Home Health Aide Certification in Connecticut
To become a home health aide (HHA) in the state of Connecticut, you need to complete nursing-related training and have passed a competency evaluation. Home health aides are trained to provide care for individuals with disabilities or chronic illnesses. To effectively provide this, more nursing training is required (which is where the profession differs from homemaker companions). Below, we’ll cover HHA certification in Connecticut, the best education programs offered, as well as the HHA job outlook.
Licensing Requirements in Connecticut
Prospective home health aides need to complete a nurse aide training program. This program needs to consist of at least 75 hours of in-class training, according to the Connecticut Department of Public Health. 16 hours of clinical training is also required.
Connecticut state regulations also stipulate that the course needs to be conducted by a registered nurse. This nurse must have at least two years worth of experience.
Specifically, the course must cover the following:
- Communication and Interpersonal Skills
- Residents Independence
- Residents Rights
- Safety and Emergency Procedures
- Infection Control
Required safety and emergency procedures include the Heimlich Maneuver.
The course should also cover how to provide personal care, administer medications, and assist with exercise.
The certified nurse aide (CNA) training course is recommended for those who intend on becoming an HHA. This will provide you with the necessary nursing expertise to provide home health aid.
Certification
To successfully enroll in an HHA or CNA training program, you need to have completed either your high school diploma or your G.E.D. Once you have acquired this, you can successfully enroll in an HHA course.
At the end of the HHA course, students must complete a competency evaluation. This can be taken within 24 months of course completion. This will determine whether the candidate meets the curricular requirements, i.e., have they completed sufficient HHA training?
After being approved in the curricular evaluation, you’ll need to sit a homemaker health aide competency evaluation. This tests your skills more specifically and determines how well they line up with the home health aide job role.
If a candidate fails in one area of this health competency examination, they may still be approved to work as a professional home health aide. However, they won’t be allowed to perform tasks related to the area they failed in unsupervised. Supervision will continue until they can complete the action satisfactorily.
Once you complete the program and are approved by both competency evaluations, you can apply for a job as a home health aide.
Best Education Programs
There is a range of institutions and facilities throughout Connecticut that offer paid-for and free HHA training courses.
The best ones include:
Academy of Medical Training
521 Wolcott Street
Waterbury, CT 06705
Visiting Nurse and Health Services of Connecticut, Inc.
8 Keynote Drive
Vernon, CT 06066-5040
Ledyard Regional VNA
741 Colonel Ledyard Highway
Ledyard, CT 06339
The American Red Cross Connecticut Chapter
703 Whitney Ave
New Haven, CT 06511
Bethel Visiting Nurse Association
70 Stony Hill Road
Bethel, CT 06801
Valley Medical Institute
35 Nutmeg Drive
Trumbull, CT 06611
New Milford Visiting Nurse Association, Inc.
68 Park Lane Road
New Milford, CT 06776
Job Outlook
The job outlook for home health aides is projected to be much stronger than average, especially over the next 10 years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, the job outlook is expected to grow by 25% between 2021 and 2031.
If you’re looking to pursue a public health role in Connecticut, a home health aide position would be a good option. Currently, there are over 5,500 home health aides in CT. With people living longer and not wanting to move into care homes, more home health aides will be required.
Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the average home health aide salary is $29,430. This equates to an hourly wage of $14.15. With job growth in this public health occupation set to increase, wages could rise significantly over the next 10 years.
Where to Find Work
You can check with the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) for job opportunities in the home health aide profession. You should also check with the educational facility where you took your HHA training program for job opportunities. Otherwise, you can find work on standard job sites.
FAQs
What’s the difference between HHA and PCA?
HHAs are more focused on providing help with healthcare, medications, exercise, as well as bathing. Personal care assistants (PCAs) provide more basic support, such as assisting with housekeeping, cleaning, and shopping.
What state pays the most for home health aides?
You can get $17.45 an hour when working as a home health aide in Massachusetts and Washington. This is only slightly higher than the current national average, which is $14.15.
Sources
https://www.healthcarepathway.com/home-health/connecticut-home-health-aide/
https://medicalfieldcareers.com/hha-classes-connecticut/
http://www.homehealthaideonline.com/home/hha-training-in-connecticut/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm
https://cnatrainingtips.com/free-hha-training/ct-connecticut/