Best Home Health Aide Certifications Online

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Author: Kathleen Curtis
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Dianne Barnard

Dianne Barnard is a Registered Nurse-Board Certified with over 20 years of nursing experience. In addition to her nursing degree, she has a Bachelor of Science in Education and is board certified in both psychiatric and holistic nursing. Dianne has experience working in bedside, oncology, ICU, home-health, clinical nursing instruction, and mental health.

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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.

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A smiling female nurse with curly hair attending to an elderly man in a wheelchair, both looking happy and engaged in a warm conversation about his Home Health Aide certification.

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.

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Pratt Community College

Pratt, Kansas

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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A smiling woman with shoulder-length dark hair, wearing a black cardigan over a striped top, with a softly blurred natural background lit by warm sunlight.

Kathleen Curtis AUTHOR

Kathleen Curtis is an American writer currently living in Louisville, Kentucky. She has developed content around education for more than a decade for both domestic and international clients.

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