Have you ever wondered where to find free HHA training near me?
Let’s be honest, the idea of receiving the training needed to work in the healthcare field can be intimidating enough, let alone considering the financial resources it may take to complete.
But jumping into a new career isn’t always simple and we believe nothing should hold you back from your dream career.
In this post, we list the five best ways for you to find free HHA training near you and you’ll also learn about some potential requirements and prerequisites needed to begin your free training.
The Top 5 Ways to Find HHA Training Near You
- Find Free HHA Classes at Home Health Aide Agencies
- Community Resources
- Community Colleges
- National Resources
- HHA Training Reimbursement Plans
How to Find Free Home Health Aide Training Classes Near Me: Step-by-Step Guide
1. Find Free HHA Classes Home Health Aide Agencies
In our opinion, this is the best way to receive free HHA training.
Every day, more certified home health aides are needed to meet the demands of a continually increasing aging population, and with more than 12,000 individual home care agencies located throughout the country, it’s obvious the need for skilled healthcare workers is high.
In an effort to meet this need, many home care agencies throughout the country, like these agencies in New York City, will offer free home health aide classes.
These agencies will also, in most cases, offer employment once you complete your home health aide training.
Agencies will often hold informational meetings to those interested in free training courses to review eligibility requirements and job offer specifics.
Larger companies will offer free HHA classes more often than those that are smaller, and most programs will take between 2 and 4 weeks to complete, depending on the schedule.
It is also not uncommon for home care agencies to expect students to adhere to strict attendance policies.
With many potential students interested in free training to become a home health aide, agencies will use the 100% attendance requirement to help ensure that students can get through their HHA classes quickly and efficiently, while also letting your future employers see that you will be a reliable employee.
Research home care agencies in your area, and contact the ones you are interested in directly to inquire about their free training programs.
Keep in mind: Many agencies will provide information online, often complete with inquiry forms and requests to attend informational sessions you can submit electronically.
When speaking with an HR contact or home health aide recruiter via email, on the phone, or in person, be sure to remember:
- To speak clearly and directly. Let them know you are interested in free HHA training provided by their company.
- To ask valid questions and for clarification, if needed. Confirm you are eligible and meet their entrance requirements.
- This could be considered your first “on-the-job” contact.
If you are looking for quick and sufficient free training with likely employment guaranteed upon completion, a home health agency will be the best option.
How do I find my local home health aide agencies?
A simple Google search will do the trick.
Just search for “free HHA training in (your city and state)”.
It’s that easy.
2. Community Resources
When you’re looking to receive your HHA training for free, community resources are an excellent place to start.
Those working for local government offices, workforce training centers, and nonprofit agencies will often have the best understanding of community needs as they relate to health care training programs and potential trainees.
Consider all aspects of your life that may qualify you for free training, like your economic standing, your location, and your previous experience, and use them to discuss your eligibility when contacting offices such as those listed below:
State Department of Social and Human Services
You may not know it, but being eligible for things like food benefits (SNAP) and TANF can be qualifiers to eligibility for DSHS caregiver training!
Local government offices strive to equip citizens in their area with the resources they need to be successful economically and socially. What better way to do that than to offer free training in in-demand industries like health care, so that they gain the ability to support those in need around them?
Contact your local state department to find out more.
State Department of Labor Services
Another excellent resource is your local labor and industry services department. They often work with unemployed or underemployed workers to receive updated training to begin their desired career.
State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehab agencies most often work with individuals with disabilities, and are designed to help “prepare for, obtain, maintain, or regain employment.”
3. Community Colleges
Along with many other vocational areas of interest, you’re likely to find excellent options for certified home health aide training at your local community college or program-specific training school in your area.
But did you know that you may be eligible for free HHA training at those places, as well?
When you are researching schools to attend, you can ask the admissions office about a couple of resources that may be available to you:
Federal Funding
Depending on the size of the school, the length of the free HHA training program, and the type of credits you earn while attending, your school may be eligible to receive federal funds from the government to pay for your schooling on your behalf when you complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Applications can be submitted online, and you can receive an estimation of your Pell Grant eligibility immediately after your application is completed!
The application will consider things like your household size and income to determine the portion of grant funding you may be eligible to receive for the year.
Scholarships
It’s also not uncommon for schools to work with local government offices or businesses in the area to offer scholarships to eligible students in their programs.
When speaking with the admissions or finance department at the school, you can discuss things like your income or government benefits you may already be receiving to determine if those things qualify you for any funding opportunities available for the free HHA training program you are interested in.
Your socioeconomic standing isn’t the only thing that could qualify you for free home health aide classes, though. There may also be options for scholarships based on academic merit.
Some scholarship applications will ask for things like proof of previous grades or for you to submit essay answers explaining why you should be selected as a recipient for the free funds available for training. All you have to do is put the work in and go for it!
4. National Resources
With the need for skilled home health aides in high demand around the country, you are likely to come across some national resources that can assist you in finding suitable training.
Below are a few examples to get you started in your search:
The American Red Cross
For more than a century, The American Red Cross has been providing emergency and safety training courses and certifications to people all over the country.
While not available at every location, you can contact your local chapter to inquire about free home health aide training classes that may be available in your area.
PHI (Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute)
PHI is a nationally recognized company aimed at transforming disability services and eldercare and works with government and private companies across the country to provide top-notch training.
You can inquire here to see if free home health aide training is available in your area.
Health Resources and Services Administration
This government agency strives to provide programs that “strengthen the health workforce and inform workforce-related decision-making.”
By providing grants and scholarships to qualified individuals, you can inquire with schools in your area to see if they participate in these government programs that may be available to you.
5. HHA Training Reimbursement Plans
Lastly, if you are unable to qualify for free home health aide classes through any of the methods above, you may want to consider reimbursement options available to you.
It is not uncommon to find employers willing to pay you back for your home health aide schooling and training costs you paid to be eligible for employment with their company. So while you may have to pay for your HHA classes upfront, it is possible to get that money back!
You can contact local home health care service agencies in your area to inquire about training reimbursement.
Ask These Questions When Searching For Free HHA Training
As with any important decision, thoroughly research your options.
Here are some things you can keep in mind as you speak with home health aide agencies, recruiters, HR representatives, or reach out for information on training and the HHA certification you may be interested in:
What are the requirements to start HHA training?
While actual requirements will vary by state and training facility, there are several things you can generally expect to be true prerequisites no matter where in the country you are located:
- Age 18 years or older
- Government-issued picture ID and valid social security card
- Ability to read and write in English at a competent level
- Fingerprinting
- Completed criminal background check
- Physical exam, which may include:
- Toxicology screening
- Proof of immunizations
- Proof of negative TB test results
- Proof of physical strength, required to assist patients in lifting and mobility
Home health aide programs with more specific entrance requirements may include:
- Proof of high school diploma or GED (though neither are a federal requirement to receive training or be employed as a home health aide)
- Successful completion of an entrance exam
- A small non-refundable fee for books or supplies
- Proof of eligibility to work in the U.S.
- A schedule that allows 100% attendance to the training program
Keep in mind: This list of requirements is a generalization, and may not be true for every training facility in the country. If you have questions or concerns regarding any of the potential entrance requirements, it is best to contact your desired training facility directly to confirm.
Is your home health aide training program accredited and state-approved?
Arguably, this is the most important information you need to gather prior to making any decision. Free training is useless if it isn’t recognized as a valid means to gain your desired employment.
You can likely find this information yourself by looking at the program’s website; the “About” or “Careers” section is often a good place to not only get history on the facility and the education they offer but also on the governing body that regulates their training.
There should be something that clearly states the name of the accreditor, directs you to their website, and/or provides contact information should you have questions or concerns regarding any part of the home health aide program.
How much does home health aide training cost?
Some programs may offer the curriculum at no cost but require students to pay for things like background checks or physical exams in order for the training to be considered “complete.”
If there are costs associated with the training, gather a complete list of the expenses and ask when and how payment will be required. Perhaps they offer payment plans or discounts for paying in full.
This information could be one of the most critical pieces to help you decide where to take your training.
Things that could possibly be required at a cost to you include:
- Background checks
- Physical exams
- Prerequisites like CPR certification or HIV training
- Scrubs/uniforms/shoes
- Classroom supplies like textbooks and medical equipment
- Registration for the final competency exam
What are the hours required for HHA training?
While the federal regulations require 75 hours of training (by a registered nurse), a program may require more or fewer hours depending on which state they are located in, the type of funding they receive, and the type of facility it is being offered at.
In addition to knowing how many hours of training, you should also be aware of the length of time offered to complete the free home health aide program.
Will you be done in 2 weeks? A month? 3 months?
It can vary greatly depending on how many hours a day you will attend, whether you are interested in day or evening home health aide classes, and what other scheduling the facility may be working around.
Make sure the length and scheduling of the home health aide certification program meet your needs.
Is there any work commitment of me after my training is complete?
This is important. When agencies are offering free home health aide training, it is usually because they require an employment contract upon completion.
This can be an excellent option if you are looking for immediate job placement and plan to be in the area or available for their required scheduling for a period of time.
Keep in mind: Be aware of the contract requirements, and what would happen if you were unable to meet those stipulations at any time
Do you assist with home health aide certification?
Again, this can vary greatly depending on your training facility and/or state’s home health aide requirements.
For those that do require a home health aide certificate, you will want to know whether your training program will help you practice for and get scheduled for final evaluations and whether they will submit paperwork to ensure you are properly listed on any required registries.
If not, it serves as your cue to verify you know what you will be required to gain HHA certification yourself after training is completed.
Can I do HHA training online?
Yes, that is a great option. There are some great online schools out there.
Unfortunately, we have yet to find any online courses offering free HHA certification. Many advertised HHA training programs online may not be legitimate. Therefore, it is crucial to be cautious and conduct thorough research before signing up for any program to ensure that it is valid.
What training does a home health aide need?
While home health aide classes may include information that is specific to your state, all home health aide training must include the topics outlined below:
- Communication skills
- Observation, reporting, and documentation of patient status and the care or service furnished
- Reading and recording temperature, pulse, and respiration
- Basic infection control procedure
- Basic elements of body functioning and changes in the body function that must be reported to an aide’s supervisor
- Maintenance of clean, safe, and healthy environment
- Recognizing emergencies and knowledge of emergency procedures
- The physical, emotional, and developmental needs of and ways to work with the populations served by the home health agency, including the need for respect for the patient, his or her privacy and his or her property
- Safe transfer techniques and ambulation
- Normal range of motioning and positioning
- Adequate nutrition and fluid intake
Wrapping Up
Now that you are armed with five awesome resources for finding free HHA training near you, all that’s left to do is find the option that’s best for you. Good luck!