Seeking a Certification in Home Health Care

| Tuesday, January 3, 2012
By Laura Bonson


There is a booming market for professionals in the home health care industry. The home health care field provides care in the home of those that need special assistance. Don't confuse it with basic home care opportunities. Those positions do not account for the trained medical care that is provided.

Home care, in most general cases, involves the hiring of someone to meet the day to day needs of your loved one. The basic needs such as shopping, running errands, and cleaning are often provided by friends or family. Occasionally, a companion may be hired to perform these tasks. Home health care, however, is offered by a trained professional that may be a nurse, therapist, or a home health aide.

To become a home health care professional, you will be required to receive some type of training. The training focus will usually center on home safety in regards to the patient. You will also receive training on how to deliver professional personal care, and how to properly use the equipment needed to assist those requiring home health care services.

The training needed for these types of jobs could vary from on the job training up to more advanced training that results in the receipt of a certification or a degree. One of the largest organizations that offer training in the home health care arena is the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. There are several certification programs offered.

If you are presently in a management position, you could consider becoming certified as a Home Care and Hospice Executive. If you are looking to get your certification in a more hands on area, you could also apply for acceptance to the Home Care Aide National Certification program. Regardless of the certification you obtain, you will be required to recertify every four years.

The process of certification involves three elements that you must pass as a home care aide. The Training portion, the Skills Demonstration, and the Written Examination are those three areas. The curriculum in the training portion requires 75 hours. Once you receive this training, you will have the medical skills necessary to become fully certified.

The Skills Demonstration portion will require demonstration your competency in seventeen various skill areas. You will demonstrate your competency through observation and documentation. The Home Care University administers the Written Examination portion. Once you obtain your certification, your patients and clients will feel more confident that they are receiving a higher standard of home care aide.

Whether you desire to enter this field in a management position, or as a hands-on care provider, the home health care industry has an increased need for professionals in this field. Because of our aging population, the need is expected to continue to rise through the next ten years or so. Obtaining your certification in this area will give you a leg up on your competition.




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