How to Become a Home Health Aide

Home health aides care for the convalescing, disabled and elderly in their homes. The home health aide works in conjunction with nursing and medical staff to provide health services such as massages, changing bandages and personal hygiene. Often it is the home health aide who keeps a log of the patient’s progress and reports the condition of the patient to the case manager.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Get your high school diploma or equivalent degree. You will need this degree to enter into any health care licensing program.
2. Take a course in home health care that is provided for your state. Each state have their own requirements.
3. Determine how many hours the home health aide course is for your state. Most courses will provide a minimal of 75 hours training.
4. Make sure you take a state approved licensure course. Many online universities provide home health aide courses, but not all are accredited.
5. Study for the competency examines that will be given at the end of the licensure course. You must pass the course in order to become a licensed home health aide.
6. Obtain hospital experience as a health aide for at least four months before you begin to apply for home health aide positions.
7. Emerge from the completed program registered in your state as a certified home health.

Tips & Warnings

• Employment as a home health aide is expected to have increased job opportunities.
• Home health aides work under difficult emotional and physical conditions.
• Pay is low for home health aides and advancement requires continued education.