Home Health Aide Certification In Arkansas

Becoming a home health aide (HHA) in Arkansas is a great career choice. You’ll assist clients with their basic needs and help to make their lives more comfortable. Plus, due to the increasingly aging population in the US, the need for HHAs is on the rise. We’re going to take a close look at the certification and licensing requirements for home health aides in Arkansas. We’ll also provide a list of the best education programs in the state, discuss your salary and job prospects, and show you how to find work as an HHA in Arkansas.

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Certification & Licensing Requirements For Home Health Aides In Arkansas

In Arkansas, a home health aide doesn’t need to be licensed in order to find employment. However, home health agencies do ask for proof that home health aides have completed the required training and have passed the state competency exam.

To achieve HHA certification in Arkansas, you must complete a minimum of 75 hours of home health aide training. Of these 75 hours, at least 16 hours must be practical training.

These training standards are set at the federal level and must be satisfied if you want to become a home health aide.

The training covers numerous topics including:

  • Nutrition and fluids
  • Personal care
  • Infection control
  • Medical terminology
  • Vital signs
  • Bodily functions and reporting observations to healthcare professionals
  • Range of motion
  • Maintaining a healthy environment
  • Emergency situations

Requirements for working as a home health aide at a health facility

The majority of home health agencies support clients who live in their own homes. Still, some home health aide agencies in Arkansas provide staff to work in health facilities. If you want to work in one of these facilities, then the requirements are different than if you were to work at a client’s home.

The requirements also differ depending on the classification of the agency you want to work for. If you want to work for a Class A agency (including agencies that are part of the Medicaid Personal Care Program) then the training requirements are the same as the ones we have listed above.

However, if you plan to work for a Class B home health aide agency in a health facility you must meet one of the following requirements:

  • You must be able to provide a certificate for working in long-term care facilities that has been issued by the State of Arkansas.
  • You need to have a minimum of one year’s experience working in an institutional setting such as a hospice, hospital, or long-term care facility.
  • You must have undergone 40 hours of home health aide training that meets the regulations required by the State of Arkansas.

If you’re a nursing student, then you could become an Arkansas home health aide without additional training. To do so, you would need to provide documentation from the Dean of a School of Nursing or Health Facility Services that shows you have demonstrated competency in delivering basic nursing care.

Best Education Programs For A Home Health Aide In Arkansas

Home health aide competition is strong in Arkansas. To give yourself the best chance of securing a role you need to find a reputable and accredited training program.

Here are some of the best educational institutions in Arkansas offering home health aide classes:

These are some of the most highly accredited Arkansas home health aide institutions.

Job Outlook & Salaries For Home Health Aides In Arkansas

In 2021, the median pay for home health aides in the US was $29,430 per year or $14.15 per hour.

As of May 2022, the mean annual wage for a home health aide in Arkansas was $26,680 or $12.83 per hour.

Also as of May 2022, the number of people employed as home health aides in Arkansas was 18,390.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that HHA employment across the US will increase by 25% between 2021 and 2031. So, you can expect a similar increase to occur in Arkansas. Of course, this means that the job outlook for home health aides in the state is pretty positive.

Where To Find Work

The best place to find work within the state is at an Arkansas home health agency. Some of the most reputable agencies in Arkansas include:

  • Right at Home – Central Arkansas
  • First Choice Senior Care – Little Rock
  • BrightStar Care – Locations in Hot Springs, Little Rock, and North Little Rock

To apply for a job, you can approach an agency directly. The institution where you undergo your training may also be able to help you apply for jobs once your training is finished.

Plus, you can apply for jobs using job sites such as Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter.

FAQs

Is a personal care aide the same thing as a home health aide?

The terms personal care aide and home health aide are often used interchangeably. However, there are differences between the two roles. Personal care aides provide a more holistic care service to their clients than home health aides. They carry out more heavy housekeeping duties than HHAs.

How much does it cost to hire a home health aide in Arkansas?

On average, it costs $4,185 per month to hire a HHA in Arkansas. This is lower than the national average in the US which is $4,957.

Sources:

https://medicalfieldcareers.com/hha-classes-arkansas/

https://www.healthcarepathway.com/home-health/arkansas-home-health-aide/

http://www.4cnas.com/Home-Health-Aide-Training-Arkansas.html

https://www.homecare.org/arkansas/