This paper describes the development of an undergraduate certificate program for direct service workers employed in the field of aging. Currently there is a lack of such training programs because the field of educational gerontology is fairly new, most programs focus on graduate degrees, and there is a widespread misconception that employees receive indepth inservice training on the job. As the number of older adults increases and funds for traditional higher education decrease, there will be increasing need to train direct service workers to apply research and theory to the practical needs of older adults. The program was developed at the University of Minnesota in response to positive feedback from a faculty survey, review of aging training literature, and study of gerontology programs in other colleges. A community advisory committee helped develop the core curriculum, which includes courses in sociology, psychology, biology, interpersonal communication, and existing public health and service programs; a choice of electives; and internship experience. Funds were obtained through the university's Center for Educational Development, continuing education and extension division, all-university council on aging, and the general college. In the program's first year, 1978-79 the backgrounds of the 30 students enrolled in the program were diverse. Students were predominantly women in their 30s and 40s. (AV)