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Home Health Aide Training Frequently Asked Questions and Answers |
Many of our students are Home Health Aide or those who interested in the Home Health Aide Program asked similar questions that already been answered by the New York State Department of Health and Department of Education. They have published these FAQ and answers on their Website – Below are some of the common questions and answers that might be of interested to our students, further details can be found on the DOH\DOE Website.
1. Who approves home health aide training programs?
The New York State Department of Health and/or the New York State Education Department approve Home Health Aide Training Programs. HHCA Training Program is approved by the New York State Education Department, Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision.
2. Does the New York State Department of Health maintain a registry of persons who have successfully completed a home health aide training program?
Yes, on September 25, 2009, the Department initiated a registry of all persons who have successfully completed a home health aide and/or personal care training program.
3. Who issues certificates to the individuals who complete the requirements of the home health aide training program?
The home health aide training program issues the home health aide certificates upon successful completion of the program. The Home Care Registry generates certificates for aides trained after September 25, 2009. Each certificate has a Home Care Registry number and a certificate number printed on it and is signed by the appropriate staff of the training program.
4. How long is the home health aide training program required to keep on file a copy of a certificate after an individual has completed the home health aide training program?
Home health aide training programs are required to maintain records for six years of those aides who received certificates upon successful completion of their program.
5. Can the New York State Department of Health verify a home health aide certificate as valid?
The New York State Department of Health can only verify that a home health aide training program existed at the time that the certificate was issued. For aides trained after September 25, 2009, the aide’s certificate is generated by the Registry and based on information entered into the system by the training program.
6. How does a hiring agency verify that a home health aide certificate is valid when the home health aide training program is no longer operational?
The hiring agency must contact the previous employer, obtain a work reference and verify that the applicant worked in compliance with regulation as a home health aide (the previous employer may also have a copy of the original certificate on file that they verified at the start of employment). If records are not available and/or the previous employer is not accessible to provide documentation, the agency must advise the individual to repeat the training. For aides trained after September 25, 2009, the aide’s certificate is generated by the Registry and based on information entered into the system by the training program.
7. How long after issuance does a home health aide certificate remain valid?
Home health aides in New York State remain certified as long as they work for a home health agency, which is certified or licensed by the New York State Department of Health. The home health agency where the home health aide is employed must provide nursing supervision and 12 hours of in-service training per year. If the aide leaves the employment of an agency to work privately in New York State or to work out-of-state, the home health aide certification lapses two years from the date that the person last worked at a home health agency in New York State.
8. How long does it take to complete home health aide training?
Home health aide training programs are allowed 60 days from the day an individual enters the program to complete the 75 hours. The 75 hours includes 59 hours classroom and 16 hours of supervised practical training as follows:
Home Care Curriculum – 40 hours (all classroom)
Health Related Task Curriculum– 35 hours (19 hours classroom plus 16 hours of supervised practical training). At a minimum, fifty percent (50%) of each trainee’s supervised practical training must be provided in a patient care setting.
9. Is there any flexibility in the requirement to complete training and evaluation within 60 days?
Extenuating circumstances which prevent a trainee from completing the required coursework within the 60-day time frame should be brought to the attention of the regional home care program manager on a case by case basis.
10. Can home health aide training school charge tuition?
A home health aide training program approved by the New York State Education Department is allowed to charge tuition.
11. How can a certified nurse aide become certified as a home health aide?
Home health aide training programs must have the capability to augment a nurse aide’s training with classroom and supervised practical training in those skills not included in the nurse aide training program. Such skills include but are not limited to: assistance with medications; handling the patient’s money; maintaining a clean, safe home environment; safety, accident prevention and responses to emergencies in the home; taking of blood pressure; and observing, recording and reporting in the home care setting. A nurse aide who is registered in the New York State Nurse Aide Registry is not required to repeat training in the content and skills learned in the nurse aide training program. However, the home health aide training program must assure that the nurse aide is competent in such skills prior to providing additional training and issuing a home health aide certificate.
12. Will DOH have a list of acceptable published text books which comprises the “bank” of published test questions?
The Department will not publish a list of acceptable published text books.
13. Does “questions should be rotated” mean that students in the same class should be taking a different test or that we should be utilizing a different test with each class we have and rotate that way?
Each new class should be given a new test. If a trainee has to retake the exam after an unsuccessful attempt this new test must be a different version than the previous test taken. The program should develop policies and procedures as to how it will ensure that the test taking sessions are secure.
14. What is the minimum number of test questions to be given per Module / per Unit?
There should be a sufficient number of questions to ensure that the individual knows the material. The test bank chosen will dictate the number of questions needed to cover the material in each unit.
15. Does student has to demonstrate cooking and cleaning?
Trainees are required to demonstrate proper hand-washing and the ability to prepare meals.
16. Is it required that the textbook is available in the language that is being taught?
Textbooks and associated written tests must be available in the language that is being taught. The Department maintains the authority to review and approve a textbook to be used for this purpose to ensure that the curriculum meets the minimum standards.