Our Care Professionals

Our unique and extensive training program prepares Apex Social Care Professionals for their role. From start to finish, our Apex Academy prepares Care Professionals with topics such as cross-cultural communication, developmental childcare, homesickness, engaging with their local community and becoming the nucleus of their family’s care team.  . Before arriving in the U.S., every Apex Social candidate completes a comprehensive online and in-person training program. This training fulfills the U.S. Department of State’s requirement that Care Professionals receive at least 32 hours of child development and safety instruction prior to arriving to their host family. During their placement with an Apex family, our Care Professionals continue to improve their professional skills through the Apex Academy continuing education program with the support of our experts on the Apex Educational and Therapeutic Services team. We also provide support and continued professional training as Care Professionals transition from our program back home. The Apex Social Career Center helps guide our Care Professionals through educational workshops and career counseling and provides job placement services.

Common European Degrees

Europe has a rich tradition of providing high quality university and vocational training to its young people. Apex’s candidates are professionals who may have completed a degree in one of the following professions:

Pediatric Nurse Kinderkrankenpflegerin

A German Kinderkrankenpflegerin has completed a three-year degree that specializes in the care of infants, including newborns, pre-mature babies, multiples and infants with special needs. Pediatric nurses tend to have completed practical training in hospital maternity wards, nurseries and in neo-natal intensive care units.

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Early Childhood Educator/Teacher Erzieherin

A German Erzieherin has completed a three to five-year degree followed by a year of on-the-job training focusing on the following subjects: psychology, language development, child development, literature, arts, music, health, and physical education. A Erzieherin is likely to have 1,200 hours of practical training and 2,880 hours of theoretical training.

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Special Needs Care Provider Heilerziehungspfleger

A German Heilerziehungspfleger has completed a three-year advanced degree in assisting, caring, educating and helping children and adults with special care requirements. They provide personal and hygiene assistance including toileting, bathing, lifting, feeding (including feeding tubes) and other daily support needs. They work with patients in either a hospital or home setting.

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Occupational Therapist Ergotherapeut

A German Ergotherapeut has three years of vocational training or a four-year Bachelor’s Degree. They have special training in working with children and adults who have a physical, mental or cognitive disorder. Occupational therapists focus on adapting the environment and teaching skills with a goal of increasing their patient’s participation in daily activities. An Ergotherapeut is likely to have 2,700 hours of theoretical training and 1,700 hours of practical training.

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Physical Therapist Physiotherapeut

A German Physiotherapeut has three years of vocational training. They provide support to individuals who have physical disabilities. They are focused on helping their patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility. A Physiotherapeut is likely to have 2,900 hours of theoretical training and 1,600 hours of practical training.

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Speech Therapist Logopäde

A German Logopäde has three years of vocational training. They work with patients of all ages to assist them with speech development and to improve their communication skills. A Logopäde is likely to have 1,700 hours of theoretical training and 2,100 hours of practical training.

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Social Worker Sozialpädagoge

A German Sozialpädagoge has a four-year Bachelor’s Degree. The field of social work utilizes social theories to understand human problems, help improve people’s lives, and improve society as a whole. Many who work in this field specialize in particular areas such as helping children, assisting those with life-threatening problems, or aiding people in overcoming addictions.

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Social Assistant Sozialassistent

A German Sozialassistent has completed a two-year degree (equivalent to an Associate’s Degree in the U.S.) This is the pre-requisite training for pursuing education careers such as being a preschool/kindergarten teacher. They learn how to work, help and care for children, young adults, adults, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

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Childcare Provider Kinderpflegerin

A German Kinderpflegerin has completed a two to three year training at a vocational school specializing in childcare. The curriculum includes practical experience in both the classroom and in-home childcare.

Common American Degrees

Our American candidates are professionals from a variety of backgrounds, training and education. The following are some of the degree programs they have completed:

RBT

The Registered Behavior Technician® (RBT®) is a paraprofessional certification in behavior analysis. RBTs are certified after completing a 40 hour course and an initial assessment of competency exam. They provide ABA interventions that encourage socially acceptable replacement behaviors so clients can build and improve upon their communication, social interaction, and problem-solving skills.

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ABA Therapist

An ABA therapist is a person who uses applied behavior analysis as a form of treatment. Applied Behavior Analysis is the process of studying behavior in order to put into place appropriate behavioral interventions. The first step in becoming an ABA therapist is to obtain an undergraduate degree. Ideally, earning a bachelor’s degree in a field such as psychology or education is preferable. The standard expectation is for candidates to hold at least a master’s degree in a field such as applied behavior analysis.