How to become a Home Health Aide
Official title: Home Health Aides
Also called: Caregiver, CHHA (Certified Home Health Aide), CMA (Certified Medical Aide), CNA (Certified Nurses Aide), Direct Care Professional, Home Care Aide, Home Health Provider, Hospice Aide, In Home Caregiver, Residential Assistant (RA)
Monitor the health status of an individual with disabilities or illness, and address their health-related needs, such as changing bandages, dressing wounds, or administering medication. Work is performed under the direction of offsite or intermittent onsite licensed nursing staff. Provide assistance with routine healthcare tasks or activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, toileting, or ambulation. May also help with tasks such as preparing meals, doing light housekeeping, and doing laundry depending on the patient's abilities.
Main tasks
- Plan, purchase, prepare, or serve meals to patients or other family members, according to prescribed diets.
- Care for patients by changing bed linens, washing and ironing laundry, cleaning, or assisting with their personal care.
- Bathe patients.
- Maintain records of patient care, condition, progress, or problems to report and discuss observations with supervisor or case manager.
- Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs, or automobiles and with dressing and grooming.
- Check patients' pulse, temperature, and respiration.
- Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and alert.
- Provide patients and families with emotional support and instruction in areas such as caring for infants, preparing healthy meals, living independently, or adapting to disability or illness.
How to become one
Home health and personal care aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, but some positions do not require it. Those working in certified home health or hospice agencies may need to complete formal training or pass a standardized test.
Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Health Support Specialist (Existing Title: Home Health Aide).
- Apprenticeship: Preventative Home Health Aide.
- Licence: A licence is required in 21 states.
Pay · Outlook
- About 4,677,100 people work in this job now, and about 5,524,400 are projected by 2035. (+18.1%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Home Health Aide?
Home health and personal care aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, but some positions do not require it. Those working in certified home health or hospice agencies may need to complete formal training or pass a standardized test.
Is a Home Health Aide a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 18% by 2035, from about 4,677,100 to about 5,524,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Home Health Aide?
Usually not. Only 15% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Health Support Specialist (Existing Title: Home Health Aide).
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.