Home Health Aide Certification and Licensing
As a home health aide, you will probably face certification requirements. These depend on the type of agency where you work as well as the state where you live. Medicare and Medicaid frequently cover the services of home health aides. Home health aides who receive compensation through these organizations (or whose employers receive compensation for their services) must adhere to CMS educational standards. CMS requires workers to take a competency exam. 75 hours of instruction is generally required before a person can take the exam.
Becoming a Home Health Aide
- Career Plan: How to become a home health aide
- Schools Offering: Patient care and related programs
Home Health Aide Resources…
- Home health aide certification
- Duties and Statistics: Home health aide
- Related patient care careers
Some states set educational requirements higher than CMS. The regulations may change over time. There is a growing trend toward requiring certification for healthcare workers – though there may be exemptions for experienced workers.
Home health aides must display trustworthiness as well as knowledge. They can expect to undergo a background screening. Guidelines can generally be found on the website of your state’s health department. There are other resources that can answer your questions. The National Association for Home Care and Hospice website includes links to state associations; these sites may in turn connect you to a variety of resources, including licensed agencies in your area.
Many employers look for health aides who are certified through the Home Care Aide National Certification Program, an affiliate of the NAHCC. The first step is completing 75 hours of education that is based on the organization’s model curriculum or similar in scope and depth. After completing training, you must demonstrate the skills required for the Skills Competency Assessment Checklist. You also must pass a written examination.
You may be able to work for a home health agency while you fulfill requirements.
