How to Earn a Home Health Aide Certification

Home health aides provide supportive health services for sick, elderly, and disabled individuals. Because an aging population requires more in-home care, demand for home health aides has also grown significantly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that between 2020 and 2030, the number of jobs for home health aides will grow by 33%, over four times the average job growth rate of 8%.

This demand provides many opportunities for patient, empathetic, and detail-oriented individuals to pursue careers in the in-home care industry.

Although home health aide requirements and credentials vary significantly by state and employer, these professionals must complete formal training programs to earn full certification. Even if it is not a universal requirement for many home health aide jobs, an HHA certification can help in-home care professionals compete for more work and more well-paying positions.

In-home caretakers help patients with various health challenges maintain a higher quality of life. This career can be difficult but exceptionally rewarding. Although home health aides do not need to earn official certification in all states, this credential can help candidates stand out to potential employers.

Even if state law does not require home health aides to be certified, private agencies or facilities can make their own staffing requirements. Earning a home health aide certification can allow workers to access more employment opportunities. Some states enter certified home health aides into a registry to help them find work.

Aides may work alongside medical personnel and case managers to monitor patients’ health, safety, and hygiene. These individuals assist patients with basic household duties. They also help with preliminary health services, such as bathing, giving medications, and administering first aid. Home health aides may also work with more sophisticated medical equipment, like ventilators or tube feeding systems.

Average Annual Salary:$31,790

These caretakers provide many of the same day-to-day services as home health aides but perform fewer medical duties. Personal care aides assist with daily grooming, housekeeping, meal preparation, and transportation. They provide companionship and may accompany their patients to medical appointments and other outings.

Average Annual Salary: $30,970

Orderlies typically work in nursing homes or hospitals. These individuals assist medical staff by transporting patients around these facilities, usually by wheelchair. They may also perform janitorial duties, such as changing linens, cleaning medical equipment, and maintaining sanitary environments.

Average Annual Salary: $30,000

Payscale indicates that as of April 2022, home health aides made an average salary of $31,790, and personal care assistants made an average of $24,600 per year.

The BLS reports that as of May 2021, home health and personal care aides earned a median annual salary of $29,430.In the same year, the bottom 10% of these workers earned less than $22,290, and the top 10% earned over $37,010.

However, salary depends heavily on location, experience level, and employer. For example, in 2021, home health and personal care aides who worked in retirement communities and assisted living facilities earned a median of $29,140. Those who provided home healthcare services earned a median of $28,630.