Home Health Aide Certification in New Hampshire

New Hampshire residents hoping to enter the healthcare sector have the opportunity to become home health aides – a fulfilling and stable career. In this guide, we’ll take you through the licensing, becoming certified, education programs, and career outlook for potential HHAs. This should provide all the information you need to get HHA certification in New Hampshire.

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Licensing Requirements In New Hampshire

New Hampshire has a different outlook when it comes to home health aides. To become a home health aide in New Hampshire you need to be a licensed nursing assistant (LNA). 

Generally, licensed nursing assistants do a lot of the same things as home nurse aides, which is why they fall in the same category. 

You will need to complete a written exam to become a licensed nursing assistant and participate in at least 60 hours of clinical training. 

Licensed nursing assistants generally work with:

  • Newborns
  • Patients with disabilities
  • Special needs children
  • Patients in rehab after surgery or illness
  • The elderly 

This area of focus varies from home health aides in other states, where the primary emphasis is providing personal care for elderly patients. 

Before you can take your exam, you need to have completed a certified nursing assistant training program. 

After that, you must register with the New Hampshire Nurse Aide Registry. 

Certification

Getting certified takes dedication and hard work. Home health aide requirements dictate that your training program should be at least 100 hours in duration, consisting of 60 hours of theory and 40 hours of clinical practice. 

These programs act as preparation for the exam. Aspiring home health aides must still register and pass the test, but undergoing training is highly beneficial. 

Certified home health aide training focuses on the following competencies: 

  • Providing emotional comfort
  • Personal care services
  • Environmental safety
  • Understanding patient rights
  • Transferring patients 
  • Housekeeping
  • Working with ambulance staff
  • Emergency procedures
  • Grooming and hygiene
  • Infection control
  • Feeding
  • Positioning patients

Best Education Programs

LNA Health Careers

LNA Health Careers offers a licensed nursing assistant program consisting of three parts:

  • Pre-clinical lab skills (in-person)
  • Theory (online or in-person)
  • Clinical (in-person)

Candidates can choose to do the program as a hybrid (online and in-person) or solely in-person. 

Once the training program has been completed, HHA candidates may sit for the state certification examination. After passing the exam, they can apply for a Board of Nursing LNA license application.

The program is a total of 110 hours. A range of dates and times are available during the day, evening, and on weekends. Candidates with full-time jobs can still get certified. 

Price: $2,200

Lakes Region Community College

This Licensed Practical Nursing program takes place on the main Lakes Region Community College Campus. The classes are taught by nursing staff from River Valley Community College. The clinical part of the course takes place at a healthcare facility in the Lakes Region. 

To apply you need the following:

  • A completed application form.
  • High school or GED transcripts.
  • A passing grade in The Test of Essential Academic Skills (there are minimum marks for each subject to show you have the basic skills required for the course).
  • To have attended the online nursing informational session. 

What’s notable about this program is that it is closely related to the college’s associate’s degree in nursing. This allows you to further your studies in the healthcare field. 

Once you’ve been accepted, you’ll also need to show proof of the following:

  • Criminal background check
  • CPR certification
  • Medical insurance
  • Drug test

Job Outlook

Working as a home health aide in New Hampshire is a great place to enter the medical field. It has massive growth projections with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting a 25% increase in the industry between 2021 and 2031.

Recent studies show that patients are now choosing to receive medical help from their homes, rather than remain in the hospital. 

New Hampshire currently employs 7,850 home health aides, with the numbers remaining about the same year on year. 

Salaries

The average national yearly salary for a home health aide is $30,930 per year. On a per-hour basis, it’s $14.87 per hour.

If we look at New Hampshire, it’s holding strong with an average yearly salary of $32,360 and an hourly wage of $15.56.

Where To Find Work

Finding work as a home health aide in New Hampshire is similar to any job. We highly recommend venturing online to see the newest job posts in your field. 

You might also want to consider a home health agency. Home health agencies can place you in a suitable working environment, based on your experience and expertise. 

Alternatively, ask the institution you’re studying through. Potential employers often look for fresh graduates in the home health aide field. 

FAQs

Is it difficult to become a home health aide in New Hampshire? 

The process of becoming a certified HHA in New Hampshire is more complicated than in other states. To qualify, you must first complete a licensed nursing assistant training program.

Are there jobs in home health services that I don’t need a qualification for in New Hampshire? 

Some jobs don’t require qualifications; however, your job scope will be extremely limited compared to someone with a formal qualification. 

Sources:

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm

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

https://www.healthcarepathway.com/home-health/new-hampshire-home-health-aide/