Home Health Aide Certification in New Mexico

Becoming a home health aide can be a rewarding career for those who have a passion for helping others. Home health aides provide assistance to patients who are unable to care for themselves in the comfort of their own homes. To help students understand this profession, this article aims to explore the requirements for becoming a certified HHA in New Mexico, as well as the potential of this career in the future.

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Licensing Requirements

To be employed as a home health aide (HHA), an individual must be competent enough to provide the necessary services. They must also have completed a training or competency evaluation program. In some cases, a home health agency may provide formal training to home health aides. However, it is often better for students to attend a course at a registered educational institution.

Certified home health aides need to be at least 18 years old before being employed with a home health agency. Before this, students can complete up to 59 hours of their home health aide training while still in high school. Before employment, candidates must also produce a negative tuberculosis (TB) test.

It’s important to note that home health aides in New Mexico do not need to hold a license to practice. Instead, they will need to complete home health aide training, a training or competency evaluation, and earn a certificate.

HHA Certification In New Mexico

In New Mexico, home health aides are not licensed. Still, students need to obtain a Home Health Aide certificate from the state in order to work in the field.

To earn a home health aide certification, students need to complete an approved training program comprising around 75 hours of instruction.

This training curriculum should cover topics such as infection control, nutrition, personal care, and communication skills. Additionally, the training program must include supervised practical training totaling around 16 hours. Potential home health aides also need to complete classroom training before their supervised practical training.

After completing the program, students must pass a competency evaluation. This includes both a written test and a skills demonstration. If students pass successfully, they will receive their home health aide certificate from the New Mexico Department of Health.

It may be important to note that home health aides must complete at least 12 hours of documented annual in-service training, a skills demonstration, and a performance review from their home health agency to retain their certification.

Best Education Programs

Ashworth College

  • Contact: 1-800-957-5412
  • Address: 5051 Peachtree Corners Circle, Suite 200. Norcross, GA 30092

Ashworth College’s Home Health Aide career diploma program offers training in providing safe and effective home health care. It may be important to note that this program is offered online, and doesn’t cover practical training.

The course is divided into three major lessons, including:

  • Lesson Group 1: Focusing on safety issues and patient handling techniques
  • Lesson Group 2: Covers home care fundamentals like communication skills, healthcare needs of specific populations, and basic infection control procedures
  • Lesson Group 3: Focuses on specialized care, emphasizing healthy activity levels, monitoring vital signs, emergency procedures, and common diseases and their care.

Central New Mexico Community College

  • Contact: 1-505-224-3000
  • Address: 900 University Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, United States

Central New Mexico Community College offers the Home Health Aide Certificate of Achievement program for potential HHAs. This course covers training at two different levels, with one being for Personal Care Attendants and the other for HHAs. When students complete the program, they will meet the minimum requirements for certification.

Santa Fe Community College

  • Contact:
  • Address: 6401 Richards Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87508

Sante Fe Community College no longer has a dedicated HHA training course. Instead, the college offers an Allied Health Associate in Applied Science program that allows students to obtain certifications in the following areas during the duration of the program:

  • Community Health
  • Home Health Aide
  • Nursing Assistant
  • Nutrition
  • Phlebotomy

Job Outlook

On average, the job outlook for home health aides has a positive trajectory. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for HHAs are expected to grow by 25% from 2021 to 2031. This is a much bigger increase than other industries.

Salaries

The average pay for HHAs in the United States is around $29,400 per year. However, the average salary of an HHA in New Mexico is $26,700. HHA professionals may experience a fluctuation in their salary depending on where they work and their employers.

Where To Find Work

Home health aides work in clients’ homes, with others working in care communities or palliative care facilities. Some HHAs may work with one individual patient, while others are trained to care for groups of people.

Generally, HHAs can find work by contacting home health agencies. They can also check with local clinics or hospitals, or by networking with other healthcare professionals.

FAQs

Does HHA certification expire in New Mexico?

HHA certifications need to be renewed every two years in New Mexico. To renew the certification, professionals must complete 12 hours of in-service training. This ensures the trainee demonstrates knowledge in the field and is still competent enough to continue working.

How long does home health aide training take in New Mexico?

Most HHA training courses take around 2-3 weeks to complete, depending on the program. However, some may take longer if they are integrated into other programs.

How much does it cost to become an HHA in New Mexico?

The cost of HHA training programs depends on the institution the student studies with. Still, most programs are inexpensive and cost anywhere between $500 – $1,000 to complete.

Sources

https://www.ashworthcollege.edu/career-diplomas/home-health-aide/

https://catalog.cnm.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=46&poid=10582#courses

https://catalog.sfcc.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=8&poid=2187

https://www.exploremedicalcareers.com/home-health-aide/hha-new-mexico/

https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-mexico/7-28-2-30-NMAC