Home Health Aide Certification In Illinois

To gain HHA certification in Illinois you need to undergo 120 hours worth of training. This amount of training sits in the middle compared to other states – some require as low as 75, while others require 180. This 120 hours must include 40 hours worth of clinical training. A range of courses is available for prospective home health aides in Illinois, including accredited nurse training programs.

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In this guide, we’ll detail licensing and certification requirements of home health aides in Illinois. We’ll also look at salaries and job prospects.

Licensing Requirements In Illinois

Once you’ve completed your home health aide training, you will be able to apply for licensing via the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry. Upon applying, you’ll have to undergo a fingerprint-based background check. If this background check finds any instances of neglect, abuse, or misappropriation of property, you can not register as a home health aide.

This registry is maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health. Registration is essential for all healthcare workers in Illinois, from home health aides to certified nursing assistants.

In terms of additional required licensing, you’ll most likely need a driver’s license. Due to the nature of the job – i.e., home health care – you’ll need to travel to and from several patients’ homes. Therefore, a driver’s license would be needed to complete the job properly.

Certification

As is standard, you need to first have completed either your high school diploma or a GED. This is the minimum education level required to become a home health aide in Illinois, although healthcare experience would be preferred.

In terms of official home health aide certification, you’ll need to complete a National Association of Home Care and Hospice (NAHC)-approved nursing program. As aforementioned, this consists of 120 hours – 40 of which must be dedicated to supervised clinical training.

This course needs to cover the following areas:

  • Communication skills
  • Documentation, observation, and reporting
  • Reading and recording temperature
  • Infection prevention
  • Changes in body systems
  • Home maintenance – i.e., maintaining a safe and clean environment
  • Emergency recognition and emergency procedures
  • Emotional, physical, and developmental needs

After which, you’ll have to complete a competency test conducted by a registered nurse. This will test whether or not you meet the training requirements to take on a professional home health aide position. Upon successful completion of this test, you’ll be issued a certificate by the program provider.

Home health agencies are required to give all new employees 8 hours’ worth of training upon employment.

Once you’re working as a professional home health aide, you’ll need to complete 12 hours of additional in-service training every year.

Refer to this pamphlet for more information on Illinois home health regulations.

Exemptions

There are several exemptions to the above home health aide requirements. These include:

  • If the candidate has completed a military training program (which included basic nursing assistant training).
  • If the candidate is already registered as a home health aide in another state.
  • If the candidate has completed a relevant nursing arts course in a foreign country.

Best Education Programs

The best educational institutions that offer HHA training in Illinois include the following:

Career Training Center of Chicago

3525 W Peterson Avenue Suite T21, Chicago, IL 60659-3324

1900 W. Van Buren St, Chicago, IL 60612

Solex College

350 E. Dundee Rd., Ste 200, Wheeling, IL 60090

837 W 119th St, Chicago, IL 60643Triton College

2000 N. Fifth Avenue, River Grove, IL 60171

14930 S. Cicero Ave, Suite 1B, Oak Forest, IL 60452

Hugs Inc.

19112 Burnham, Lansing, IL 60438

Job Outlook

The job outlook for home health aides is looking promising in the coming years. The Bureau of Labour Statistics states that the home health aide job outlook will increase by 25% between 2021 and 2031.

So, now is as good a time as ever to complete basic nursing assistant training and apply for the Illinois Health Care Worker Registry.

Salaries

According to Indeed, the average hourly salary for home health aides in Illinois is $17.11.

The average hourly salary for home health aides in the US as a whole is $14.15 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics (based on the annual average salary of the profession being $29,430 per year).

So, this would mean you could gain an above-average salary for the job.

Where To Find Work

Once you’ve completed the required home health aide training and gained the necessary certification, you can apply for one of Illinois’ many home health agencies. The best agencies in the state include the following:

Home Care Services of Illinois

1974 Miner St suite 102, Des Plaines, IL 60016

Seva Senior Home Care Services

776 Illinois Rte 59 Suite 162, Naperville, IL 60540

Illinois Home Health Services

2640 W Touhy Ave, Chicago, IL 60645

Central Illinois Care Service

1110 W Arbor Dr Suite B, Decatur, IL 62526

We All Care Home Care Agency

3245 Grove Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402

SYNERGY HomeCare

223 IL-21, Gurnee, IL 60031

Caring Home Care Services, Inc.

1881 Commerce Dr STE 107, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

FAQs

How much do home health agencies charge per hour in Illinois?

You can expect to pay around $30 an hour for the best home health agencies in Illinois. However, this can vary greatly depending on where in Illinois you are based. Some parts of the state – and some agencies – charge closer to $20 per hour.

How do I become a HHA in the USA?

Each state in the US has its own HHA training requirements. States approve programs, competency tests, and required skills for HHA positions. If you move to a new state, you’ll likely have to sit a new competency test to prove you can work there.