Being a caregiver can be a rewarding job, provided you have the right tools and training. Finding the right home care job is important because you can only do it for so long before you reach a point of physical or mental exhaustion.
If you’re serious about it, you should consider becoming a home health aide. This is a great career option for anyone who wants to provide care for others, and it’s also a rewarding one.
Here are some of the most important reasons you should get a home health aide certificate.
Get The Caregiving License You Need
To become a home health aide, you’ll need to get a license from the state Department of Health Services. Once you have that, you’ll need to take a qualifying exam. To become a certified aide, you’ll need to pass the state exam, which takes two to three hours to take.
Successful completion of this exam will allow you to work in any setting that has a home health aide program. Many programs across the country will determine if you’re certified to work with the public. Certifications can be refreshed every year, so check with your particular state agency to make sure you’re current on your certification.
Train As A Home Health Aide
Home health aide training is a combination of classroom and online instruction. Home health aide programs usually last two to three months, and they cover a variety of topics, including history and current events, health topics, and nutrition.
Depending on your level of certification, you may be able to work in a group setting, as well as independently. Most programs also include field training, which is a hands-on training that allows you to apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world situations.
Make A Difference Through Service
You’ll use your newly-earned certification to work as a home health aide. You’ll likely start as an intern, and then move into a full-time position within a few months. Working as a home health aide allows you to help people in a variety of ways.
You might help with medical care, assist with transport, or help with some other task that allows you to make a difference in someone’s life.
Tips For Getting The Caregiving License You Need
To work as a home health aide, you’ll need to get a license. A home health aide license is different from a nursing home aide license, and it comes with specific requirements. To qualify for a home health aide license, you’ll need to complete approved training, pass a state-approved Hha certificate, and meet specific requirements.
To get a home health aide license, you’ll need to write and pass an essay-based exam. On the certification exam, you’ll be required to pass a Verbal Arithmetic test, as well as an Essay test.
Numerical reasoning and concepts related to math are essential to becoming a certified home health aide, and you’ll need to excel in these components. You’ll also need to pass a visual-spatial test, which requires you to identify and use the proper equipment and supplies in your workplace.