Have you ever wanted to become a certified home health aide? Your mother was right when she said that working in home care is a noble profession. There’s no shortage of work, and the patients who you work with would greatly appreciate it. It’s not easy though. You need to get the proper training first; how else will you know what to do? Getting certified can be difficult, even if you are working in a hospital setting already. Once you are certified, you can easily find work in home health care agencies, which pay very well and give their employees lots of job security.
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The home health aide (HHA) is a professional who provides personal care to patients in their homes. In this role, you will work with patients who need assistance with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing.
Home health aides must be certified to work in this field; however, there are several ways to become certified. Here’s what you need to know:
What Does It Take To Become A Certified Home Health Aide?
Home health aides must meet certain requirements set by the state where they wish to practice. These requirements vary based on location and can include completing a training program, passing an exam and submitting an application for certification. Although each state has its own requirements, most require home health aides to have completed a minimum amount of education and training before being eligible for certification. Some states also require home health aides to undergo criminal background checks before becoming certified.
Education Requirements For Becoming A Certified Home Health Aide
All states require home health aides to complete a minimum amount of education prior to being eligible for certification. This education can take many forms including online courses offered by community colleges or universities in your area or hands-on training programs provided by hospitals or non-profit organizations such as Good Samaritan Society in Minnesota (http://www
How to become a certified home health aide
Research your state’s requirements.
As with any type of employment, you should research your state’s requirements to become a certified home health aide.
In fact, some states require either training or certification as part of their hiring process. This means that you may need extra time and money on top of the cost of your education in order to start working as a CNA.
It can also help if you are fluent in a second language since many patients who require home care speak different languages than English. If this is the case for your state, it’s important to find out what languages they prefer so that you can prepare yourself accordingly before applying for jobs as an aide
Get your high school diploma or GED.
The first step in becoming a home health aide is to obtain your high school diploma or equivalency certificate.
HHA training is offered at adult schools, community colleges, vocational schools and through the Red Cross. You can begin HHA training during high school or after graduating from high school with your GED (General Education Diploma).
Complete a formal home health aide training program.
- Complete a formal home health aide training program.
- Find out what employers are looking for in terms of training and certifications.
- For example, is there a state or federal requirement that you must have a certain amount of training before you can work as a home health aide? Do you need to be certified by one specific organization or can you get certified through another organization?
- What would be the outcomes from the program? The outcome could be your certification status or it could be the knowledge gained during the program, such as understanding how to take blood pressure measurements or perform basic hygiene tasks for an elderly person. _
Take the exam and get certified.
The certification exam is offered in English, Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL). The test is offered online and costs $195 USD.
The test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, which must be completed in 2 hours and 45 minutes. There is no time limit for each individual question, but you will have to answer at least 85 percent correctly to pass the exam. If you fail one or two questions on the first try, you can take advantage of a second opportunity by purchasing additional exam attempts for $50 USD per attempt.
Maintain your certification for continuing education.
While you’re getting your home health aide certification, it’s important to maintain that certification. Most states require continuing education hours in order to keep your license current. The amount of required hours varies by state—you can contact your state board of nursing for information on how many hours are needed in order for you to be able to renew your license.
Training is important to become a home health aide
Being a home health aide is more than just taking care of an individual who needs assistance with daily tasks. As a certified home health aide, you must be prepared to take on the responsibilities that come along with helping seniors live independently. This could include assisting with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing, light housekeeping and meal preparation, or providing emotional support. You may also be called upon to help plan activities for your clients that promote their physical and mental well-being.
To become a certified home health aide (CHHA), you must complete training programs approved by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). The NAHC provides information about these programs in its “Directory of Approved Training Programs.”
In addition to having undergone necessary training, it’s also important for CHHAs to continue learning throughout their careers so they’re up-to-date on advances in medicine and technology affecting this field. Continuing education courses are offered at both local community colleges or online through providers like Coursera or edX
