How to Become a Licensed Home Health Aide

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2018

The field with the highest levels of employment in this occupation are Home Health Care Services with 440,550 people currently working in the field. Individual and Family Services have 157,460 people employed while Nursing Care Facilities have 19,930 health aides working for them.

New York is the state with the highest employment in this occupation, with 191,820 people, followed by Texas (69,600), Ohio (55,490), New Jersey (41,040) and Pennsylvania (36,940). The highest paying states in terms of annual mean wage for this occupation are Nevada ($35,450), North Dakota ($34,100), California ($33,680), Rhode Island ($32,440) and Massachusetts ($30,830).

Home health aides provide basic healthcare facilities to their clients. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, these include the following:

Home health aides have to be highly compassionate and considerate because the people they are looking after could be irritable or disoriented at times. They work in close proximity over prolonged periods of time with their patients – therefore, patience and persistence is the key.

Education Requirements to Become a Home Health Aide: Home health aides typically require only a high school diploma or equivalent, though some positions might require higher education. Those working in certified home health might require some formal training and may also have to pass a standardized test.

Education requirements vary greatly according to the employer. Aides who work with organizations that receive funding, such as Medicare or Medicaid, must complete a formal training course. On-the-job training is provided by more experienced individuals for new recruits.

Training Requirements: Home health aides must be trained in basic tasks such as cooking for clients who have specific food needs, safety techniques and emergency management. Specific training may be needed if the state you are working in requires it. Specialized programs on the job are typically sufficient to train new recruits. This training would include personal hygiene, infection control methods, reading and recording vital signs and basic nutrition.

Licensing and Certification Requirements: In some cases, home health aides might be required to pass a competency exam to become certified. This may be done after a formal training session, though training sessions are not required in most cases. Certification requirements typically vary by state – some states might require only on-the-job training, while other states may require formal training through programs at vocational schools, community colleges, home healthcare agencies or elder care programs. States may also conduct background checks on certain prospective aides. For state-specific requirements, you should get in touch with the relevant medical or health board.

People who want to work in occupations with duties similar to those of home health aides can choose from a variety of career options. They may choose to work in the following capacities: