Home Health Aide Certification in New York

If you have a strong desire to help your community, you should consider pursuing a job as a home health aide. Home health aides offer fundamental health services to the elderly, those with physical disabilities, and those who are very ill with rehabilitation requirements. There are many training and job opportunities in New York to become a home health aide, and it is a highly sought-after profession. Assistance with exercise, help with medication, and a kind and encouraging attitude are all part of the job.

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Due to new legislation, advanced home health aides have a lot of room for professional advancement. Eager students around the state may exhale with relief as the state works diligently to make it a more viable career in the future.

Learn more about how you can take an HHA training course and find a job as a home health aide in New York.

Licensing Requirements in New York

Although some states may not require home health aides to be licensed, all HHAs in New York are subject to regulation by the Department of Health.

You have to complete a minimum of 85 hours of training to become certified, and your course can be completed through a university or an HHA agency.

How To Become a Home Health Aide in NYC

When you’re ready to begin your journey of healing the community, it’s important to take note that you must successfully complete a competence evaluation program or Home Health Aide Training Program (HHATP).

Each program typically lasts three weeks and covers a hundred hours of content. The training course will include necessary material from the HHA curriculum of the NYS Department of Health as well as improvements made by Protected Health Information (PHI).

An HHATP combines classroom instruction with closely monitored practical training. Additionally, the course includes mandatory testing and competency assessments.

State health authorities and education departments are the only entities with the power to certify training in healthcare.

HHA Training Requirements in NYC

The New York State Department of Health requires students to complete at least 95 hrs of HHA training. Eligible candidates have to be:

  • At least 18 years old.
  • Prepared to undergo a criminal record check, physical exam, and drug test.
  • In possession of a high school diploma.

As a potential HHA, you can anticipate being interviewed prior to your acceptance for the training program.

Your course will cover fundamental medical knowledge, such as CPR and first aid, understanding how to take vital signs and change dressings, how to administer pharmaceuticals, and understanding the fundamental terms of the medical field.

Graduates of the program can work for home care organizations to fill key employment gaps after they have earned their full HHA certificate. Every attempt will be made to place the HHA in a job that is near their place of residence.

HHA Training Programs New York

There is a huge demand for home health aides in New York, and as such, some agencies offer free training. This will allow you to gain experience and earn a respectable income as an HHA in less than a month.

Even though tuition is free at these institutions, be prepared to pay for textbooks and any other necessary learning materials. These are the best free education programs for home health aides in New York:

Best Choice CenterLight Health System

Best Choice Home Health Care offers an extensive variety of in-home care for the elderly, ill, and housebound in the five boroughs of New York City and Westchester County. HHA training takes place in both the Bronx and Brooklyn.

A $50 materials fee will be assessed, however, there is no tuition cost for this course. To be successful, applicants must agree to attend the four weeks of training on time, have a flexible work schedule, and be able to pass the pre-employment physical exam, toxicological test, and criminal background check.

Cooperative Home Care

For anyone interested in working as a home health aide in NYC, Cooperative Home Care (CHCA) also offers a four-week dual PCA/HHA training program for free. At their Bronx location, classes are presented Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm in both English and Spanish.

CHC not only promotes employment in the Bronx but also takes pride in paying above-average wages and providing several prospects for career progression.

Isabella Center

Isabella Center offers more than 100 theoretical and hands-on instruction hours over three weeks.

The training course offered by Isabella Center has sections on nutrition, brain injuries, mental health, and physical rehabilitation. Additionally, job placement is available after receiving the certificate, and the majority choose to work at Isabella as home health aides.

Job Outlook

Once you’ve become a certified HHA, you will have no problem finding employment.

New York City has one of the highest rates of available positions for licensed and certified home health aides, due to the aging population and dire need for at-home health care. The expected job outlook between 2021 and 2031 is set to increase by approximately 25%.

Salary Expectation

As of March 28, 2023, the average HHA salary in New York is $29,430, however, the range frequently ranges from $27,829 to $33,201. Salary ranges might vary, depending on the location, education land skill levels, and amount of experience in the medical field.

In New York State, the average yearly wage for an HHA is around $35,590.

Where to Find Work

Depending on where you complete your HHA certification in New York, you may be placed in a job upon completion of the course, or have to search for one yourself. Due to demand, it’s a lot easier to search for HHA jobs at HHA agencies, group and nursing homes, facilities for assisted living, hospitals, and more.

Here are some examples of some HHA agencies in New York:

Special Touch

Patients receiving care from Special Touch’s home health agency are assisted in leading secure, convenient, and independent lives in the comforting familiarity of their own homes.

VillageCare

VillageCare is a non-profit organization that provides assistance to elders, those in need of ongoing care, and others who require rehabilitation. VillageCare is also always looking for fresh talent to add to its team.

Fedcap Home Care

Fedcap provides a free three-week HHA course and has many employment sites such as in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.

FAQs

How long does it take to become a home health aide in New York?

Courses are typically three weeks long and will cover 75-100 hours of theoretical training and practical work.

How long does HHA certification last in New York?

Although HHA certificates do not have an expiration date, they become invalid if the HHA does not work for an Article 36 or Article 40 agency for 24 consecutive months.

Do home health aides need to be licensed in New York?

An individual has to successfully finish an HHATP and competency evaluation program in order to offer home health aide services in New York State.