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Are you looking to make a quick entry into the field of allied health providing hands-on care – without having to spend years on training and education?
If so, then starting a new career as an in-demand Home Health Aide could be the right career pathway for you!
In-home care providers are among the fastest-growing occupations in America according to the BLS.
This means that the demand for highly skilled and well-trained Home Health Aides is expected to remain steady and even increase over the next few years.
If you’re thinking about becoming a Home Health Aide, now could be the time to strike while the career is in such high demand across the country.
Get step-by-step guidance on how to become a Home Health Aide in the US along with a few details about the career in our comprehensive guide.
Steps to Become a Home Health Aide
The following steps will be required for most entry-level Home Health Aides before they are officially able to work independently or as employees of a healthcare agency, hospital, clinic, or to provide private medical care.
Step One: Research the Role of Home Health Aides
The most important step to take in becoming a Home Health Aide is researching the career to learn about HHA job duties and determine if this career is a good fit for your personality, skills, and income-earning goals.
Primary job duties of today’s certified and self-taught Home Health Care Aides include the following.
- Working in patient homes to provide care for disabled, elderly, and injured patients.
- Assisting patients with daily living activities, which can include grooming, dressing, and bathing.
- Completing household tasks including light housework and transporting patients for appointments.
- Some HHAs are required to provide meal preparation and medication assistance for their clients.
- A large part of HHA job duties involves providing companionship and emotional support for home-bound patients in their care.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what could be expected of you as a home health provider, let’s move on to the next steps!
Step Two: Complete High School or Earn a GED
Aspiring Home Health Aides who are willing to take on the challenges of the daily job duties listed above are ready to move on to the next steps of completing formal HHA training.
Incoming HHAs must meet minimum education requirements for admission into public and private Home Health Aide training programs.
The minimum educational requirements for becoming a Home Health Aide will typically require new candidates to be between 16-18 years of age.
Candidates will need to show proof of completing their high school education or earning an equivalent before becoming eligible for enrollment in campus-based or vocational HHA training programs.
Step Three: Meet Physical Requirements
The role of a Home Health Aide can involve hours of standing, bending, lifting, pulling, and assisting patients with grooming and toileting activities.
HHAs must be in good physical condition and be able to perform basic and physically demanding tasks as key components of their jobs.
If you are unwilling or unable to meet the demanding physical requirements of a Home Health Aide which can vary from day to day and require heavy lifting and transport, becoming an HHA may not be an ideal career choice for you.
Step Four: Apply to a Formal Home Health Aide Training Program
Once you meet the minimum age, education, and physical requirements for becoming a Home Health Aide, the next steps to take are to begin researching campus-based and online Home Health Aide training programs that will teach you the skills needed for success in the role.
A typical Home Health Aide curriculum will include some or all of the following.
- Alzheimer’s Care
- Body Systems
- Dementia Care
- Home Making Skills
- Legal and Ethical Regulations for Home Health Providers
- Meal Preparation
- Patient Care
- Specialized Care
Step Five: Complete Home Health Aide School
Whether you’ve opted for traditional college or vocational school education versus self-paced online learning, once enrolled in your training program enrollees must complete all mandatory course requirements and prerequisites as they prepare for internships, externships, and Home Health Aide Certification.
Some Home Health Aide training programs can be completed in as little as a few days or weeks while other more intensive training programs can take up to as much as one year to complete.
Graduates who have earned a Home Health Aide certificate or diploma are ready to move on to the next steps of applying for national Home Health Aide certification.
Step Six: Complete Certification Exams
The National Center for Competency Testing is one of America’s top certifying authorities for allied health professionals including HHAs.
They offer a variety of training materials, study guides, and sample exam questions on their public-facing website.
Graduates from formal HHA training programs and those who wish to apply for certification based on years of hands-on experience in the field must pay the required Certified Home Health Aide exam fee and complete the certification exam with a passing score to be awarded the CHHA credential.
Step Seven: Find a Home Health Aide Job
Certified Home Health Aides should have very little trouble in finding an open position – regardless of where they are located in the US.
The BLS reports that this is one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand career fields where the need for certified and well-trained HHAs is projected to skyrocket by up to 22%.
This field is experiencing rapid growth that is outpacing the growth of most other jobs in every industry.
Find a Home Health Aide job through targeted career searches, keyword searches, referrals, and career education support centers for HHA training programs that offer placement assistance.
Step Eight: Maintain Your CHHA Credentials Through Continuing Education
Working HHAs who have earned the CHHA credential must periodically recertify their status to maintain their certification.
Visit the NCCT website to learn more about which work-related and educational activities qualify for continuing education credits for renewing your certification.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Home Health Aide
While there are currently no specific occupational licensing requirements needed to officially become a Home Health Aide, most public and private employers prefer to hire certified aides who demonstrate competency in the profession by holding credentials that require them to meet or exceed current industry standards.
The most commonly sought-out credential for HHAs seeking to boost their resume and salary is the Certified Home Health Aide credential administered by the National Center for Competency Testing.
No licensing is required to work as an independent HHA or home health agency.
However, certified and well-trained candidates are likely to outrank their counterparts when it comes to finding jobs and securing their desired pay rates.
Online Training Programs for Home Health Aides
Many Home Health Aides are starting their careers by taking advantage of flexible online training options offered by local colleges, universities, vocational schools, workforce development departments, and private educational institutions.
Some states like Massachusetts and Kansas offer free and reduced-cost training programs for aspiring HHAs in their region.
Be sure to contact the program advisor and financial aid office to learn about tuition reduction, tuition reimbursement, payment plans, and other financial aid options for income-qualified students if paying for Home Health Aide training is a concern.
Aspiring Home Health Aides seeking to begin their careers through online education can research the following programs to learn more about online HHA training.
The American Caregiver Association
About the Program
The American Caregiver Association specializes in providing online HHA training for students around the country.
Their online programs offer self-paced training options that introduce new students to the fundamentals and key concepts needed to function as certified HHAs.
Courses Offered
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
- Behavior Management
- Family Caregiving
- Personal Care
- Private Duty Caregiving
- Self-Employed Caregiving Skills
Contact Information
- Website: Link
- Phone: 1-800-625-8108
- Estimated Program Costs: $99.00 – $278.96
Penn Foster
About the Program
Penn Foster operates one of America’s longest-running distance-based training and education programs for students seeking to become a Home Health Aide online.
Their comprehensive HHA training program is self-paced, offers payment plans, and allows students up to twelve months to complete mandatory training modules with a passing score.
Courses Offered
- Body Systems and Medication
- Home Health Care Procedures
- Law, Ethics, and Confidentiality
- Meeting Client Needs
- Nutrition
- Therapeutic Communication Skills
Contact Information
- Website: Link
- Phone: 1-800-471-3232
- Estimated Program Costs: $789.00 – $1,039.00
Home Health Aide Salary – United States
America’s BLS reports that Home Health Aides in the US typically bring home average annual salaries just above $33,000.00 per year.
Home Health Aides seeking to make higher salaries can seek out roles in larger home health agencies, earn additional education and certification credentials, and take on new allied healthcare roles to boost their earnings potential.
Other factors that can affect the earning potential of today’s home care professionals include private practice, location, working for larger employers, and earning specialized credentials for Dementia, Alzheimer’s care, and advancing to the next level of allied health as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
