Home Health Aide Certification In Nevada
Getting a home health aide certification in Nevada is fairly straightforward, provided that candidates receive appropriate guidance throughout the process. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about getting your HHA Certification in Nevada, including the best training options, job outlooks, salaries, and where to find work.
Licensing Requirements In Nevada
To obtain a license as a home health aide in Nevada you must complete 75 hours of training, at least 16 of which must be practical training.
Additionally, you need 12 hours of continuing education each year to keep up-to-date on the latest home health aide requirements. Home health aides can also participate in 24 hours of further training over the course of two years.
To obtain your license you must be 18 years or older. Other requirements are:
- Having a high school diploma or equivalent
- Getting CPR and First Aid card within your first six months of work as an HHA
- Completing a registered home health aide or certified nurse assistant training course
Certification
Home health aide certification training programs range in terms of duration but typically last around six weeks.
Your course will focus on the following:
- Nutrition
- Assistive technology
- Maintaining environments in terms of personal hygiene and safety
- Body mechanics
- Infection control
- Personal care services
- The process of aging and related illnesses/conditions
Some Nevada home health aides start off with a certified nurse assistant training program. It has all the necessary hours and content required to pass the home health aide certification. In Nevada, an HHA is also called a nursing aid.
Best Education Programs
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
The University of Nevada in Las Vegas offers a certified nursing assistant (CNA) training program. The course is a total of 96 hours and takes around four weeks to complete. It gives aspiring HHAs and CNAs the solid grounding needed to take the Nevada State Board of Nursing exam.
Their HHA training programs are hybrid; online learning combined with in-person sessions. The course covers the following:
- Interpersonal communication
- Personal care
- Wound dressings
- Bathing
- Emergency procedures
- Patients’ psychosocial needs
- Basic nursing skills
- Feeding
Price: $2,575
Live Savers Training Center
The Live Savers Training Center offers a six-week nursing assistant program, lasting a total of 120 hours. It’s the perfect opportunity for full-time workers wanting certification, as it incorporates day and night classes, along with clinical training.
Upon completing this course you should be prepared to take the Nevada State Board of Nursing exam.
To begin you will need to provide:
- Evidence of a full physical examination
- A negative TB test
- Immunization Record (Varicella, MMR, Hepatitis B, and TDAP)
- CPR certification (external or through Live Savers Training Center)
You’ll receive the following at the start of your course:
- Textbook
- CPR course
- Stethoscope
- Blood pressure cuff
- Fingerprinting
- Two sets of navy scrubs
- Seconds hand watch
- Nevada State Board of Nursing CNA Application
Price: $2,650
Saint Therese Learning Institute
Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Saint Therese Learning Institute offers a certified nursing assistant training program.
Training takes six weeks and there are options to take day or night classes. Tuition covers the following:
- Necessary workbooks/textbooks
- Clinical training
- Uniforms
- Certification costs
- Background check
- CPR training
Price: $2,650
Job Outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 25% growth in employment for home health and personal care aides between 2021 and 2031 – a massive increase compared to other sectors in the healthcare industry.
As of 2023, there are around 711,700 projected job openings for personal care and home health aides.
Overall, a career as a home health aide is a great option for those wanting to work in healthcare. If you complete all necessary training and remember to keep your certification up to date, you can look forward to a stable career.
Salaries
The average hourly wage for a home health aide in the US is $14.87. The annual salary stands at an average of $30,930.
In Nevada, the average yearly salary is $33,450 and the hourly rate is $16.08; higher compared to wages in some states in the US.
The average yearly salary in California is $32,760, for example, while New York has an average annual salary of $35,590.
Where To Find Work
Finding work as a home health aide in Nevada is relatively straightforward. We highly recommend looking at online job postings, as they are usually the most up-to-date and in line with current regulations.
Alternatively, reach out to healthcare workers to find out about any job openings.
Another popular option is to look for jobs through the institution from which you obtained your certification. Employers often leave potential openings with them.
FAQs
Should I join a home health aide care agency?
This is a great option if you want a bit more flexibility. Agencies often allow you to select when you work; although this might change if you get a long-term posting with one client.
What kind of person is a good fit as a home health aide?
Generally, home health aides should be empathetic, compassionate, organized, patient, and have excellent time management.
Sources:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home-health-aides-and-personal-care-aides.htm (this one is for the predictions-25% growth)
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nv.htm#31-0000 (this one has the table with the info for Nevada, if you search the term “health” in the table it will come up)
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes311120.htm (Updated wage statistics)