United Jewish Council of the East Side

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Home Health Aide (HHA) Certification Guide: Start a Career in Healthcare Today

Home health aides (HHAs) are the foundation of healthcare and will be needed more as the population ages. If you enjoy helping others who are elderly, have long-term care needs, are recovering from surgery, or are disabled, you should consider obtaining your HHA certification.  

What is a Home Health Aide

Home health aides assist with activities of daily living (ADLs), which include bathing, dressing, grooming, light housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation. HHAs also provide companionship at home, at medical appointments, at neighborhood events, or in the park. 

New York HHA Certification Requirements

Becoming a certified home health aide in New York requires 75 hours of training divided into classroom time and hands-on clinical training. 

  • 40 hours of classroom home care curriculum

  • 35 hours of skills training divided into classroom and supervised clinical training

The Home Care Registry issues a certification and registry number once the HHA certification program is complete. 

The New York State Department of Health reports that your home health aide certification does not expire if you stay employed with a home care agency certified or licensed by them. However, if the HHA leaves an agency to work private duty, the home health aide certification will expire after two years. They also mandate that the home health agency where the home health aide is employed must provide nursing supervision and 12 hours of in-service training per year.

UJCES Offers Free Tuition for HHA Certification 

UJCES staffs over 800 home health aides supervised by a case coordinator and a registered nurse serving New York City and Nassau County. We provide free training and paid tuition to earn your HHA certification. We are an approved home health agency through the New York State Department of Health. Our home health aides receive extra training in safety, recognizing senior depression, caring for people with dementia, and respecting cultural and religious preferences, among other skills. 

Apply today to earn your HHA certification for free. For more information, email info@ujces.org