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HHA Training Requirements
Personal Care Services – To perform personal care services, there are no state specific requirements but only the federal training requirements of minimum 75 hours of training including 16 hours of clinical training.
Skilled Care Services – are provided typically by nurse aides who have to go obtain certification by completing a state-accredited training program and passing both components of the state nurse aide competency exam. Graduates of state-approved training programs are eligible to challenge the state exam. More details on CNA testing can be found here
If you fall within any of the following categories, you may skip training:
- Licensed Psychiatric Technicians who wish to practice as nurse aides
- Nursing students who complete at least five (5) credits of nursing fundamentals
- Foreign nurses
Following are the requirements for training:
- High school diploma (recommended)
- Be at least 18 years old
- Criminal background check and fingerprint report
- Proof of citizenship or legal residency
- Negative TB test report
- Report of a recent physical exam
- Proof of immunization
IMPORTANT - The state does not recognize online training programs as these do not provide for the clinical aspect of nurse aide training.
Nurse Aide RegistryAll certified nurse aides are registered on the Nurse Aide Registry. The registry can also be used to verify any nurse aide licenses. You can access the Nurse Aide Registry by clicking the link below:
CLICK HERE FOR NURSE AIDE REGISTRY
List of State Approved Training Programs
Click here to download a list of state approved nurse aide training programs:
CLICK HERE FOR APPROVED TRAINING PROGRAMS
Click the below link to find list of approved/licensed Home Health Facilities (Selection for medical / non-medical services)
CLICK HERE FOR APPROVED HHA AGENGIES
The Home care Association of Colorado also compiles a list of approved HHA agencies. You can search for the approved HHA agencies by clicking here
Home Care Association of Colorado
It provides education and discount programs for members for various home care related courses (refer to the list for details)
Approximately 12,210 people were employed as Home health aides in Colorado in 2015.
Hourly Rate - Home health aides earned between $8.97/hour and $17.67/hour in 2015 (average rate was $12.59/hour)
Annual Salary - The annual salary ranged between $18,660 and $36,760 (average annual wage was $26,190)
Source - Bureau of Labor Statistics
1. Guide to working with Home Health Agency
2. Board of Nursing
3. Key application forms for nurse aides
4. Colorado Nurse Aide Regulations
The State of Colorado does not expressly use the term ‘Home Health Aide Services’ in its regulations. However, Department of Public Health and Environment uses 2 separate terms for in-home care services:
1. Personal Care Services – refers to also provide non-skilled services like help with bathing, dressing and eating. Medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and oxygen may also be provided2. Skilled Care Services – includes health and medical services furnished in the consumer's place of residence that include wound care services; use of medical supplies including drugs and biologicals prescribed by a physician.
The department strongly recommends availing services of ‘Certified Home Health Agencies’ or ones that are Medicare or Medicaid certified. Due to the distinction between the type of services, the State of Colorado also categorises different types of Home Health Aide Agencies as follows:
1. Class A License – a home care agency that provides any skilled healthcare service. They can also provide personal care services2. Class B License – a home care agency that provides only personal care services.
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