Ensuring Quality Care (EQC)
Easy registration Flexible learning Approved for all Oregon Counties
March-April 2023 EQC

Our March-April EQC course is full and registration is closed. See below for other course options. ⁣

***EQC Course is Full***

EQC Essentials runs March 3rd - 20th and Adult Foster Home (AFH) Administration runs April 3rd - 17th. The full EQC course is for future licensees/co-licensees and administrators.

  • The full course (Essentials plus Administration) is required for all future licensees, co-licensees and administrators. EQC Essentials only is required for all future resident managers and shift caregivers.

  • EQC Essentials is approximately 35 hours and AFH Administration is an additional 20 hours.

  • Must pass a proctored exam (one for Essentials and one for Administration) with a score of at least 80%.

  • Students can have access to course materials and the online classroom for a limited time even after the course ends.

Your Success is Our Goal

  • Course Completion Rate

    84% of our students successfully finish the course the first time

  • State Exam Completion

    99% of students who successfully complete our course pass the State EQC exam the first time

  • Exam Score

    95% is the average score of our students on the State EQC exam

***EQC Course is Full***

Important information about the course. Please read below:

Please note, this is a flexible, but highly-condensed course. Most of the course is done online, but there are a few, required, live webinars. Students need to plan ahead to take sufficient time for the course while managing work and family obligations. The course averages about 1.5 to 2 hours of work per day.

Self-Assessment: Is Online Learning Right for Me?

Online learning is flexible but can be challenging. We want students to be successful in our course, so please review the self-assessment questions below before registering for this course to make sure this online course is a good fit for you. Can you answer "yes" to all the questions below?

  • Computer skills: I have good computer skills and I can navigate the internet, upload and download files, and can perform basic tasks on my own.

  • Online learning experience: I have taken an online training or class before (note: this course is the equivalent of a first-year, online, college-level course)

  • Technology: I have access to adequate technology for a fully online class, including high-speed internet, a laptop, desktop, or tablet, and a webcam (note: cell phones cannot be used for this course)

  • Time management: I have very good time-management skills and can prioritize this course, create a schedule for myself, and stay focused to complete the course on time.

  • If you answered "no" to any of the questions above, please email us at EQC.Class@gmail.com for other options.

Registration Options

Before you register, make sure to review the self-assessment questions listed above. Register early as our courses fill up between 2-3 weeks early. Read the course descriptions at the top of the page and register for either EQC Essentials only or the full EQC course (Essentials plus AFH Administration).

What our students are saying

Excellent Course

April 2021 EQC Essentials Student

Excellent course and excellent instructors.

Learned A Lot

April 2021 EQC Essentials Student

I learned a lot from [this course] and the instructors are nice, knowledgeable and easy to understand. Thank you very much for what you've taught to us.

A wonderful journey

February 2019 EQC Student

It has been a wonderful journey. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and helping me on this journey.

Great learning experience

April 2019 EQC Student

It was a great learning experience. I will definitely recommend for whoever is looking to take this class.

Your passion shows

Sept. 2019 EQC Student

I think you guys are great and really passionate about what you do and it shows.

Supportive Instructors

Sept. 2019 EQC Student

You did well on keeping me on track and assuring me when I felt I wouldn't get course completed. It helped to have the material to view at my pace.

Motivating

February 2019 EQC Student

The course is great, the information, the techniques by teachers was easy to understand and motivating.

Keep it up!

June 2019 EQC Student

From the bottom of my heart, you guys did a wonderful job. Keep it up!

Meet Your Certified EQC Instructors

Lead Instructor

Alyssa Elting McGuire, MA, MPA

Alyssa's passion is helping adult care home staff connect their learning to real world experiences. Alyssa is the consulting and training director for Oregon Care Home Consulting & Training, which she founded in 2018. She is a former lead adult foster home licensor for Washington and Columbia Counties and spent eight years working in adult foster homes in both a regulatory and protective services capacity with the State of Oregon. Alyssa also worked as a program manager for the Alzheimer's Association Oregon & SW Washington Chapter, where she facilitated dementia training around the state. Alyssa holds a graduate degree in public administration & management from the University of Nebraska, and a graduate degree in educational leadership (adult education & training) from Portland State. Additionally, she has a gerontology-focused certificate of completion from the Univ. of Southern California. She is a State-certified Ensuring Quality Care (EQC) instructor.

Instructor

Matthew Gannon

Matt is a communications coordinator & trainer with Oregon Care Home Consulting & Training. He has been a direct dementia care provider, manager, dementia trainer and consultant for the past 17 years. After serving in the Navy, Matt began working in long-term care and fell in love with dementia care. He spent six years as a CNA working in memory care and has also provided care in an adult foster home setting. Matt spent four years with the Alzheimer’s Association Oregon & SW Washington Chapter as a program coordinator. In this role, Matthew provided regular consultation to families facing dementia, and conducted dementia-related training around the state for both caregivers and first responders. Matt was also an instructor of the dementia care practice course at Portland Community College. Matt holds an undergraduate degree in human studies and gerontology from Marylhurst University. Additionally, he studied at the Marylhurst University Graduate School of Gerontology. Matt is a State-certified EQC instructor.

FAQ

  • What is Ensuring Quality Care (EQC)?

    Starting April 2021, Ensuring Quality Care (EQC) will be a two-part training required by the State of Oregon for all prospective adult foster home licensees, administrators, resident managers, floating resident managers, and shift caregivers looking to open or work in a home licensed through Aging & People with Disabilities (APD). Prospective licensees, resident managers, and shift caregivers are required to complete the full course (EQC Essentials plus AFH Administration) and pass State exams for both parts of the course.

  • When does the course start?

    EQC Essentials starts March 3rd and ends on March 20th. AFH Administration starts April 3rd, 2023 and ends on April 17th.

  • I have an urgent need for EQC, can you help me?

    We want to help you become or stay in compliance, so we offer both the EQC Essentials and the full course as an urgent/self-paced option outside our regularly-scheduled course. Please contact us at EQC.Class@gmail.com regarding urgent requests.

  • Is your course recognized by all counties in the state of Oregon?

    Yes, Ensuring Quality Care is taught by State-certified instructors, and completion of the course and exam is recognized by all counties in Oregon. Multnomah County has additional requirements, so contact Multnomah County licensing at 503-988-3000 for more information.

  • Do I need to take the required Adult Foster Home Orientation before I take EQC?

    We strongly encourage you to take the required Adult Foster Home Orientation prior to taking EQC. Orientation is offered through your local licensing office. You will take the orientation through the county in which you will be opening your home or becoming a resident manager. Some local licensing offices have different expectations regarding orientation and EQC, so please contact your local licensing office to get clarification on their requirements.

  • Can I take just the EQC exam?

    Both the course and exam are required for licensing. You can only take the EQC exam if you have successfully completed an EQC course within the past 90 days of the exam date.

  • What if I don't pass the EQC exam?

    Fortunately, our students have a very high pass rate. In 2022, 99% of the students who took the exam with us passed, and our median student score is 95%. We work with you throughout the course to review the material and answer questions to make sure you know the content well. If you do not pass the exam on the first attempt, you have up to 90 days to re-take the exam. If you do not pass a second time, you will be required to re-take the course. This is very rare in our course.