Which Schools in Florida Offer Home Health Aide Classes & Training?

Find schools offering home health aide training in Florida. Get info on state requirements, salary and job outlook, plus learn about programs and admission procedures to make an informed decision about your education. Schools offering Home Health Aide degrees can also be found in these popular choices.

Training Requirements for Home Health Aides in Florida

Prior to choosing a school to start training, it is important that you know the requirements necessary for working as a home health aide in Florida. According to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), there are no certification or licensure requirements for home health aides. However, some home health aide programs in Florida require you to be a certified nursing assistant (CNA) to gain admission. Depending on the type of employer you work for, you would need to meet certain educational requirements.

To gain employment at a Medicare or Medicaid home health agency, you must complete a minimum of 75 hours of home health aide training or pass an employer evaluation test, plus complete 12 hours of in-service training every year, according to the AHCA. For a position at other types of licensed home health agencies or nurse registries, the AHCA noted that you need to complete at least 40 hours of home health aide training, two hours of initial HIV/AIDS training, one hour of in-service HIV/AIDS training annually and have a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification.

Salary and Job Outlook for Home Health Aides in Florida

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), home health aides working in Florida earned an average wage of approximately $21,800, as of May 2011. The BLS also projected a job growth of 69% for home health aides nationwide during the 2010-2020 decade. With the continued increase of the elderly population, who typically prefer to receive in-home medical treatment, home health aides are likely to have excellent job prospects.

Home Health Aide (HHA) Classes in Florida

Manatee Technical Institute (MTI)

  • Program Name: Home Health Aide Career Preparation Program
  • Program Length: 50 hours
  • Tuition: $2.78 per clock hour for residents, $11.17 per clock hour for non-residents (cost for 2011-2012)
  • Prerequisites: High school diploma or general education diploma (GED)
  • Requirements: Attend info session to get application, apply in person at east campus, meet with career counselor, submit proof of residency, physical exam and immunizations, pass criminal background check, complete the Test for Adult Basic Education (TABE)
  • School Type: 2-year, public; about 1,700 students
  • Address: 5520 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., FL 34211 (East Campus Medical and Dental Bldg)
  • Address: 5540 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., FL 34211 (East Campus Allied Health Bldg)
  • Phone: 941-752-8100 (Medical and Dental Bldg) or 941-751-8479 (Allied Health Building)

The HHA career preparation course is offered at MTI's East Campus in Lakewood Ranch and is available to adults and high school seniors. You do not have to pay tuition if you're a Manatee County High School student, but you must pay the class materials fee. The course consists of 50 hours of training and is offered as part of the institute's patient care technician (PCT) 600 hour program. If you wish to complete the entire PCT program, your first semester of training will cover skills needed to become a nursing assistant or patient care assistant. In your second semester, you will receive training to become a unit clerk, electrocardiogram (EKG) aide or phlebotomist.

Technical Education Center-Osceola (TECO)

  • Program Name: Home Health Aide (HHA) Career Program
  • Program Length: 75 hours
  • Tuition: $253.75 for entire course (2011-2012 tuition, lab and registration fee)
  • Requirements: Submit TABE scores, application and supporting documents to the Student Services Offices, must be a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and complete the TABE
  • School Type: Less than 2-year, public; about 670 students
  • Address: 501 Simpson Rd, Kissimmee, Florida 34744
  • Phone: 407-344-5080 x15351

The TECO is part of the School District of Osceola County, FL and is the county's only adult education institution. The 75 hour HHA training course is designed for CNAs and covers topics such as first aid, CPR, disease concepts, nutrition, personal care and safety procedures. Classes are offered on a full-time schedule during the day, Monday-Friday. By completing this course, you can learn the skills necessary to work with clients, such as the mentally or physically disabled, critically-ill, or the elderly.

Home Health Aide Diploma/Certificate Programs in Florida

Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations (ANHO)

  • Program Name: Home Health Aide/Nurse Assistant Diploma Program
  • Program Length: 8.5 weeks
  • Tuition: $2,600 for entire program (2011-2013 cost for program and books)
  • Prerequisites: High school diploma or GED
  • Requirements: At least 17 years of age, pass tuberculosis test and criminal background check, comply with drug free policies, good physical and mental health
  • School Type: 2-year, private; about 400 students
  • Address: 5154 Okeechobee Blvd Ste 201, West Palm Beach, FL 33417
  • Phone: 561- 683-1400

The curriculum for this diploma program deals with three main areas: the health careers core, home health aide and nurse assistant training. You will spend 240 hours doing theoretical coursework, laboratory exercises and clinical field work. The program also offers training in conflict resolution, employment and sensitivity skills, as well as job search assistance.

Seminole State College of Florida

  • Program Name: Advanced Home Health Aide (HHA) Certificate Program
  • Program Length: 215 hours
  • Tuition: $3,131 based on 15 credit hours per term (tuition and fees for Fall 2011-Spring 2012)
  • Prerequisite:
  • Requirements: Current basic life support certification, must be a CNA, complete the TABE
  • School Type: 4-year, public; about 18,500 students
  • Address: 100 Weldon Blvd, Sanford, Florida 32773-6199
  • Phone: 407-404-6006

Located in the central region of the state, Seminole State College of Florida is the ninth largest institution in the Florida College System - with about 32,700 students enrolled, as of 2010-2011. If you're looking to transition from a being a CNA to becoming a home health aide, this advanced vocational certificate program can prepare you to provide in-home care to clients. The program consists of 215 semester hours and covers training on topics, such as food preparation, household management and personal care. This school also offers a 12 week combined nursing assistant/HHA program, which qualifies you to sit for the State of Florida CNA exam.

To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:

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