Start Your HHA Career in 4 Weeks: Simple & Effective Guide

Embark on a Rewarding Career Path: Your Guide to Becoming a HHA

Starting a career as a Home Health Aide (HHA) offers a unique opportunity to enter the healthcare sector quickly. This guide provides essential steps to become certified, from understanding state and federal training requirements to passing your competency exam. Home health aides play a crucial role in improving their clients’ lives by providing personal care and support at home, making this career path both rewarding and in-demand. Whether you are new to healthcare or seeking a career change, becoming an HHA could be your next successful step.

As a HHA, you’ll play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for your clients. Your tasks will range from personal care activities such as bathing, dressing, oral hygiene, and grooming to performing light housekeeping duties and running errands. This hands-on care not only helps maintain your client’s dignity and independence but also supports their physical well-being.

How and where do you actually begin to become a HHA in ?

Home health aide training is required and varies by state.

Though not all states require formal home health aide training, most do. But even if you reside in a state that does not require this type of professional preparation but plan on working for an agency reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid, there are still federal requirements you must meet.

Requirements to be a home health aide

• Work Eligibility
  • Must be a U.S. citizen or eligible to work in the U.S.
• Type of Certification
  • Certification required if employed by agency accepting Medicare payments
• Application Form
  • Application required; along with other information (e.g., proof of education, references, etc.)
• Age
  • Usually no age requirements; states may require to be over 18 years old
• Driver’s License
  • Driver’s license usually required
• Education Level
  • Most employers will require a high school diploma / GED
• Training
  • Adheres to Federal requirements as well as state laws
• Exam
  • Most states require passing a competency test
• Experience
  • None required
• Health Immunizations
• Fingerprints
  • Fingerprinting may be required
• Background checks
• Other Requirements
  • Photo ID

There are many ways in which you can get the proper home health aide training.

• community colleges (too expensive though)
• night courses at a high school
• elder care programs
• home health care agencies
• online training courses

As soon as you find the perfect training program, make sure that it meets your needs so there won’t be any problems when completing school requirements later down the road.

Each state has minimum required by Federal law: at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training and 12 hours of continuing education per 12 month period; and most states insist on seventy-five (75) hours and you must pass an evaluation.

Training will most likely be $500 – $2000; this is a lot of money for someone just starting out in the medical profession.

You may not have the money or the resources to take out a loan either.

HHA Free Training Near You!

If an agency offers free training they may ask for something in return such as a commitment from you that you work with their firm for a period of time.

Preparing For The Exam

Once training is completed, you will be required to complete a competency evaluation (sometimes called a “test” or “exam”) to ensure they can properly perform tasks for your patients.

After your classroom (or online) and clinical training have been met you can apply for the examination.

Most likely you will complete this paperwork even before you start your training. Sometimes, too, the school in which you are training will take care of this paperwork – they are the experts in filling them out so ask if you have any questions. The application gets sent to your respective state nursing board.

Once the application is sent to the nursing board you will be notified of the place, date and time of your scheduled exam.

Passing The HHA Exam

Once you have passed, you may apply to your state’s board of nursing for certification as a HHA.

A home health aide certificate will be awarded to you when your application has been approved; your name will be placed in an online database.

Most states have the certificate expire after a set period of time (on your certificate) and make you renew – most have a year limit.

Your prospects are very good for getting a full time job and making money right away. The population continues to age and people are staying in their homes and are more independent. All this works in your favor!

What To Expect For Salary

With such a fast growing industry and low educational requirements the starting pay may be low and unless you advance you may be limiting yourself.

HHA salaries vary by state – what HHA salaries are the best?

There’s plenty of good news to go along with that:

• certified home health aides may make more
• a state’s minimum wage law may provide you with a substantial increase
• working in an assisted living facility will earn you more

Can’t wait to start? You can start your new home health aide (HHA) career in about four (4) weeks.

Here’s a weekly breakdown on how to become a HHA in 4 weeks.

Qualifications And Application To Be A HHA

It may take up to one (1) week from meeting with the potential employer (usually a home health agency), filling out paperwork and accepted into a program.

The requirements are quite simple and once certified you can take your basic nursing and home care skills with you anywhere you go.

The Training

Home health aide training programs will take about two (2) weeks.

Your HHA training will be the single largest driver of how long it will take to become certified.

Every state must adhere to at least this training: at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical or clinical training and 12 hours of continuing education per 12-month period.

State Training Requirements

Many states require additional training so know the specifics of your state before you begin planning.

The most common state rule?

Increasing the 75 hours to 120 hours and even 160 hours.

Certification Upon Passing The Competency Exam

It may take about one (1) week from the time you successfully pass the HHA test in order to get your certification.

Successful completion of a HHA program and passing the home health aide certification test are two huge accomplishments and bring you VERY close to getting certified.

The very last step is the formal designation of “certified home health aide”.

Some states certify you immediately after you pass the home health competency exam. Other states have you submit the paperwork (whether hard copies or electronic file) then notify you if you’re cleared to work in homes helping people.

See also becoming a HHA for a family member.