Home Health Aide Certification in Wisconsin

Home health aides take care of and assist patients with a range of daily tasks. This could include helping patients bathe, get dressed, or use the bathroom. They help care for elderly patients, but also take care of patients with chronic illnesses and patients with cognitive impairment or disabilities. In the state of Wisconsin, home health aides are also known as nursing aides. They are required to complete a 120-hour Home Health Aide/Certified Nursing Aide program.

Home Health Aide/Nursing Aide Training Requirements in Wisconsin

To enroll for an HHA certification in Wisconsin, applicants must be 18 years or older and will have to undergo a tuberculosis test and a background check. Candidates should also not be addicted to any illegal substances.

Nursing students and graduate nurses are also able to become nursing aides because of some exceptions to the training requirements.

Home Health Aide/Nursing Aide Training in Wisconsin

To become a home health aide in Wisconsin, candidates must have completed a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program and passed a competency evaluation.

Prospective nursing aides must enroll in a Wisconsin Department of Health Services-approved training program. The training program must span over 120 hours and include a minimum of 32 hours of clinical experience. Training is supervised by a registered nurse.

Students receive both theoretical and practical training.

Some of the topics covered during the training include the role of an HHA, the characteristics and needs of patients (elderly and disabled), and possible emotional problems affecting patients. Training also covers nutritional principles and issues, meal preparation, maintaining a safe and healthy environment, in-home personal care, when and how to report to supervisors, and record keeping.

Wisconsin Home Health Aide/Nursing Aid Evaluation Process

After the successful completion of their training, students will sit for the Pearson VUE-administered National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam. Passing the NNAAP examination allows CNAs to be listed on the Wisconsin nurse aide registry.

The evaluation is done in two phases: A practical component and an exam component.

During the practical component of the evaluation process, the student will have to demonstrate proper handwashing techniques (to prevent the spread of infection) and other randomly-selected skills. The second component of the evaluation takes the form of an exam, with students having the option to choose between a written or oral exam.

Maintaining HHA or CNA Education Requirements

To keep their Wisconsin CNA status current, candidates will need some qualifying experience every 24 months. This experience must be done under the supervision of a qualified nurse.

Candidates who fail to keep their CNA status current will need to retest.

Best Education Programs For Home Health Aides In Wisconsin

There are several facilities across the State where potential HHAs can apply to do their certification course. These include:

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC)

This college offers a Personal Care Worker (PCW) certificate. This is a 30-hour in-person training program that has some class time included. Students are taught how to reposition their patients and are also taught about infection control, safety, and lab practice.

Students will get to work and interact with real patients during their training, while HHA tasks are performed.

Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC)

The Waukesha County Technical College offers a wide selection of nursing health training programs.

One of their courses is the Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate. It’s an 89-hour training course and helps students gain real-world, clinical experience, allowing graduates to be able to comfortably and easily work with patients.

The Wisconsin Technical College System

The Wisconsin Technical College System website allows interested candidates to search for tech schools that offer HHA or CNA training. Programs offered vary from several weeks to two years or more, depending on the student’s goals.

Wisconsin Caregiver Academy – UW Green Bay

The University of Wisconsin at Green Bay (UW Green Bay) offers state-approved caregiver training. Some programs also offer training for healthcare administrative roles.

The available programs are ideal for candidates who want to work at a home care agency. Non-credit courses for both groups and individuals are provided.

CareAcademy

CareAcademy offers online training courses which can be used to complement a candidate’s HHA, CNA, or PCW in-person clinical training.

Job Outlook

Jobs in the home health and certified nursing aide sector are expected to grow as the elderly population in the US continues to grow. Jobs in the sector are expected to increase by 25% from 2021 to 2031, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Until 2031, an estimated 711,700 HHA job openings will become available annually.

HHAs are in high demand, with more than 3.6 million HHA job openings that were posted nationally in 2021.

Salary Expectations

Standards for home health aides are very high in Wisconsin. Because of these high entry standards, Wisconsin-based nursing aides earn relatively more than HHAs in other states.

According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the average annual salary for home health aides is $29,430. The annual average salary for a HHA, employed at facilities across the state of Wisconsin, is $29,310.

Where to find work

Home health aides or certified nursing aides, once qualified have a range of options where they can find work. They would, for example, be employed at:

Home care agencies
Home health agencies
Nursing homes
Hospitals
Intermediate care facilities for people with intellectual disabilities.

FAQs

What is the difference between a CNA and a home health care worker?

A home healthcare worker is only allowed to work with one client at a time, whereas a CNA may work with several clients at a specific care facility.

What education does an HHA need in Wisconsin?

Personal care workers and HHAs need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the field.

Post-secondary training and certification, like obtaining a CNA certificate, increases both the number of opportunities and the salary you can receive.

How much does HHA/CNA training cost in Wisconsin?

A CNA certification course, completed over several weeks, can cost up to $2,000 or more. Some semester programs may cost you up to $5,000 or more.

Sources:

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

http://www.homehealthaideonline.com/home/hha-training-in-wisconsin/

https://www.healthcarepathway.com/home-health/wisconsin-home-health-aide/