Home health care is a growing industry as more people decide to age in their own homes. This means that aspiring home health aides may find excellent job prospects in Florida and other parts of the country.
Before you start applying for jobs, you’ll need to complete your FL home health aide certification. Completing the required training, passing mandatory exams, and maintaining continuing education help prepare you for the job of a home health aide. It also helps protect the safety and wellbeing of your patients.
Who can become a Home Health Aide in Florida?
To become a home health aide in the Sunshine State, you will need to first meet the basic requirements. You must:
- Be at least 17 years old
- Have a valid social security number (SSN)
- Meet the state’s employability standards for HHAs
Some training programs may also require you to hold a high school diploma or general education development (GED). If you are unable to provide proof of either, you may be able to pass an entrance exam before enrolling.
CPR certification is required for all home health aides in Florida. If the program you choose does not provide this training, you may need to show that you are certified to enroll.
How do I get a home health aide certificate in Florida?
You will need to complete an approved training program to receive your HHA certification in Florida. This generally consists of classroom instruction and real-world training in areas such as:
- Infection control (including required HIV/AIDS training)
- Preventing accidents and emergencies
- Mental health awareness
- Assisting with personal care needs
- Observation and medical charting skills
- How to promote patient independence
- Communication skills
- Your ethical and legal responsibilities, including respecting patient rights and privacy
- Preventing patient abuse
- Fire safety and disaster preparedness
The number of training hours you must complete will depend on where you ultimately want to work. Florida home agency licensing sets requirements for different types of HHAs:
- Licensed-only home health agency – 40 hours and pass the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) test for state licensed-only home health agencies.
- Agencies that receive Medicare or Medicaid funds – 75 hours, pass the AHCA exam and an HHA competency test.
- Gaining employment with the help of a nurse registry – 40 hours of training and receiving your FL home health aide certification.
All home health aides, regardless of where they are working, must complete ongoing continuing education requirements to keep their HHA certification. This includes completing an HIV/AIDS training course and maintaining their CPR certification. If you work for an agency that receives Medicare or Medicaid funding, you must also do 12 hours of additional training each year.
Where to find HHA training in Florida
There are many ways to get a home health aide certificate in Florida:
- Vocational or technical schools
- Private schools licensed by the Florida Department of Education
- Home health agencies
Training provided by home health agencies is free to accepted applicants. You will likely be required to work at the agency for a set amount of time in exchange for your free HHA training.
HHA Certification for Florida Residents
HHA training in Florida could be the start of a promising and fulfilling career. There are many options for starting your program training and finding employment in the Sunshine State.
Looking for a way to protect yourself on the job? Home health insurance could help. Visit BizInsure to learn more about insurance for home health aides.
