Home Health Aide Certification in Florida

Working as a home health aide is a very fulfilling career. You get to help people while providing a very necessary medical service within your community. But how do you know where to start looking for the right certification information? In this article we are looking at how to obtain an HHA certification in Florida, the best schools, how to find work, and the salary expectations. 

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Licensing Requirements in Florida

Requirements in Florida are slightly different from other states. You can’t be licensed as a home health aide. However, you need to complete the right home health aide certificate for your desired industry.

Your certification will include an evaluation that you have to pass to get certified. But there isn’t an official home health aide state exam. 

If you want to become a home health aide in Florida you must:

  • Have passed a program licensed by the Florida Department of Education. This can be through a private career education school or technical school. 
  • Have identification showing you are 17 years or older
  • Have a social security number

Regardless of the home health aide training program (see below), you must complete ongoing continuing education requirements. To do this you must maintain your CPR certification and HIV/AIDS training course. 

Certification

 As we know, there is no HHA exam for the Florida Department of Health. Rather, you complete a home health aide training program based on the industry you wish to join. The home health aide certificate options for the different industries include:

  • Nurse registry: Complete 40 hours of training and receive your home health aide certification.
  • Licensed home health agency: 40 hours of training and you must pass the AHCA (Agency for Health Care Administration) test. 
  • Medicare or Medicaid home health agencies: Pass a home health aide competency test, have 75 hours of training, and pass the AHCA test. 

Each home health aide training program will have its own set of requirements based on the institution. For example, a private career education school might require a high school diploma or GED while others don’t. Be sure to look for a home health aide course that works for you. 

Most HHA training in Florida consists of theory and real-work training to prepare you for the day-to-day skills necessary for home health aides.

Training in Florida covers topics such as:

  • Medical charting
  • Legalities and ethics working as a home health aide
  • Infection control
  • Emergency preparedness
  • Patient communication
  • Maintaining a home
  • Hygiene

Best Education Programs

Eastern Florida State College

Situated in Melbourne, Florida, Eastern Florida State College offers a patient care assistant certificate that equips you with all the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to become an HHA in Florida. 

This HHA training in Florida is 290 hours and runs over one semester (every spring and fall). It contains everything you need including HIV/AIDS training. You will also be equipped to complete the Florida Nursing Assistant Certification Exam if you want to progress past an HHA certification. 

To obtain your Florida HHA certification you need a C grade or higher. 

Daytona College

Located in Ormond Beach, Florida, Daytona College offers a four-week home health aide certification course. 

The Florida HHA program prepares students in a variety of skills ensuring they are ready for everything they may face within the home health aide industry. 

There are 75 hours of clinical instruction and training to get students into entry-level positions within home health in Florida. 

To obtain certification you must pass the competency evaluation. Once complete, Daytona College offers students help to find the right job.

Affordable Training

Situated in Jacksonville, Florida, Affordable Training offers a five-week (120-hour) nurse assisting course. You can choose between day and night classes, but both require five hours a day Monday to Friday. 

The course prepares students for the Florida Nursing Assistant Certification Exam. Additionally, it has everything needed for a career as a home health aide.

It is also approved by the Florida Board of Nursing, meaning the program lives up to a high educational standard. 

Job Outlook

Florida has one of the largest elderly populations in the US, with 21% of the population being over 65 years of age. With that, the need for home health aides continually increases year on year. Florida is one of the most popular states to retire in, so the need for well-trained home health workers is there. 

Additionally, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 25% increase within the home health and personal care industries between 2021-2031.

There are currently over 69,000 home health aides employed in Florida On average 7.4 people out of 1,000 are employed in the industry, one of the highest rates in the US.

Salaries

The average hourly salary for home health aides in the US is $14.87 and $30,930 annually. In Florida, the average hourly salary is $13.59 per hour and $28,280 per year. 

As you can see, Florida doesn’t offer as much as the national average. It’s also far below some of the highest-paying states such as Washington ($37,900) and Alaska ($36,570). 

Where to Find Work

There is an abundance of work opportunities for home health aides in Florida. Once you’ve completed one of the home health aide courses you can find jobs in the following ways:

  • Online job boards: These are a great place to find up-to-date work opportunities as new jobs are posted regularly. These could be independent or through home health agencies.
  • Networking: Try your best to make connections with others in the same industry. It’s not uncommon for employers to reach out to current employees to find acquaintances within the field. 
  • Home health agencies: Home health agencies are a great way to find job placements. They take into account your experience and the environment you would work best in. 
  • Training centers: Most training programs have job boards. Many employers within the healthcare industry will advise schools that they are hiring. While some don’t want freshly trained home health aides, others prefer it as it means the aides are up to date on the latest training. 

FAQ

How long is training for home health aides in Florida? 

This depends on the course and the type of certification you obtain. Generally, a basic home health aide certification will take between four to six weeks. 

Do home health aides in Florida need a high school diploma? 

This differs between institutions. Some don’t require a high school diploma or GED, but this is usually for the basic entry-level training courses. Other courses, like nursing assisting, do require students to graduate high school first. 

Sources:

https://daytonacollege.edu/admissions/faq/

https://beacna.com/florida-hha-requirements/

https://southerntechnicalinstitute.com/hha-fast-facts/

https://www.bizinsure.com/florida-hha-requirements/

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/homeowners/elderly-population-by-state.html