment
Select the role of APS in cases of potential abuse, neglect, and exploitation
Identify how power and control dynamics might inform case interventions
Identify the influence of power and control dynamics on decisions to stay in at risk situations

Materials:

APSWI Instructor Led Training

9. Communication and Interviewing

Description: Effective interviewing is central to APS practice. This course strengthens core interviewing and engagement skills, emphasizing trust-building, overcoming communication barriers, and the thoughtful use of question types—including open-ended questioning—to support effective APS interactions.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize the importance of building rapport
Identify question types used often in APS
Identify information that can be gained from an initial report to be used for interviewing
Demonstrate active listening skills for use in APS
Discuss fundamental skills and approaches for APS interviewing

Materials:

APSWI Instructor Led Training

10. Working with Clients Experience Self-Neglect

Description: APS work is grounded in protection, accountability, and choice. This course provides a practical overview of who APS serves, the roles and responsibilities of APS professionals, the types of allegations investigated, and the key steps in an APS case. Emphasis is placed on self-determination and person-centered practice as the foundation of ethical APS service delivery.

Learning Objectives:

Define self-neglect in APS cases
Recognize indicators of self-neglect using five domains
Identify safety and risk reduction interventions for adults who are experiencing self-neglect
Recognize how stages of change affect service planning with adults who are hesitant to accept services
Identify community partners to work with in self-neglect cases

Materials:

COMING SOON

11. Caregiver Neglect

Description: Neglect is one of the most serious and complex issues APS professionals address. This course examines how neglect presents in APS cases, with a focus on neglect perpetrated by formal and informal caregivers. Participants will learn how to recognize indicators of neglect, conduct effective investigations, and develop person-centered service plans to reduce the risk of future harm.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize factors that contribute to the risk of neglect
Identify the physical and behavioral indicators of neglect
Assess allegations of neglect using five domains of assessment
Identify methods for interviewing alleged perpetrators
Select components of service planning

Materials:

APSWI Instructor Led Training

12. Financial Exploitation

Description: APS professionals investigate cases of exploitation that can range from a small amount of cash being taken from an older adult or person with a disability to complex cases involving millions of dollars. This course presents the necessary components for conducting effective financial exploitation investigations. The course reviews the indicators of financial exploitation and discusses how decision-making capacity and undue influence can impact financial exploitation cases.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize situations where financial exploitation may be occurring
Identify indicators of financial exploitation
Recognize the impact of undue influence on decision-making
Select the components of financial decision-making ability
Identify key investigation steps in financial exploitation cases

Materials: COMING SOON

13. Physical and Emotional Abuse

Description: Physical and emotional abuse can have significant physical, psychological, emotional, traumatic, and social effects on a person who experiences maltreatment. This course explores how APS professionals can examine these situations and develop effective person-centered service plans with people experiencing physical and emotional abuse.

Learning Objectives:

Define physical and emotional abuse
Recognize the dynamics of physical and emotional abuse
Select the signs of physical and emotional abuse
Identify attributes of injuries indicative of physical abuse
Recognize the impact of trauma on people who have experienced physical and emotional abuse

Materials: COMING SOON

14. Sexual Abuse

Description: Adult Protective Services balances safety with individual choice. This course introduces the core elements of APS practice, including who APS serves, professional roles and responsibilities, the types of allegations investigated, and the essential steps of an APS case. Participants will explore how self-determination and person-centered practice guide ethical and effective APS decision-making.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the myths and realities of sexual abuse relating to APS clients
Describe the dynamics of sexual abuse
Select the signs of potential sexual abuse among APS clients
Identify interviewing techniques when a person is reported to have experienced sexual abuse
Select helpful interventions when a person has experienced sexual abuse

Materials: COMING SOON

15. APS Case Documentation and Report Writing

Description: Strong documentation strengthens APS practice. This course highlights the importance of accurate, timely, and complete documentation and provides practical guidance for effectively documenting APS work to support case outcomes and accountability.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the purpose of accurate, complete, and timely documentation
Recognize clear and concise language
Recognize the importance of confidentiality as it relates to documentation
Identify the importance of accurate and timely documentation
Select language that objectively describes a situation

Materials:

APSWI Instructor Led Training

16. Investigation First Steps

Description: Effective APS work begins with strong planning and personal safety. This course equips APS professionals with foundational skills to gather information from initial reports, develop informed response plans, and proactively address safety concerns when working in the community and during home visits.

Learning Objectives:

Select the goals of the intake process
Evaluate information received in the initial report
Identify safety precautions/preparations
Identify methods of working with a client’s reluctance to allow access
Recognize potentially dangerous situations to remain safe

Materials: COMING SOON

17. Screening for Decision-Making Ability

Description: Balancing safety and self-determination is one of APS’s greatest challenges. This course introduces the fundamentals of screening decision-making ability, helping APS professionals tailor questions and identify factors that may impact a person’s capacity to make informed choices about their care and situation.

Learning Objectives:

Define autonomy in terms of decision-making incapacity
Describe factors that may influence decision-making capacity and decision-making ability
Identify factors that may influence a client’s decision-making ability
Describe signs and symptoms that may indicate deficits in decision-making ability
Identify key questions and approaches used to screen decision-making ability

Materials:

APSWI Instructor Led Training

18. Risk Assessment

Description: Assessing risk is one of the most complex tasks in APS practice. This course guides APS professionals in evaluating severity, urgency, and likelihood of harm across five key domains and applying this information to develop person-centered service plans in cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize the function of a risk assessment
Identify risk factors in each of the five domains
Assess overall level of risk in terms of severity, urgency, and likelihood of harm occurring
Identify signs of an emergency requiring immediate attention in APS
Select the goals for developing person-centered service plans that reduce risk

Materials: COMING SOON (Spring 2026)

19. Voluntary Service Planning

Description: Voluntary service planning in APS centers on collaboration, choice, and safety. This course explores how to develop person-centered case plans that respect self-determination while addressing well-being. Participants will learn strategies for partnering with clients, tailoring interventions to readiness for change, and creating specialized safety plans, including for individuals experiencing domestic violence.

Learning Objectives:

Identify factors to consider when determining intervention needs
Recognize the importance of the use of strength in engaging a person in goal setting
Match appropriate interventions that will be effective in decreasing risk
Select features of a person-centered service plan
Identify when to use a Domestic Violence Safety Planning tool

Materials: COMING SOON

20. Involuntary Service Planning

Description: Involuntary interventions require careful ethical judgment. This course helps APS professionals identify when involuntary interventions may be appropriate, examine the ethical considerations involved, and apply practical guidance for taking action when an involuntary case plan is necessary.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the importance of using case review
Match the reasons that an involuntary invention might be indicated
Select the practical ethical guidelines for using involuntary interventions
Choose the facts needed to justify the use of an involuntary intervention
Identify the appropriate resources needed to be able to implement an involuntary case plan

Materials: COMING SOON

21. Collaboration in APS Work

Description: APS practice is built on protection, responsibility, and respect for choice. This course introduces the fundamentals of Adult Protective Services, including who APS serves, professional roles and responsibilities, the types of allegations investigated, and the core steps of an APS case. Emphasis is placed on self-determination and person-centered practice as central to effective APS work.

Learning Objectives:

Define the concept of collaboration in APS
Identify the benefits of working with other agencies
Recognize the competencies needed to work collaboratively with other agencies
Match the types of APS partners with the help they can provide
Select basic principles for conflict resolution that can be used when collaborating with other agencies

Materials: COMING SOON

22. Working with the Criminal Justice System

Description: Some APS cases intersect with the criminal justice system. This course helps APS professionals understand the distinct roles, principles, and procedures of law enforcement and prosecution and build the knowledge needed to collaborate effectively when cases involve potential criminal activity.

Learning Objectives:

Distinguish the role of APS from the role of law enforcement
Match roles with responsibilities for professionals in the criminal justice system
Identify the legal burdens of proof used in the criminal justice system
Define the types of evidence used in a criminal justice case
Identify why APS documentation is essential for cases that go to the criminal justice system

Materials: COMING SOON

23. Case Closure

Description: Adult Protective Services work centers on safety, accountability, and choice. This course introduces the core elements of APS practice, including who APS serves, professional roles and responsibilities, the types of allegations investigated, and the key steps of an APS case. Participants will examine how self-determination and person-centered practice guide effective APS service delivery.

Learning Objectives:

Identify key ethical obligations that apply to case closure
Recognize common feelings that a client may experience at the time of case closure
Match conditions that indicate whether a case is appropriate or inappropriate to close
Identify essential elements to a case summary
Select APS actions that would support a reasonable effort in a case

Materials: COMING SOON

ABOUT NAPSA

The National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA) is a national non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization with members in all fifty states, D.C., and the territories. Formed in 1989, the goal of NAPSA is to provide Adult Protective Services (APS) programs a forum for sharing information, solving problems, and improving the quality of services for victims of elder and vulnerable adult mistreatment. Its mission is to strengthen the capacity of APS at the national, state, and local levels, to effectively and efficiently recognize, report, and respond to the needs of elders and adults with disabilities who are the victims of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and to prevent such abuse whenever possible.

NAPSA OFFICES

NAPSA (National Adult Protective Services Association)

Address:
1612 K Street NW #200
Washington, DC 20006

Phone:
(202) 370-6292

Hours:
9 am – 5 pm EST

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1. APS Overview

2. Ethics, Values, and Cultural Responsiveness in APS

3. Regulations

4. The Aging Process

5. Physical and Developmental Disabilities

6. Mental Health in APS

7. Substance Use in Older Adults

8. Power and Control Dynamics

9. Communication and Interviewing

10. Working with Clients Experience Self-Neglect

11. Caregiver Neglect

12. Financial Exploitation

13. Physical and Emotional Abuse

14. Sexual Abuse

15. APS Case Documentation and Report Writing

16. Investigation First Steps

17. Screening for Decision-Making Ability

18. Risk Assessment

19. Voluntary Service Planning

20. Involuntary Service Planning

21. Collaboration in APS Work

22. Working with the Criminal Justice System

23. Case Closure

ABOUT NAPSA

NAPSA OFFICES

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