Home Health Aide Certification In Montana

If you’re interested in a career as a home health aide (HHA), you need to know the basics about being certified.  This article explores the licensing requirements, certification, education programs, salaries, and job outlook – all the information you need to start your career. Achieving an HHA certification in Montana can be fairly straightforward with the right guidance.

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Licensing Requirements In Montana

Working as a home health aide in Montana requires quite a lot in terms of being certified. Candidates need the following:

  • To pass the competency evaluation
  • A minimum of 16 clinical hours
  • A minimum of 91 training hours
  • A high school diploma

You’ll have to register on the Montana Nurse Aide Registry. From there you can apply for your home health aide certification or renew your current certification. 

To receive a Home Health Aide Endorsement you need to have a Montana Certified Nurse Aide Certificate and participate in specific Home Health Aide training. All of this is done through the Nurse Aide Registry.

Once completed, you need to email the following to [email protected]:

  • Montana Home Health Aide Skills Competency Checklist
  • Montana Home Health Aide Endorsement Application

You can email the same address to get these forms. 

Certification

Home health certification in Montana requires candidates to understand core concepts before taking the exam. They include: 

  • Nutritional needs of the patient
  • Managing patients’ personal care safety
  • Patient rights
  • Your role as a nurse aid
  • Emergency care and keeping patients safe from environmental hazards
  • Interpersonal communication with patients

These are the basics for a nurse aide training program. Montana home health aides will also need to know about the following:

  • How to dispose of contaminated supplies properly.
  • Ensuring the home has all required safety measures in place (identifying fire escape routes, for example)
  • Consulting with ambulances and managing home equipment.

This is only part of the additional coursework needed to become a properly trained certified nursing assistant (and, of course, home health aide). You will also cover keeping the at-home setting in line with the hospital code. 

Best Training Programs

There is a range of home health aide training programs to choose from; some online, and others in person. All home health aide programs require you to take in-person training programs to qualify for certification.

City College at Montana State University Billings

This training program prepares students in the basics of nurse assisting. You will gain vital understanding of human anatomy and medical terminology. 

Not only will you learn theory, but engage in practical application, giving you all the things you need to be a nursing assistant or home health aide. 

Note: you will need to be fully vaccinated against diseases such as tetanus and hepatitis B. 

Price: $750

Missoula College

Missoula College has partnered with The Lifelong Learning Center to help healthcare workers qualify as certified nurse aides. 

The course offers classroom-based lessons and clinical experience and takes place in Missoula. 

To apply you’ll need to show your current immunization records as well as a completed background check. This is for office purposes to grant you access to medical facilities. 

Please note: the pricing below does not include the cost of the exam or additional learning materials. 

Price: $600

Job Outlook

Across the US there is a demand for personal care aides. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that there are around 18.5 home health aides per 1,000 people. 

The growth prediction for new jobs in Montana is 22%, with home health aides in Montana being a big one on the rise. Currently, California employs the most home healthcare aids, with 717,220 out of a total of 3,366,480. 

To find a suitable position with the best benefits as a home health aide in Montana, you should look at bigger cities like Great Falls, Missoula, and Helena. 

Salaries

Before we get into the salaries in Montana, it’s good to have an overall understanding of the salaries of home health aides in the US. 

The average hourly wagefor HHAs in the US is $14.17, giving them an annual salary of $29,430. In comparison, Montana doesn’t do too badly, with an average hourly salary of $14.32 and an annual salary of $29,780. 

For higher salaries, HHAs would need to look at job opportunities in New York ($35,590) or California ($32,760). 

Where To Find Work

Finding a job as a home healthcare aide in Montana is easiest through medical facilities like hospitals, hospices, and rehabs. 

You might also want to look at joining an agency through which you can find full-time employment or shorter-term employment options. 

Two popular options to apply for in Montana are:

  • Riverstone Health
  • Partners in Home Care Inc.

FAQs

Is it difficult to become a home health aide in Montana?

It’s not as easy as in some other states. Montana is unique in that you need the CNA training as a minimum and then additional training qualifications to apply for your HHA certification. 

What qualities or “soft skills” should a home health aide have? 

A home health aide should be compassionate, empathetic, organized, patient, and have physical stamina. 

Sources:

https://dphhs.mt.gov/qad/certification/cna

https://dphhs.mt.gov/assets/qad/CertificationBureau/CNAHHACoreCurriculumRequirements.pdf

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_mt.htm#31-0000

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes311120.htm