Florida HHA Requirements

Florida HHA Fast Facts

Annual Salary

$28,415

Employment

~ 65,000

Training

40 / 75 hours

Key Takeaways

  • More than half work in Home Health Care Services or Individual and Family Services
  • Those working in doctors’ offices can make more than $37,000 per year
  • Need a certificate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • Complete HIV infection course
  • Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) can be employed as a HHA

How to Become a HHA in Florida

If you want to work as a home health aide (HHA) in Florida, you must have a 40-hour HHA certificate (Nurse Registry), a 75-hour HHA certificate (Home Health Agency), or a degree/diploma as a home health hide through an approved school.

Florida HHA FAQ

Working for a Medicare or Medicaid home health agency in Florida requires that you obtain 75 hours of training and/or pass an evaluation.

9 out of 10 need hha certification

Yes, a Florida certified nursing assistant (CNA) can be employed by a home health agency as both an in-home care provider and a companion.

Yes, licensed practical nurses (LPN) and registered nurses (RN) can work as a home health aide if they are licensed in another state or Florida.

Many local public vocational technical schools and private career education institutions have courses dedicated to home health aides. To learn more about these programs visit their websites or reach out by phone if you need assistance finding what’s right for you.

A nurse registry is an agency that offers health care related contracts for nurses, home health aides, certified nursing assistants, homemakers, and companions in a patient’s home. Registries refer, but do not hire, home care workers. Once the worker is hired, the relationship usually ends.

To work as a home health aide in a nurse registry, you must first complete 40 hours of training.

No, you would not be an employee. All individuals who enter the home of patients to provide direct care must be independent contractors.

Yes, and they are becoming more popular; be careful and pick one that’s best for you – don’t cut any corners! Learn more about online classes in Florida.

No. Home health aides that are certified or licensed outside of Florida are not permitted to transfer their credentials to Florida. Though you can submit the training documentation from the school where you received training to the employing home care agency or state registry in Florida.

Home health aide certification in Florida

To become a home health aide in Florida, you need either 40 hours or 75 hours of training, depending on your employer. In addition, all home health aides in Florida are required to have HIV training and a valid CPR certificate.

In order to receive your Florida home health aide certification you need to follow the minimum [federal] home health aide education requirements. HHA training programs must consist of:

  • at least seventy-five (75) hours of training
    • which needs to include at least sixteen (16) hours of clinical training
  • plus, there is a requirement to complete twelve (12) hours of continuing education for every twelve (12) months

Different ways to get your Florida home health aide certification

florida hha training options
Nurse RegistryHome Health Agency
EmploymentNo “employees” other than administrator and office staffHHA’s are “employees” as required by FL law
HiringHired by, and work for, the clientHire by the Agency
Quality AssuranceNo required programsQuality Assurance Program required by Florida
TrainingNo training or education provided.Agency provides training and continuing education
Background ChecksNone required; very wide latitudeThorough background checks
PaymentPaid as an independent contractor by the clientPaid by the Agency; including payroll taxes and unemployment
InsuranceNone; responsibility of HHA and clientFull insurance coverage including Workers Compensation
SupervisionNone, other than clientSupervised by a RN; member of a home care team
Services to PatientsSameSame

Working at a Florida Home Health Agency

To work for a home health agency administering Medicare or Medicaid, a home health aide must have no less than 75 hours of training or successfully complete a competency examination offered by the home health agency.

The home health aide needs to successfully complete 40 hours of training and also pass a competency test performed by a health agency working to obtain licensure to offer services in a licensed environment. Additional training may be required by such agencies.

Some home health agencies may employ certified nursing assistants as home health aides.

Graduates of an accredited school of nursing and other individuals who are waiting for their state board test to work as a nurse in Florida may be employed as home health aids if they have a license or be a registered nurse or have a license and become a registered nurse in Florida.

A home healthcare agency might also require different certifications or licenses, beyond the minimum for home health aides.

Working at a Florida Nurse Registry

As a home health aide at a Florida nurse registry, a home care aide will need to provide documentation proving the completion of at least 40 hours of home health aide training.

hha nurse icon

Training can be from any of these:

  • public vocational technical school
  • private career education school licensed by the Florida Department of Education 
  • home health agency, if the home health aide was formerly employed by that home health agency. 

Home health aide certification in Florida

Home health aide certificate in Florida is quite easy.

Some local public and private career schools provide home-health aide class instruction, either at your local vocational technical school or a private career school. To find a course in your area, check with your local public or private career schools to find a class. Nonpublic educational institutions in Florida are licensed by the Florida Department of Education and Commission for Independent Education serving public postsecondary schools.

Here you can find information on the Florida Department of Education’s website regarding the listing of adult education public schools: Florida Division of Career and Adult Education

Home health aide certification ONLINE in Florida

reward icon

Are you interested in being in a position to make a substantial impact on the lives of others as a home health aide? Complete an online HHA course and become certified as a Florida home health aide automatically, without commencing high school or a GED course. Most certificate courses do not require a high school diploma or a GED to join.

See these great resources we think are the best: Florida HHA Online Courses

Additional HHA Training?

All health aides (and caregivers in general) in Florida who are employed by home health care agencies and nursing registries must successfully complete an HIV/AIDS course that provides them with training regarding preventing transmission of HIV. They are also required to take and maintain CPR certificates.


Search for FREE HHA Training in Florida

Best kept secret? Free HHA training is available in Florida! The demand is great for home health aides and agencies are offering free training classes; below is an example – be working and making money as a HHA in just weeks!


Florida HHA Training Requirements

There are different training requirements depending on who you work for – a Home Health Agency or a Nurse Registry.

You’ll need at least one of the following:

  • 40 hour HHA certificate (work at nurse registry)
  • 75 hour HHA certificate (work for home health agency)
  • diploma (Florida HHA online?) in home health aide

Florida HHA Training Resources

The Home Health Aide Competency Test Florida

shuffle image black hha

Home health aides are required to fulfill the competency requirements after training. In other words: you need to pass a HHA test.

Your training program will administer the exam.

Please see more here: Home Health Aide Competency Test.

Profile of a Florida HHA

florida hha profile

Florida HHA Resources

P.S. And don’t rule out Florida HHA online training; some are very good.

Here’s the federal code Florida adheres to Section 484.80; and their own administrative code (Chapter 59).

FREE

Florida
Complete HHA Guide

Download, for FREE of course, this all new guide on how to become a home health aide in Florida. Tips and resources you can view or print for later use – all yours.

florida hha guide