Home health aides are among many kinds of home care services New York residents can count on to support their health needs.
Unlike other jobs in the healthcare industry, home health aide positions are open to just about anyone — as long as you complete the required training, that is.
To become certified as a home health aide in New York, you’ll have to complete around 35-75 hours of training at minimum, receive your certificate of completion, and follow up with any ongoing requirements once you get started.
Below, we’ll explain everything you need to know to become an official home health aide in New York City and New York State.
Key Takeaways
- Home health aides are caregivers who provide essential services to help clients manage activities of daily living (ADLs). Home care services like HHAs help clients live at home while continuing to access the support they may need.
- To become a certified home health aide in New York, an individual must complete the required training program(s) relevant to their experience level. After training, the individual receives an official certificate of completion.
- As long as you are an adult and can complete HHA training as instructed, you should be eligible to receive a certification. To maintain your HHA certification, you must complete 12 hours of in-service training each year and be able to show proof of supervised hands-on work.
- Most HHA programs are no-cost, but some training providers may charge a small fee for supplies or ask you to pay tuition.
What Training Is Required to Become a Home Health Aide in NYC?
New York City follows the same rules for home health aides and long-term care providers as the rest of the state. To become a Personal Care Aide (PCA) or a Home Health Aide (HHA) in New York, an individual must complete appropriate training and competency evaluations.
The specific training programs you pursue depend on your background; those who are already healthcare workers, for instance, may not need as much training as someone entirely new to the field.
Regardless, all training must be conducted by a Personal Care Aide Training Program (PCATP) or Home Health Aide Training Program (HHATP) that’s been approved by the New York Department of Health (DOH).
These programs can provide basic core training as well as competency evaluations, which are designed for those with prior experience.
They can also assess an individual’s prior training to determine which other programs they might need to complete for an HHA certification.
You can view a full list of agencies in New York that operate DOH-approved training programs here.
There are a few pieces of HHA training programs that you’ll need to be aware of:
- Core Training: This covers a minimum of 75 hours of basic HHA training and covers essential skills, background information, and expectations for prospective home care professionals.
- PCA Upgrades: These are designed for personal care aides who have some experience providing services to patients at home. These PCAs only need to complete an additional 35 hours of training to become a certified HHA.
- Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) Transition: These programs are for CNAs with experience providing at-home personal care or working in residential facilities. Instead of completing a full training course, they can simply extend their existing knowledge base by completing an HHA training program that covers skills not included in their nursing aide training.
- Competency Evaluations: Professionals with experience in the field can complete a competency evaluation to demonstrate their skills and discover what other kinds of training they may need to be ready for their new position.
Once you’ve finished the appropriate training program(s) for your experience level, you can apply to be listed on the New York State Home Care Registry.
From there, you’ll be tasked with continuing your education to maintain your home health aide certification in the coming years.
To remain certified, you must show proof of supervised work and complete at least 12 hours of in-service training every year.
Who Is Eligible to Become a Home Health Aide in NYC?
Any adult who can complete a state-approved training program is eligible to become a home health aide. More specifically, a person who has successfully completed an HHATP or competency evaluation program and receives a certificate of completion is eligible for work as an HHA.
No specific educational or professional requirements are listed for HHAs in New York, though a high school diploma is likely a beneficial pre-requisite.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that most HHAs and PCAs have a high school diploma or GED equivalent when they enter the field.
Is There a Fee to Become a Home Health Aide in NYC?
There usually is no fee to become an HHA, but you might have to pay a little for the training services you use, depending on where you source them from.
Home health aide training programs approved by the New York Department of Health are not allowed to charge tuition for their services. However, programs approved by the New York Department of Education can charge tuition.
Aside from this, the only fee you might encounter is a participant fee, which can not exceed $100.
This fee may be charged for materials that students are required to have in training classes, but with one rule: students must be allowed to keep their materials after the program ends.
Home Health Aide Resources
The following resources can help you learn even more about becoming a home health aide in New York and connect you with training and other insights you need to get started.
- New York State Home Care Registry: A complete list of all of the certified home health care providers in the state of New York. This is where your services can be listed after you complete your training and receive your certification. It also gives you a glimpse into what other professionals have done and helps you find peers near you.
- Home Health Aide Education Overview: This resource from the New York State Education Department outlines the curriculum and guidelines for receiving an education as a prospective HHA.
- Home Health Care Curriculum Overview: A comprehensive breakdown of all of the information covered in HHA training from the New York State Department of Health. Use this to get an idea of what you’ll learn during training and to make the most out of your education.
- Guide to Operation of an HHA Training Program: Also from the DOH, this guide details all of the requirements an HHA training program must have to officially certify students. It’s a great tool for understanding what you need to learn to become a certified HHA and what to look for in a training provider.
- HHA Training Program Frequently Asked Questions: This list from the New York DOH covers common questions and answers about HHA training and becoming a certified home health aide.
- BLS Home Health and Personal Care Aides: This page from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook breaks down the basic requirements, job responsibilities, and career trajectories for home health professionals. Here you’ll find information about salaries, job availability, and how to become an HHA.
Still can’t find what you need? Visit the New York Department of Health website to discover more resources, links, and documents that you might need as you prepare to become an amazing HHA.
