Home health aides have heavy involvement with patients, so hands-on training is essential. This means no home health aide online training is available. Read on to learn more about several hands-on training programs.
Overview of Home Health Aide Programs
Because home health aides must be confident in their patient-care skills, most classes and certificate programs rely heavily on hands-on experience and in-class instruction. Through internships and labs, students enrolled in home health aide training gain the experience and knowledge necessary to work in the field. For this reason, no online programs currently exist for home health aides, but on-campus options at Saint Paul College, Florida Community College and Shasta College are described below.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutHomeHealthAidePrograms">Important Facts About Home Health Aide Programs</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Prerequisites</td><td> High school diploma or equivalent; may be required to have CPR certification prior to enrollment</td></tr>
<tr><td>Other Requirements</td><td> Students usually need to be 16-18 years old. Drug screenings, immunizations, and criminal background checks are typically required.</td></tr>
<tr><td> Possible Careers</td><td> Nursing assistant, patient care technician</td></tr>
<tr><td>Continuing Education</td><td>States may require home health aides to complete continuing education units to maintain credentials.</td></tr>
<tr><td> Median Salary (2021)</td><td> $29,260</td></tr>
<tr><td> Job Growth (2021-2031)</td><td> 25%</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---NursingAssistantHomeHealthAideCertificateAtSaintPaulCollege">Nursing Assistant/Home Health Aide Certificate at Saint Paul College</h3><p>This program, based in Saint Paul, MN, fulfills state and federal requirements for working as a home health aide or nursing assistant. Students take two courses, in which they learn the basics of personal health care and complete a clinical trial in a long-term care facility. Graduates of this program are prepared to work with patients in residential care facilities and are placed on the Minnesota State Nursing Assistant Registry. Topics covered in this nursing assistant/home health aide certificate program include fundamental human needs and health infirmity.
</p><h3 id="section---PatientCareTechnicianCertificateAtNorthFloridaCommunityCollegeNFCC">Patient Care Technician Certificate at North Florida Community College (NFCC)</h3><p>Based out of NFCC's Madison campus, this program cross-trains students in a group of sequenced courses, preparing them to serve as patient caregivers. Graduates are qualified to apply for the Florida Board of Nursing exam, which certifies them to work as nursing assistants in the state of Florida. No additional requirements are needed to work as a home health aide. Areas covered in this program include nutrition, patient care, and legal and ethical responsibilities.
</p><h3 id="section---NurseAideHomeHealthAideCoursesAtShastaCollege">Nurse Aide/Home Health Aide Courses at Shasta College</h3><p>Shasta College in Redding, CA, offers courses to individuals interested in learning the basics of patient care. These courses include both lecture and laboratory requirements. Special emphasis is placed on caring for patients in community health care settings. The California Department of Health Services approves this course, and graduates are eligible to take the home health aide certification exam, qualifying them to work in the state. Students learn about subjects like basic nursing skills and specific provisions for community settings.</p>
