Home Health Aide Certification Requirements (State by State)

Home Health Aide certification requirements include a few different aspects and elements. Some of those are the same in all areas of the US, whereas some of them differ from state to state.

If you are looking to become an HHA (Home Health Aide) yourself, you need to know all there is about the certification requirements in your particular state. That is what we’re going to be helping you with in this post. We’re going to talk about the general prerequisites as well as the differences and specific requirements that vary from state to state.

But before we get to that, we should talk about some of the basics.

Who is a Home Health Aide (HHA)?

An HHA is an individual who performs the duty of helping their patient/client with their basic medical care and also in doing everyday tasks such as eating, cooking, dressing, etc.

The difference between a professional and licensed Home Health Aide and a normal personal caregiver or care aide is that the former undergoes special training.

This training makes them capable of not only helping their patients/clients with their day-to-day tasks but also in their medical affairs, such as checking their blood sugar levels, monitoring blood pressure, administering prescribed medicine via injection, etc.

What are the Requirements for Getting an HHA Certification?

As we mentioned earlier, depending on the state in which you’re situated, some of the requirements can be different.

However, most of them are common throughout the USA. We will talk about those common ones before diving into the state-by-state breakdown.

1.   Requirement 1: Complete a HHA Training Program

One of the main requirements for getting a certification is completing an HHA training program.

The training to become an HHA is usually provided when you do a Home Health Aide course from an institution. For example, in the USA, there are various colleges that offer these programs. The program covers the basic theoretical as well as practical training that you need in order to provide health aide services to individuals who need it.

All states in the USA require HHA training. However, some of them need a lesser number of hours than others. The exact number of hours needed for each state will be mentioned below.

2.  Requirement 2: Gain Clinical Experience as an HHA

Some states also require HHAs to have “clinical hours” before they become certified. In other words, after the training, you have to work under the supervision of a certified aide for a specific number of hours. This helps to establish your ability and credibility before you can be given the certification.

To get this experience, you can simply join a home healthcare agency and work alongside a professional. In a situation like this, you are not given total charge over the patient. Rather, you help a professional and learn alongside them.

3.  Requirement 3: Complete a State Specific HHA Test/Evaluation

After the training and the clinic hours, the last thing that you need is to pass the HHA test/evaluation in your particular state.

This evaluation/test can differ from state to state. In some, it might not even exist or it may not even be a requirement. However, that is not the case in most.

The evaluation is basically a test taken to determine your skill and ability in providing healthcare services. Once you have passed it and you also fulfill the other necessary requirements, i.e., the training and the working hours, you can get certified as an HHA.

State-by-State Home Health Aide Certification Requirements

Now that we have looked at the general requirements to become a certified Home Health Aide, let’s take a look at the criterion for each state. For this part, we’ve taken our information from this website, among other sources.

1.  Alaska

In Alaska, the home health certification requirements are quite strict. In terms of training hours and clinical hours, their requirements are as follows:

• At least 140 hours of training as an HHA
• At least 80 hours of clinical training under the supervision of a certified HHA

Other than these requirements, you also have to pass the Alaska State Exam for Nursing Assistants.

2.  Alabama

In Alabama, the requirements are somewhat laxer.

• You need to have at least 75 hours of training (which are acquired during the HHA program)
• You need to have at least 16 hours of clinical training

As is the case with other states, there is a state-mandated test that you have to take before you get your certification. You become eligible for this test after meeting the two aforementioned requirements.

3.  Arizona

The requirements in Arizona are similar to those in Alabama.

• You need to have at least 75 hours of training in an HHA program
• You also need to have at least 16 hours of clinical training

Other than the above, you also have to pass a state-mandated evaluation.

4.   Arkansas

In Arkansas, the requirements are as follows:

• All candidates need to have a minimum of 75 hours of training
• All candidates need to have 16 hours of clinical training

After these two requirements are fulfilled, the candidates can take the state’s HHA certification exam.

5.  Colorado

To become an HHA in Colorado, you need to have the following:

• 75 hours of training in a state-recognized training program
• 16 hours of clinical training

Like the other states, Colorado also has a specific exam that has to be passed before you get certified.

6.  California

In California, the requirements are strict like Alaska. Here are all the prerequisites you need to fulfill before you get certified:

• You need to have at least 120 hours of training in an HHA program
• You need to have at least 20 hours of clinical training
• You also need to have a clear criminal record

If you meet all of these requirements, you can register with the California Department of Public Health, and acquire a certification.

7.  Connecticut

In Connecticut, if you want to become an HHA, you need to be a Certified Nursing Aide. You need to complete all the training and evaluation of a CNA, after which you can be certified as an HHA.

• Other than that, you also need to complete a training program that is 100 hours long, at the minimum. The training program also has to be completed alongside a certified nurse with more than 2 years of experience.
• You also need to have 16 hours of clinical training

After acquiring all of these, you need to take the state-specific evaluation test before becoming certified.

8.  Delaware

In Delaware, the requirements to become a certified HHA are a little different.

• You need to have at least 1 year of experience in providing personal care services in a nursing home, hospital, etc.
• Other than that, you also need to complete the state-specific evaluation for getting certified

9.  Florida

In Florida, the requirements are somewhat standard.

• All candidates need to have a minimum of 75 hours of training
• All candidates need to have 16 hours of clinical training

It should be remembered that, in Florida, you can work as an HHA independently without any certification. However, working for Medicaid or Medicare home health agencies requires you to be certified after fulfilling the aforementioned requirements.

10.  Georgia

The home health aide certification requirements are exactly the same as the ones for Florida mentioned above.

11.  Hawaii

To become an HHA in Hawaii, you need to complete a CNA course from a state-approved institute.

• The CNA course covers 100 hours of nurse training
• Along with CNA certification, you also need to have a minimum of 70 hours of clinical training

12.  Idaho

In Idaho, becoming an HHA requires the following:

• Completion of at least 120 hours in a training program
• Completion of at least 40 hours of clinical training

13.  Illinois

The requirements regarding hours of training and clinical training in Illinois are the same as in Idaho.

14.  Indiana

In Indiana, you need to have the following to become a home health aide.

• Completion of at least 75 hours in a training program
• Completion of at least 16 hours of clinical training

There is also a state-mandated evaluation that you have to take before you get certified.

15.  Iowa

Iowa requires the same number of training hours and clinical hours as mentioned above for Indiana.

16.  Kansas

Like in some of the other states that we’ve mentioned above, you first need to be a CNA before becoming an HHA in Kansas.

The requirements are as follows:

• You have to complete the CNA course
• You also have to complete 20 hours in an HHA training program
• And lastly, you have to complete a state-mandated competency exam.

17.  Kentucky

In Kentucky, the home health aide certification requirements are quite standard.

• Completion of at least 75 hours in a training program
• Completion of at least 16 hours of clinical training

There is also a state-mandated evaluation that you have to take before you get certified.

18.  Louisiana

The requirements to become an HHA in Louisiana are also the same as those in Kentucky.

• Completion of at least 75 hours in a training program
• Completion of at least 16 hours of clinical training

There is also a state-mandated evaluation that you have to take before you get certified.

19.  Maine

If you want to become an HHA in Maine, these are the requirements that you have to fulfill:

• You should have completed education up to at least the 9^th grade
• You need to have completed the CNA program (which is essentially 180 hours of training as a nurse aide)
• You need to acquire a continued minimum of 12 hours of training while in service on an annual basis
• You also need to be registered in the Maine Registry of CNAs

20.  Maryland

To become an HHA in Maryland, here are the requirements that you have to fulfill:

• You need to complete 100 hours in a training program
• You also need to have at least 40 hours of clinical training

21.  Massachusetts

The HHA requirements in Massachusetts are similar to a lot of the other states.

• You need at least 75 hours in a training program
• Along with that, you also need at least 16 hours of clinical training
• While in service, you are also required to receive 12 hours of training on an annual basis to retain your certification

22.  Michigan

The requirements in Michigan include the standard number of training hours and clinical hours that you need to complete. They include:

• Completion of at least 75 hours in a training program
• Completion of at least 16 hours of clinical training

It has to be remembered that these requirements apply only if you are looking to work in a Medicare-certified agency. To work as a home health aide in general, the state does not impose any requirements.

23.  Minnesota

In Minnesota, the requirements to become an HHA are as follows:

• Completion of 75 hours of training (20 hours of these have to be supervised clinical training)
• After becoming licensed and certified, you are also required to undergo 8 hours of training each year

24.  Mississippi

To become an HHA in Mississippi, you need to have the following:

• Completion of at least 75 hours in a training program
• Completion of at least 16 hours of clinical training
• Continued training of 12 hours each year

25.  Missouri

When it comes to Missouri, the home health aide certification requirements are as follows:

• You need to complete 75 hours of training and 16 hours of those have to be clinical training under the supervision of a professional
• You also have to complete 100 hours of training while working a job as a supervised home healthcare provider
• Have 1 year of work experience (in the aforementioned circumstances, i.e., under supervision)

26.  Montana

The HHA requirements in Montana are quite simple. You need:

• Completion of 91 hours of training
• Completion of 16 clinical hours

You also have to pass an evaluation test after completing the above requirements.

27.  Nebraska

In Nebraska, as far as the training and clinic hours go, the requirements are straightforward. You need to have the following:

• Completion of at least 75 hours in a training program
• Completion of at least 16 hours of clinical training

Other than these, you also need to be at least 18 years of age and have a clear criminal record. You can find detailed information about home health aide certification requirements in Nebraska by clicking here.

28.  Nevada

The requirements for training hours and clinic hours in Nevada are the same as the ones in Mississippi.

• Completion of at least 75 hours in a training program
• Completion of at least 16 hours of clinical training
• Continued training of 12 hours each year

29.  New Hampshire

The clinic hours and training hours requirement in New Hampshire is more than in most states.

• You need to complete 100 hours in a training program
• You need to complete 60 clinic hours

30.  New Jersey

In New Jersey, the home health aide certification requirements are as follows:

• You have to complete a total of 76 hours of HHA training. Of these 76 hours, 16 hours have to be dedicated to clinical training.

After the completion of the training course, your school/college will submit your application to the state so that you can get certified. There are, of course, some steps that you need to take for this as well as some dues that have to be paid. But the gist of the process has been described above.

31.  New York

To become an HHA in New York, you have to complete an HHA program from one of the state’s universities. There are specified hours to be completed.

32.  New Mexico

In New Mexico, you need to undergo 75 training hours, 16 of which have to be practical clinical training under professional supervision. These are the main requirements to become an HHA.

33.  North Carolina

The requirements in North Carolina are a bit more multifaceted.

• As is the case with other states, you need to complete 75 training hours (16 of which are clinical training). However, you can get this training as an employed trainee at a healthcare agency rather than going through an educational program.
• You also need to be a CNA (Certified Nursing Aide) before you can become an HHA.
• You also have to clear a criminal background check before you’re issued your certification.

34.  North Dakota

In North Dakota, you can work as an HHA without any training. However, in order to work with an agency, you need to undergo the standard training of 75 hours, in which 16 hours have to be allocated for clinical training. You also have to be registered as a CNA. There is a state-mandated evaluation that you have to take as well.

35.  Ohio

You can work as an HHA without any formal certification in the state of Ohio. But, you need to go through the training program of 75 hours (with 16 clinic hours) if you want to work with an agency.

36.  Oklahoma

The home health aide certification requirements in Oklahoma are also quite standard. There is a state-mandated exam/evaluation that you have to take. But before that, you have to complete:

• 75 hours of training. In these 75 hours, there have to be 16 hours of clinical training and 16 hours of instructional lessons in a classroom-style setting.

37.  Oregon

If you want to become an HHA in Oregon, there are a number of different requirements that you have to fulfill:

• You need to undergo the standard training of 75 hours, in which 16 hours have to be allocated for clinical training
• You need to become certified and registered as a CNA
• You need to undergo a special orientation program provided by the state
• Before getting certified, you also need to undergo background checks.

To learn more about getting certified as an HHA in Oregon, you can check out this page.

38.  Pennsylvania

Getting registered in Pennsylvania requires some of the same steps as in Oregon.

• You need to undergo the standard training of 75 hours, in which 16 hours have to be allocated for clinical training
• Before getting certified, you also need to undergo background checks.

39.  Rhode Island

To become an HHA in Rhode Island, you need to fulfill these requirements:

• 100 hours of training as an HHA
• 20 hours of clinical training
• You also have to be registered as a CNA

40.  South Carolina

In South Carolina, you can work as an HHA without any licensing or certification as long as you’re working independently. All you need to do before taking a job as a healthcare aide is clear background checks.

On the other hand, if you are looking to work in a Medicare agency, you have to complete 75 hours of HHA training, of which 16 have to be clinical training.

41.  South Dakota

To work as an HHA in South Dakota, you need to complete a 75-hour training program in which 16 have to be clinic hours. Also, you have to be registered as a CNA.

42.  Tennessee

The home health aide certification requirements in Tennessee are similar to those in South Dakota.

• You have to complete the same type of training (75 hours with 16 clinic hours)
• You also have to pass a state-mandated evaluation
• There is also a background check that you have to clear before becoming certified

43.  Texas

In terms of hours needed, the certification requirements in Texas are the same as in Tennessee. You have to complete 75 hours of training with 16 clinic hours. However, all of this training has to be supervised by a certified nurse with more than 2 years of experience.

During the course of this training, you also have to complete tests on various fields of home health care so that you can become certified.

44.  Utah

In Utah, there aren’t any specific licenses or certifications that you need in order to work as an HHA. You just have to be over the age of 18 and trained in first aid.

If you want to work for an agency, you will simply have to spend a period under the training and supervision of a certified nurse with at least 2 years of experience.

There are, of course, the hours-related requirements if you want to work for a Medicare/Medicaid agency. In that case, you need to have 75 hours of training + 16 clinic hours.

45.  Vermont

In order to become an HHA in Vermont, you have to fulfill some stringent requirements.

• First of all, you have to be a certified CNA
• You also have to pass a state-mandated competency exam
• On top of that, you need to complete 80 hours of training, 30 of which have to be clinic hours

46.  Virginia

In Virginia, if you want to work for a Medicare/Medicaid agency, you have to complete 75 hours of training, in which there have to be at least 16 clinic hours.

But, if you want to work independently, there isn’t a particular certification that you need to get. You just have to do one of the following:

• Go through a general nursing education course
• Go through an approved nurse aide education course
• Be a CNA (certified nurse aide) registered in Virginia
• Pass the state-mandated competency evaluation

You can also be a non-licensed aide if you are enrolled and in the process of completing a nursing education program.

47.  Washington

In the state of Washington, if you want to be an HHA, you have to register as a CNA first. Other than that, there are some other requirements you have to fulfill before you can work independently and provide direct healthcare.

• You need to complete 85 hours of training
• You need to complete 30 clinical hours
• You also need to complete 12 hours of continued training/education annually to retain your certification
• You also have to undergo a specified number of hours of orientation before providing healthcare
• Last but not least, before being hired by an agency, you also have to undergo background checks

48.  West Virginia

In West Virginia, the home health aide certification requirements are fairly simple.

• You have to complete 75 hours of training, 16 of which have to be practical clinical hours
• You also have to complete 16 hours of classroom training
• You also have to pass a state-mandated competency evaluation

49.  Wisconsin

If you want to become an HHA in Wisconsin, here are the main requirements that you have to fulfill:

• You need to be registered as a CNA
• You need to pass a competency evaluation
• You need to go through 120 hours of training, a minimum of 32 of which have to be clinic hours
• You also have to undergo background checks before getting certified and hired by an agency

The exact home health aide certification requirements in Wisconsin are quite extensive. You can check out this page to learn more.

50.  Wyoming

In Wyoming, the requirements are similar to those in Wisconsin.

• You need to be a registered CNA in Wyoming before you can provide healthcare services as an HHA
• You need to complete a minimum of 75 hours of training, 16 of which have to be clinic hours
• You also need to get 16 hours of training from your agency within the first 14 days of hiring

Conclusion

And with that, we bring our blog post to an end.

In the post above, we’ve looked at the home health aide certification requirements in various states of the USA. You can look up your state and find the information regarding it easily.

To find your state’s HHA registration offices and nursing schools, you can simply do a Google search. For example, if you want to take classes on becoming an HHA, you can look up “free home health aide training classes near me” and easily find a school/college.

FAQs

Can you become an HHA online?

Yes, there are some institutes that offer a home health aide certificate online for people who cannot attend physical classes.

How much does it cost to become a certified HHA?

If you want to become a certified home health aide in NY or any other state in the USA, the costs can be around $300 – $600.  This home health aide certification cost includes things like the course fees, the competency exam fees, etc.