Home Health Aide Certification In Kansas
To become a home health aide in Kansas, you need to go through a slightly different process than you do in other states. Instead of simply enrolling in a home health aide course, you need to first start as a certified nursing assistant. Alternatively, you could be a certified nurse aide. Next, you need to complete an additional, shorter home health aide course.
In this guide, we’ll explain the process of gaining HHA certification in Kansas. We’ll detail the licensing requirements, the best educational programs offered, and the job outlook of home health aides.
Licensing Requirements In Kansas
To become a home health aide in Kansas, you need to gain certification in both a nursing assistant course and a separate home health aide course (more on this later). You also need to pass a competency examination.
After this, you’ll need to register with the Kansas Nurse Aide Registry. This will give you the license to conduct work for any home health agencies based in Kansas.
Certification
Firstly, you need to complete a certified nurse aide course or a nursing assistant. These courses are normally 90 hours in length. Around 45 hours of these courses consist of classroom-based learning. The remaining 45 hours will consist of clinical learning. This clinical learning can take place in a simulated laboratory, a care home, or a long-term care facility.
Normally, these courses will go over essential home health aide skills, as well as nursing assistant skills. This can include:
- Recording vital signs
- Turning someone over in bed
- Transferring someone from a bed to a wheelchair
- How to perform the Heimlich maneuver
- How to bathe a patient and help them with bathroom needs
At the end of this course, you’ll have to complete a multiple-choice examination. Throughout the 90 hours, you’ll also be monitored for competency. Once both of these components have been considered, you’ll either be passed or failed.
After completing an initial course, you’ll have to carry out a home health aide course. This course is 20 hours in length. Specifically, this course will look at bathing, ambulation, meal preparation, dressing, housekeeping, and other typical duties performed by home health aides.
This 20-hour course is entirely classroom based.
Once you successfully complete the course, you’ll need to pass the home health aide test. This is administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. You’ll have to submit an application form and pay the $20 application fee. Once you’ve got this home health aide certificate, you can start applying for jobs.
Best Education Programs
The best institutions that offer home health aide courses in Kansas include the following:
Fort Scott Community College
2108 South Horton Street, Fort Scott, Kansas 66701
Allied Health Career Training
1217 West Douglas Ave, Wichita, Kansas 67213
Flint Hills Technical College
3301 West 18th Avenue, Emporia, KS 66801
Cloud County Community College
2221 Campus Drive, Concordia, KS 66901
Job Outlook
The job outlook for home health aides is looking as promising as all other health occupations, especially over the next 10 years. The job outlook for health aid is expected to grow by
25% by 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. So, now is a great time to enroll in a home health aide program.
Salaries
The median annual salary of a home health aide is $29,430 per year.
Where To Find Work
Once you’ve completed your home health aide training, you could enquire at your educational institution for any job opportunities. Or, look for jobs at home health agencies. The Kansas Department of Health should be able to provide you with a list of registered agencies.
Sources
https://alliedhealthcareertraining.com/kshha
http://www.homehealthaideonline.com/home/hha-training-in-kansas/
https://www.healthcarepathway.com/home-health/kansas-home-health-aide/