Online Home Health Aide Certification: An In-Depth Breakdown
Find top programs offering accredited online home health aide courses, how the programs work, their cost, and how long it takes to go from school to a home health aide career.
Many online home health aide certification programs exist, making it necessary for prospective students to do their research and find a respected and effective program that meets their needs. In the list below, students considering this path can review a list of affordable, comprehensive programs with the accreditation they need to begin a rewarding career as a home health aide. Read about some of today’s best home health aide certification programs online.
Pratt Community College
Pratt, Kansas
Public
Earning Your Home Health Aide Certification Online
Many home health aide certification programs now exist online to help busy students find the time to further their education and their careers without needing to visit campus multiple times per week. According to federal guidelines, home health aide programs only need to provide 16 hours’ worth of clinical experience (which requires in-person training). Because of this, the remaining portion of the program can exist fully online and meet all state and federal mandates. Most programs use a learning management platform such as Blackboard to organize readings, allow peers and professors to communicate, and administer quizzes and exams.
These home health aide programs and classes have most or all of their coursework and resources available online. Research material, complete exercises, collaborate with professors and peers, etc. However, students will need to visit a campus to complete hands-on work as directed by federal training requirements.
Why choose online training for HHA certification?
Online training for home health aide certification is becoming more and more popular as it makes it possible for learners to complete programmatic requirements at times best suited to their unique schedules without needing to drive to/from campus multiple times per week. Online learning offers numerous benefits for students determined to further their educations. Before committing to this option, however, individuals should do their research to make sure it’s right for them. Some of the components to consider include:
Convenience
Any location with a secure and steady internet connection can be used for completing online education programs, making them convenient for individuals with packed schedules. Prospective learners should remember that they must complete at least 16 in-person clinical hours as part of programmatic requirements.
Reputation
When looking at potential community colleges and vocational schools offering home health aide courses, students should ensure they maintain a good reputation. Individuals should look for institutional accreditation – especially if they plan to return to school for a degree, as reputation can affect their ability to receive admission.
Cost
The cost of home health aide programs can vary widely, with schools such as Southern Technical Institute offering programs for as low as $199 and others costing thousands of dollars. Learners should check with the financial aid office to learn about cost, available scholarships and grants, and payment plans before enrolling.
The In’s-and-Out’s of Home Health Aide Certification
As students begin researching and reviewing prospective home health aide training programs, they may wonder how long it typically takes to move from matriculation to graduation. Put simply, this depends on the state the student lives in. The federal government mandates that programs last at least 75 hours. 33 states follow this mandate. The remaining 17 states follow the National Academy of Medicine’s suggestion of 120 hours. Regardless of the path, home health aide programs can be completed relatively quickly – far more quickly than a traditional diploma or degree path. To begin working, students at bare minimum will need to meet federal training requirements and pass a competency examination.
What are the federal HHA training requirements?
In order to meet federal requirements, home health aide training programs must meet certain criteria. For starters, all programs must total at least 75 hours, 16 of which must be focused on in-person, hands-on clinical training. These hours focus on building the skills needed to interact with and care for patients and includes sessions on communicating effectively, observing and reporting the patient’s health status, taking and recording vital statistics, controlling basic infections, maintaining a clean and safe home, caring for physical, emotional, and developmental needs, attending to personal hygiene and grooming needs, improving range of motion, implementing safe transfer techniques, and providing adequate nutrition.
Understanding HHA training requirements by State
In addition to federal mandates, prospective home health aides must also familiarize themselves with the rules of individual states. As of 2019, 33 states follow the standard federal requirements that mandate 75 hours of general training and 16 hours of clinical training.
Some students may notice that HHA programs frequently mention becoming a certified nurse aide before becoming a home health aide. If you see this, chances are you live in one of the 11 states that maintains this requirement.
While 33 states follow the federal minimum, the remaining 17 states require even more coursework to meet the National Academy of Medicine’s suggestion of 120 hours. If unsure of what your state requires, review PHI’s map demonstrating home health aide training requirements by state.
If your state requires that home health aides receive certification as a nurse aide first, we can help. Check out our page dedicated to online CNA classes to learn more.
Course Overview: Online Home Health Aide Training
When reviewing home health aide curricula, prospective students soon notice that all cover specific clerical and clinical knowledge and skills. The majority of these courses are mandated by the federal government, which requires every program to provide at minimum 59 hours of academic coursework and 16 hours of clinical, hands-on training. The following two sections take a look at some of the skills gained in both online and classroom-based courses.
Home health aide classes that can be taken online:
Creating safe home environments. Students in this course consider some of the everyday items that can act as safety hazards for those they serve. Learners consider outdoor hazards, learn how to assess an environment for safety issues, and how to help their patients avoid situations that would cause them to slip, trip, or fall.
Communicating effectively. This class helps learners build effective communication skills for working with patients and other healthcare providers. Students learn how to observe and identify changes in patients, communicate with family members, and work with their patients to regularly assess comfort and health.
Serving children. This specialized course helps learners develop the unique skills needed to serve children in the home. Some of the specific topics covered include understanding developmental stages, identifying developmental disabilities, navigating family relations, addressing abuse, and providing care to premature infants.
Nutritional needs. Individuals enrolled in this class learn about how to plan, purchase, and serve food to their patients. They learn about “My Plate” guidelines, how to navigate food allergies, proper food preparation and storage, and how to handle feeding issues. They also cover several therapeutic diets.
Home Health Aide clinicals that must be taken in-person/on campus:
Moving patients. Home health aides in training learn how to properly lift and move patients from beds, chairs, and automobiles in a way that is safe for them and the patient. They also learn about moving other heavy objects such as medical equipment or furniture.
Checking vitals. Because their patients aren’t in hospital settings, home health aides must know how to check blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature, respiration rate, and oxygen saturation.
Cooking meals. Students learn how to shop for, prepare, and cook meals that meet specific nutritional requirements. Home health aides must cook for a variety of health concerns, including diabetes, high blood pressure, coeliac, and other diseases that can be partially managed through diet. They must also learn how to store these meals.
Giving medications. While home health aides cannot prescribe medications, they are often in charge of ensuring their patients take the right dosage at the correct time(s) each day. Examples could include preparing pills, using prescribed creams, or giving injections.
Salary & Career Outlook for Home Health Aide Professionals
We've focused so far on the various options for obtaining the education needed to work as a certified home health aide. Before proceeding further, let’s examine what you can expect in terms of earnings and career opportunities once you've completed your HHA training. The first table below lists long-term (2022-2032) job growth figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for home health and personal care aides, both nationwide and by individual states. With the exception of one outlier (Maine at 4%), jobs in the home health aide field are projected to grow by double digits in all states. This is particularly positive given the 2.8% projected growth for all jobs across all occupations in the U.S. over the same ten-year period.
Regarding earnings, national averages for home health and personal care aide salaries range from approximately $24,000 to over $42,000 per year. Median annual salaries vary by state, starting in the low $20,000s and reaching the low $40,000s.
| Area | Curr. Jobs | Proj. Jobs | New Jobs | Growth % | Avg. Ann. Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3,715,500 | 4,520,100 | 804,600 | 21.70% | 684,600 |
| Alabama | 21,890 | 25,160 | 3,270 | 14.90% | 3,780 |
| Alaska | 4,550 | 5,260 | 710 | 15.60% | 790 |
| Arizona | 68,550 | 96,120 | 27,570 | 40.20% | 14,840 |
| Arkansas | 20,310 | 24,670 | 4,360 | 21.50% | 3,730 |
| California | 796,900 | 1,060,200 | 263,300 | 33.00% | 162,570 |
| Colorado | 38,300 | 48,710 | 10,410 | 27.20% | 7,420 |
| Connecticut | 47,750 | 57,730 | 9,980 | 20.90% | 8,740 |
| Delaware | 9,530 | 12,350 | 2,820 | 29.60% | 1,890 |
| District of Columbia | 11,530 | 13,630 | 2,100 | 18.20% | 2,060 |
| Florida | 72,410 | 88,750 | 16,340 | 22.60% | 13,460 |
| Georgia | 36,890 | 46,020 | 9,130 | 24.70% | 6,990 |
| Idaho | 17,960 | 23,500 | 5,540 | 30.80% | 3,600 |
| Illinois | 108,190 | 124,190 | 16,000 | 14.80% | 18,650 |
| Indiana | 44,830 | 54,650 | 9,820 | 21.90% | 8,280 |
| Iowa | 25,390 | 32,770 | 7,380 | 29.10% | 5,000 |
| Kansas | 27,140 | 32,990 | 5,850 | 21.60% | 5,000 |
| Kentucky | 24,650 | 30,540 | 5,890 | 23.90% | 4,640 |
| Louisiana | 36,540 | 44,950 | 8,410 | 23.00% | 6,820 |
| Maine | 17,090 | 17,770 | 680 | 4.00% | 2,630 |
| Maryland | 32,420 | 38,640 | 6,220 | 19.20% | 5,830 |
| Massachusetts | 39,480 | 46,500 | 7,020 | 17.80% | 7,010 |
| Michigan | 85,480 | 100,320 | 14,840 | 17.40% | 15,110 |
| Minnesota | 113,680 | 129,520 | 15,840 | 13.90% | 19,420 |
| Mississippi | 17,560 | 22,720 | 5,160 | 29.40% | 3,470 |
| Missouri | 79,380 | 91,510 | 12,130 | 15.30% | 13,750 |
| Montana | 8,850 | 11,790 | 2,940 | 33.20% | 1,810 |
| Nebraska | 10,120 | 12,360 | 2,240 | 22.10% | 1,870 |
| Nevada | 16,000 | 21,330 | 5,330 | 33.30% | 3,270 |
| New Hampshire | 8,760 | 10,780 | 2,020 | 23.10% | 1,640 |
| New Jersey | 94,150 | 115,060 | 20,910 | 22.20% | 17,440 |
| New Mexico | 36,890 | 50,200 | 13,310 | 36.10% | 7,720 |
| New York | 551,740 | 710,140 | 158,400 | 28.70% | 15,840 |
| North Carolina | 62,750 | 77,390 | 14,640 | 23.30% | 11,740 |
| North Dakota | 7,310 | 9,010 | 1,700 | 23.30% | 1,370 |
| Ohio | 95,690 | 108,260 | 12,570 | 13.10% | 16,220 |
| Oklahoma | 19,090 | 23,300 | 4,210 | 22.10% | 3,530 |
| Oregon | 36,900 | 46,170 | 9,270 | 25.10% | 7,020 |
| Pennsylvania | 188,340 | 217,220 | 28,880 | 15.30% | 32,640 |
| Rhode Island | 8,070 | 10,000 | 1,930 | 23.90% | 1,520 |
| South Carolina | 32,340 | 43,300 | 10,960 | 33.90% | 6,650 |
| South Dakota | 4,620 | 5,340 | 720 | 15.60% | 800 |
| Tennessee | 32,820 | 46,870 | 14,050 | 42.80% | 7,250 |
| Texas | 313,670 | 367,500 | 53,830 | 17.20% | 55,350 |
| Utah | 15,000 | 19,730 | 4,730 | 31.50% | 3,020 |
| Vermont | 7,460 | 9,600 | 2,140 | 28.70% | 1,470 |
| Virgin Islands | 240 | 270 | 30 | 12.50% | 40 |
| Virginia | 60,230 | 81,100 | 20,870 | 34.70% | 12,450 |
| West Virginia | 20,130 | 25,780 | 5,650 | 28.10% | 3,930 |
| Wisconsin | 80,600 | 94,000 | 13,400 | 16.60% | 14,150 |
| Wyoming | 3,260 | 4,210 | 950 | 29.10% | 640 |
Source: Projections Central
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $23,910 | $33,530 | $42,450 |
| Alabama | $18,230 | $23,810 | $30,550 |
| Alaska | $29,210 | $37,050 | $46,220 |
| Arizona | $29,320 | $33,300 | $37,480 |
| Arkansas | $24,320 | $27,450 | $33,480 |
| California | $32,240 | $33,530 | $38,390 |
| Colorado | $31,480 | $36,120 | $44,730 |
| Connecticut | $30,560 | $36,660 | $43,740 |
| Delaware | $24,440 | $29,480 | $35,800 |
| Florida | $24,750 | $31,040 | $36,470 |
| Georgia | $22,690 | $27,920 | $35,610 |
| Hawaii | $29,000 | $35,890 | $41,610 |
| Idaho | $23,670 | $29,610 | $36,980 |
| Illinois | $30,440 | $35,020 | $37,860 |
| Indiana | $26,370 | $30,020 | $36,210 |
| Iowa | $27,550 | $34,360 | $43,690 |
| Kansas | $22,290 | $27,920 | $36,050 |
| Kentucky | $23,150 | $30,370 | $44,180 |
| Louisiana | $17,730 | $20,800 | $29,840 |
| Maine | $31,550 | $36,170 | $44,360 |
| Maryland | $29,120 | $34,770 | $41,440 |
| Massachusetts | $36,010 | $37,450 | $43,060 |
| Michigan | $23,780 | $30,860 | $37,680 |
| Minnesota | $29,550 | $34,450 | $41,440 |
| Mississippi | $20,800 | $22,810 | $30,370 |
| Missouri | $24,960 | $28,700 | $37,370 |
| Montana | $22,930 | $30,740 | $39,290 |
| Nebraska | $28,180 | $31,840 | $38,930 |
| Nevada | $23,440 | $27,740 | $35,920 |
| New Hampshire | $28,540 | $34,420 | $42,640 |
| New Jersey | $29,780 | $35,500 | $46,660 |
| New Mexico | $24,960 | $26,680 | $35,400 |
| New York | $33,770 | $36,450 | $43,990 |
| North Carolina | $22,460 | $28,720 | $35,670 |
| North Dakota | $31,250 | $37,210 | $45,760 |
| Ohio | $24,130 | $29,290 | $36,260 |
| Oklahoma | $20,640 | $25,650 | $32,650 |
| Oregon | $34,790 | $38,480 | $46,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $24,830 | $29,000 | $37,160 |
| Rhode Island | $30,520 | $37,960 | $47,890 |
| South Carolina | $21,420 | $28,330 | $34,530 |
| South Dakota | $30,010 | $34,690 | $40,040 |
| Tennessee | $23,780 | $28,640 | $36,050 |
| Texas | $18,700 | $22,530 | $29,450 |
| Utah | $29,140 | $35,020 | $46,240 |
| Vermont | $27,440 | $32,320 | $44,850 |
| Virginia | $24,960 | $27,060 | $35,510 |
| Washington | $36,790 | $42,320 | $46,950 |
| West Virginia | $20,940 | $25,660 | $31,630 |
| Wisconsin | $23,530 | $31,820 | $37,540 |
| Wyoming | $27,110 | $29,810 | $55,420 |
Source: Home Health and Personal Care Aides, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data based on national numbers, not school-specific information.
Home Health Aide Resources
After reviewing the information provided in this guide, some would-be students may decide they need more information to make up their minds. The resources highlighted below exist to help make the decision easier.
- Five Reasons to Become a Home Health Aide. BAYADA lays out meaningful reasons to follow this career path for those who are still on the fence.
- Home Health Aide Profile – Bureau of Labor Statistics. Use this page to learn about what home health aides do, how to become one, pay, job outlook, and more.
- Home Health Aide Profile – Career One Stop. This page offers actionable and helpful information about what it looks like to work as an HHA.
- Home Health Aide Interview Questions. Monster provides examples of real questions you may encounter on a job interview.
- 4 Tips for Becoming a Better Home Health Aide. The Harris Casel Institute helps individuals become the best HHAs they can be in this helpful resource.
- A Day in the Life of a Home Health Aide. This page offers an insightful look at how HHAs spend a typical day at work.
