Home Health Aide Certification in South Carolina

Obtaining your HHA certification in South Carolina is not a requirement to work as a home health aide. However, home health agencies require you to have certification otherwise you will not meet the federally-mandated minimum qualifications to provide home health services in South Carolina. To make sure that you have all the relevant details, we’ve compiled a list of the home health aide certification requirements in South Carolina, including the best training programs and career outlook.

Home Health Aide Licensing Requirements in South Carolina

Home Health Aide Training

Finding a training program in South Carolina is not difficult. All training must comply with the South Carolina Department of Health and environmental control regulations.

The Department of Health controls the training and qualification requirements of home health aides, defined as direct caregivers.

To become a licensed direct caregiver:

You must be either a certified nurse assistant, a licensed practical nurse, or a registered nurse.
Alternatively, you may provide home health care as a direct caregiver without being licensed.
You must undergo a state criminal background check including fingerprinting.
If you cannot provide 12 months proof of residency in South Carolina then a federal criminal background check is mandatory.

In-Home Care Provider Agency Services

There are two distinct types of care offered, the first of which is an in-home care provider agency. They offer non-skilled services, employing home care aides to make food and help clients move about within their homes.

This includes helping clients to the bathroom where various personal care skills are also required. As well as providing help with their client’s self-administered medication.

In-home care service providers are specifically not allowed to provide illness or injury-related services or therapy.

Home Health Agency Services

In contrast, home health agencies provide skilled services on a short-term or occasional basis. They offer skilled nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy amongst other modalities.

Non-certified home health aides can work with licensed therapists and nurses under supervision only.

Nurse Assistant Certification

For you to qualify as a nurse assistant in South Carolina, you must:

Complete any one of between 75-hour and 100-hour training programs.
The training in South Carolina requires a minimum of 75 hours of classroom training including 16 hours of clinical training.
Complete a competency evaluation program to assess your skills in areas like bed baths, oral care, and monitoring vital signs.
Demonstrate competency in responding to emergencies and monitoring changes in fluid intake, patients’ health, and body function.

Once you successfully complete an HHA training program and have the necessary clinical experience and training, you can receive your certification.

In-Home Caregiver Training in South Carolina

As a starting point, you can receive training from an in-home caregiver agency that will offer the necessary training.

To enter service as an in-home caregiver, you must:

Be 18 years or older.
Have well-developed communication skills.
Be able to follow a service plan without being supervised.

Your training will then include basic first-aid training programs. You’ll also receive training in infection control and how to keep patient records up to date.

Specialized training, including assisting with medication and certain medical conditions, is also provided.

Best Health Aide Certificate Education Programs in SC

Various institutions provide training programs, including:

Patient Care Technician Program (PCT) – York Technical College
Patient Care Technician Program (PCT) – Greenville Technical College
Patient Care Technician Program (PCT) – Aiken Technical College

The Job Outlook for Home Health Aides in South Carolina

The job outlook for in-home care providers in South Carolina is excellent. The aging population will need increased medical care and assistance.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth is expected to increase by 25% in the next 10 years. This will be spurred on by advances in medical technology that is expected to increase the need for at-home care.

By 2031, there are expected to be an additional 900,000 jobs that need to be filled.

Average Salary of Home Health Aides in South Carolina

While initial salaries are low, prospects look good. Home health aide workers earn a median salary of $29,430 per year.

Many factors drive salaries up, such as the location in which you are prepared to work as well as your level of experience and education.

Currently, 50% of home health aides earn over $14.15 per hour. But this amount is sure to increase as demand for in-home care providers increases.

Where to Find Work as a Home Health Aide in South Carolina

There are a wide variety of employers who provide job opportunities for home health aides in the healthcare industry.

A quick search of the Medicare website returns dozens of agencies whom you can approach. There are also opportunities at hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Qualified staff are in high demand at nursing homes and senior assisted living facilities.

For the best results, ensure that you are well-qualified and up to date with your knowledge and ongoing training.

Sources

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

https://www.exploremedicalcareers.com/home-health-aide/hha-south-carolina/

https://homehealthaideguide.com/hha-training/states/south-carolina-hha/

https://www.homehealthaideonline.com/home/hha-training-in-south-carolina/

https://www.healthcarepathway.com/home-health/south-carolina-home-health-aide/

https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/

https://www.cnaonlinecourse.com/south-carolina-cna-certification