Cost of Program
$749
$989 Save $240
or
$59/month, Start for as low as $1
1-800-471-3232 (9AM - 9PM EST)
Home Health Aide
AVG SALARY*
$29,430/yr
NUMBER OF JOBS*
3,636,900
JOB GROWTH*
25%
Penn Foster's Home Health Aide Training Program is designed with job-readiness in mind. Study the skills required in order to care for the mental, physical and emotional health of someone in need. Start training with a flexible program you can take on your own schedule, at your own pace.
State Licensing Requirements
Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in this field are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered in the Penn Foster Program. Prospective students should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where they plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in this program. See the State Licensing page for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.
The Penn Foster Home Health Aide diploma program aligns to and exceeds the minimum federal standard for home health aide training: 75 hours of classroom instruction, including 16 hours of supervised practicum. The Penn Foster program consists of 200 hours of online and self-study training, 40 hours of a required supervised practicum, and then assessments. In states where additional practicum hours are required, students may be able to arrange for extended externships beyond what Penn Foster requires. State training requirements vary for Home Health Aides, with some states requiring more than the Federal standard and may include requirements beyond those offered in this program. There are also some states that require Home Health Aides to be a Certified Nursing Aide in order to complete the required externship in this program and or for employment in that state. Please see instructions below to refer to State-by-State Training Requirements for the state where you plan to work to learn more before enrolling in this program. Where additional training may be required, the Penn Foster program will help to prepare for employment in Direct Care Worker positions other than Home Health Aide, such as Home Care Aide, Personal Care Aide, Direct Care Worker, or Caregiver. Penn Foster has determined that the curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: California, District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Mississippi. Click here for instructions to download file.
Estimated completion time:
With Penn Foster, you can learn at whatever pace works best for you. Some learners will be more comfortable moving faster, and dedicating more time, and the fast track estimate will apply to them. The average track will apply to most learners who can dedicate a few hours per week to completing their coursework.
Penn Foster's Home Health Aide classes can help prepare you to assist clients as you care for them in their homes. You will study everything from how to monitor and report changes in a client's health, to therapeutic communication skills for working in a client's home and community setting. Your classes will include:
Students in the Home Health Aide Career Diploma will be required to complete a 40-hour externship prior to graduating to apply what they've learned in their coursework to real-world situations. In order to be eligible to complete the externship portion of the program, students are required to have a minimum cumulative grade average of 65%. Students are responsible to find and secure the externship at an approved site in their area. Penn Foster does not assist with direct placement. Additionally, externship requirements can vary by agency and state but will generally include:
Home Health Aide Student Success Stories
Christan B.
2018 Home Health Aide graduate
"It’s easy to keep track of your materials and learn at your own speed. How it works for you is how you make it work."
Cost of Program
$749
$989 Save $240
Cost of Program
$899
$989 Save $90
cost of program
$989
Flexible
Interactive
Connected
Supportive
Home health aides are the individuals who monitor the condition of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and help them with daily living activities. You will help clients with everything from bathing and grooming to getting daily exercise.
Home health and personal care aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent at a minimum. Those working in certified home health or hospice agencies may need to complete formal training such as Penn Foster's, or pass a standardized test in order to start working.
According to the most recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the average home health aide salary is $29,430 per year.*
In Penn Foster's Home Health Aide Training Program, you are required to complete a 40 hour-long externship before officially graduating from your training program.
Sources:
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. "Home Health and Personal Care Aides." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Accessed September 23, 2022.
Statements found in the United States Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook are not a guarantee of any post-graduation salary, in part because the data used to create the Occupational Outlook Handbook includes workers from differing educational backgrounds, levels of experience, and geographic areas of the country.
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