Home Health Aide Certification in Alabama
Home health aides (HHAs) provide many services for people who are medically vulnerable or elderly—helping out around the house, providing medications, and taking care of their patients. Although not necessary, HHAs can hold third-party certification to work in these home-based private or public settings. There are differing requirements for HHAs in Alabama, depending on whether you work in a state-owned or private setting.
This article will cover home health aide training in Alabama, including licensing and certification requirements, and discuss where you can find work and what the job outlook and salary expectations are to work in home and community services in the state.
Licensing Requirements in Alabama
Like many other states, there is no certification requirement to work as an HHA in Alabama, unless you want to work in a Medicare-certified or state-owned agency.
In that case, you will have to meet the federal minimum requirements for home health aide training.
State Employment
As mentioned, federally mandated standards must be met to work in a state-owned HHA agency or facility.
The minimum requirement for an entry-level HHA job is obtaining a high school diploma or GED. Experience in a healthcare facility will be advantageous. If you do not have a high school diploma, you can work as an HHA with a tenth-grade education and two years of related experience.
Alternatively, you can complete eleventh grade and have one year of experience in home health services.
You will then have to pass a relevant exam, such as the National Certified Nurse Aide exam to be qualified to work in the State of Alabama Personnel Department.
A driver’s license is also required.
Once employed, the home health aide will receive 40 hours of training on the job during a six-month probationary period.
Medicare Facility Employment
To work for a Medicare or Medicaid agency, the HHA will require 75 hours of training (minimum) and 16 hours of clinical training.
HHA Certification in Alabama
As mentioned, certification is not a legal requirement. However, it will be advantageous for HHA job seekers to become certified as a Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) or a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) and become registered on the Alabama Nurse Aide Registry.
Working in a Medicaid, Medicare, or Alabama State Department facility will require certification.
Here is what home health aides require to become certified in Alabama:
- Earn your high school diploma or GED. Alternatively, complete 10th grade with two years’ relevant experience, or 11th grade with one year experience.
- Enroll in a state-approved educational program for home health aides. This program must involve 75 hours of training, of which 16 hours must be clinical training.
- Complete your training course and pass the relevant exam, such as the National Nurse Aide Certification Exam.
- For every year of certification, the home health aide will have to complete 12 hours of continuing education.
Best Education Programs
Many schools offer home health aide training in Alabama, both in the classroom and online:
- Drake State Technical College: A Certified Nursing Assistant program (six weeks) to provide care as a home health aide or nursing assistant to the elderly or injured.
- Easterseals Central Alabama: A Certified Nurse Aide program (five weeks) specifically focused on training students to work in long-term care facilities and home health aide agencies.
- Gadsden State Community College: A Certified Nursing Assistant program (11 weeks), including training in CPR, phlebotomy, and routine nursing-related services.
- Lawson State Community College: A Certified Nursing Assistant Program (five weeks), meeting three days a week for six hours daily.
- Northeast Alabama Community College: Offers a Practical Nursing program and a Dual Nursing Degree program.
- Northwest-Shoals Community College: A Certified Nursing Assistant Program (80 hours) which includes rotation at a long-term healthcare facility. The course section can be completed online.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for home health aides not only looks good in Alabama but throughout the entire country. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 25% national increase in HHA jobs between 2021 to 2023, which is much faster growth than for many other healthcare-related roles.
There are an estimated 9,730 to 24,960 home and personal aides employed in Alabama, according to the BLS data.
Salary Expectations
The BLS estimates that HHAs and personal care aides earn a national median annual salary of $29,430 per year ($14.15 per hour).
However, this is slightly lower in Alabama with an average annual salary of $23,330.
Where to Find Work
Home health aides are commonly employed by The Alabama Department of Public Health to work in state and federal healthcare facilities.
There are also several home health agencies in Alabama that offer employment opportunities at private facilities, including:
- Alacare Home Health & Hospice (Troy)
- Amedysis Home Health (39 locations in Alabama)
- D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital Home Health Care (Brewton)
- Gentiva Health Services and Hospice (Jasper)
- LHC Group’s DeKalb Regional Home Health (Fort Payne)
- Marion County Home Care (Hamilton)
- Medical Centers HomeCare (Marshall County)
- Randolph County Home Care (Roanoke)
FAQs
How much can a live-in home health aide earn in Alabama?
A live-in caregiver will earn a bit more than a home health aide that simply does home visits or works in a long-term care facility. Live-in caregivers in Alabama can earn up to $31,192 a year.
Which state pays home health aides the most?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Washington pays home and personal aides the most, with an average median salary of $37,900.
Sources
https://www.healthcarepathway.com/home-health/alabama-home-health-aide/
https://homehealthaideguide.com/hha-training/states/alabama-hha/
http://www.homehealthaideonline.com/home/hha-training-in-alabama/
http://www.homehealthaideonline.com/home/hha-training-in-alabama/
https://www.howtobecomeahomehealthaide.com/find-home-health-aide-training-alabama/