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Atlanta is a strong city for starting a career in home health care because students have several training routes to choose from.
Some schools offer dedicated Home Health Aide or Personal Care Aide programs, while others provide Certified Nursing Assistant training that can prepare graduates for home health jobs while also opening opportunities in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.
Georgia does not have one universal state-issued Home Health Aide license that every home caregiver must obtain.
The training required depends on the employer and the type of home health services being provided.
For students who want the widest range of job opportunities, CNA training is often worth considering because it provides a recognized credential that can be used in home care and other healthcare environments.
Below are several Atlanta-area programs worth considering, with costs, program lengths, training details, and practical information separated so you can compare them more easily.
How Much Does Home Health Aide Training Cost in Atlanta?
Atlanta students can spend anywhere from roughly $400 to several thousand dollars depending on which training route they choose.
A basic PCA course can cost around $400.
Dedicated HHA programs commonly fall in approximately the $500 to $800 range.
Private CNA courses frequently cost between approximately $520 and $1,000 before certification testing and miscellaneous expenses.
College-based nurse aide programs can cost roughly $1,800 in tuition and mandatory fees, with the complete educational cost potentially reaching $3,000 to $3,800 once books, supplies, uniforms, testing, and other expenses are considered.
Students should therefore compare total program cost rather than advertised tuition.
Before registering, ask whether tuition includes:
- Registration fees
- Books
- Scrubs
- CPR or BLS certification
- TB testing
- Physical examinations
- Background checks
- Drug screening
- Clinical training
- Certification testing
A school advertising $500 tuition could ultimately cost more than a $700 program if most required expenses are charged separately.
HHA vs. PCA vs. CNA in Atlanta
One of the most important decisions for an Atlanta student is deciding which credential to pursue.
A PCA program is generally the quickest and least expensive option.
Training focuses heavily on helping clients with activities of daily living, including bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, mobility, and basic household activities.
An HHA program is more specifically oriented toward delivering care in a client’s home.
Depending on the employer, training can include personal care plus additional health-related skills.
CNA training is usually longer and more expensive, but it provides the greatest flexibility.
A CNA can pursue home health positions while also applying for jobs in nursing facilities, assisted living communities, rehabilitation facilities, and some hospital departments.
For students who are certain they want a basic caregiver job as quickly as possible, PCA or HHA training may be enough.
For students who view home health as the beginning of a larger healthcare career, CNA training is usually the stronger choice.
Home Health Aide Salary in Atlanta
Home health and personal care aides in the Atlanta metropolitan area earn a median wage of approximately $14.39 per hour.
At 40 hours per week, that works out to roughly $29,900 per year.
Entry-level caregiver positions can start around $12 to $14 per hour, while experienced caregivers and CNAs may find positions paying $15 to $18 per hour or more.
Private-duty assignments, overnight care, weekend shifts, dementia care, and positions requiring CNA certification can sometimes command higher rates.
There are approximately 29,400 home health and personal care aide jobs throughout the Atlanta metropolitan area, making home care a significant source of entry-level healthcare employment in the region.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Home Health Aide in Atlanta?
Atlanta offers unusually fast entry routes into home care.
A basic PCA program may require around 40 hours of training.
Dedicated HHA training can often be completed in approximately 3 to 5 weeks.
Accelerated CNA training can take as little as 2 weeks, although 4 to 6 weeks is more common.
College-based nurse aide programs usually take approximately one semester.
This means a student starting with no healthcare experience could potentially complete training and begin pursuing entry-level jobs within several weeks rather than spending a year or more in school.
The main question is not simply which program is fastest.
Students should consider what they want to do after their first home health job.
Someone looking for the quickest possible route into basic personal care may be perfectly served by a $400 PCA program.
Someone willing to spend around $500 to $1,000 on CNA training may gain access to a much broader range of healthcare jobs while still being qualified for many of the same home-care positions.
1 Murray Career Institute
Murray Career Institute offers Certified Nurse Aide training in downtown Atlanta.
Although this is a CNA program rather than a basic HHA course, graduates can use their training to pursue home health and private-duty caregiver positions.
The curriculum focuses on practical patient-care skills such as bathing, dressing, transferring patients, taking vital signs, infection control, assisting with meals, and communicating with patients and healthcare professionals.
Program Length
Students can choose between accelerated daytime and evening schedules.
The daytime CNA program can be completed in approximately 2 weeks.
The evening program takes approximately 5 weeks.
This makes Murray Career Institute particularly attractive to students who want to enter the workforce quickly.
Cost
Tuition is approximately $520.
Students should also budget for the Georgia CNA competency examination and any expenses that are not included in tuition, such as uniforms, background checks, health screenings, or testing.
Even after these additional expenses, Murray remains one of the lower-cost CNA training options in Atlanta.
Admission Requirements
Requirements can vary by class, but students should be prepared to provide identification and any required healthcare documentation before beginning clinical training.
Students should ask whether a background check, TB screening, CPR certification, or additional medical documentation is required.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
The combination of low tuition and an accelerated schedule is the biggest advantage.
Someone primarily interested in home health could take a shorter PCA course elsewhere, but earning a CNA credential gives graduates more employment flexibility.
A CNA can potentially move between home health agencies, nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and other healthcare employers without starting another entry-level training program.
Address: 233 Mitchell Street SW, Suite 550, Atlanta, GA 30303
2 Covenant CNA School
Covenant CNA School provides Certified Nursing Assistant training designed to prepare students for direct patient-care positions.
Students learn essential nursing assistant skills including personal hygiene assistance, mobility, transferring patients, measuring vital signs, infection prevention, communication, nutrition, patient safety, and basic bedside care.
These skills transfer well to home health work, particularly when caring for elderly clients or individuals who require substantial assistance with daily activities.
Program Length
The CNA program takes approximately 4 weeks to complete.
That makes it considerably shorter than semester-based college programs while still providing a pathway toward Georgia CNA certification.
Cost
Tuition is approximately $800.
Students should also plan for approximately $130 for the CNA competency examination.
That brings the basic training and testing cost to roughly $930.
Additional costs can include scrubs, health screenings, transportation, background checks, or other enrollment requirements.
Admission Requirements
Students can generally enroll beginning at age 17.
A high school diploma or GED is not required for admission to the CNA program, which makes Covenant accessible to students who may not qualify for some college-based healthcare programs.
Additional documentation may be necessary before participating in clinical training.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Covenant offers a useful middle ground between an extremely short caregiver course and a longer college program.
Four weeks of training is still relatively quick, but graduates are preparing for a recognized CNA credential rather than receiving only basic caregiver training.
For someone who wants to begin in home health but keep the option of working in a nursing facility later, this can be a practical choice.
Address: 1 Baltimore Place NW, Suite 401, Atlanta, GA 30308
3 Atlanta Technical College
Atlanta Technical College offers a Nurse Aide Technical Certificate of Credit.
The program is more comprehensive than many accelerated private CNA courses and includes 13 credit hours of college-level coursework.
Students complete courses covering areas such as:
- Introduction to Health Care
- Diet and Nutrition
- Medical Terminology
- Nurse Aide Fundamentals
The program prepares students for entry-level patient-care employment and can be useful for people interested in home health, nursing facilities, assisted living, and other healthcare environments.
Program Length
The Nurse Aide certificate can generally be completed in approximately one semester.
This is longer than Atlanta’s 2-week to 5-week private CNA programs but gives students a broader educational foundation.
Cost
Georgia resident tuition is approximately $107 per credit hour.
For 13 credit hours, base tuition comes to approximately $1,391.
Mandatory semester fees can add around $407.
That creates an estimated tuition-and-fee total of approximately $1,798 before books, uniforms, supplies, health requirements, testing, and other expenses.
Once additional educational expenses are included, the complete cost can approach $3,000 to $3,800.
Financial aid or workforce assistance may significantly change what an eligible student actually pays.
Admission Requirements
Because Atlanta Technical College is a public college, students go through a more formal admissions process than they would at many private CNA schools.
Applicants should expect to submit an application and satisfy the college’s admission requirements.
Healthcare programs can also require immunization records, background screening, TB testing, CPR certification, or other documentation before students participate in clinical training.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Atlanta Technical College makes the most sense for students who want more than the quickest possible training course.
The 13-credit certificate can be particularly useful for someone who plans to continue studying healthcare later.
A student might begin as a CNA working in home health and eventually pursue practical nursing, registered nursing, or another allied-health career.
Address: 1560 Metropolitan Parkway SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
4 The 90 Group Training Center
The 90 Group Training Center has offered Personal Care Aide training specifically geared toward people who want to provide everyday assistance to clients.
PCA training is especially relevant to Atlanta residents who want to work for private home-care agencies rather than hospitals or nursing facilities.
Training covers responsibilities such as personal hygiene, grooming, dressing, mobility assistance, transfers, nutrition, infection control, home safety, and basic observation of clients.
Program Length
The PCA program consists of approximately 40 hours of training.
That is considerably shorter than most CNA programs.
A 40-hour format can allow students to complete training relatively quickly and begin seeking entry-level caregiver positions.
Cost
Tuition has been approximately $400.
Because pricing and class schedules at smaller private training providers can change, students should obtain the complete current tuition amount before enrolling.
Ask whether the price includes registration, training materials, CPR instruction, background screening, or certificates.
Admission Requirements
Applicants have generally been expected to be at least 18 years old.
A high school diploma or GED may also be required.
Students should expect to provide TB screening documentation and may need additional employment-related health or background documentation depending on the agency that eventually hires them.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
This is a particularly interesting option for someone who knows that home care is the goal.
Instead of paying for a broader CNA course, a student can complete approximately 40 hours of PCA training for around $400.
The tradeoff is that PCA training does not provide the same employment flexibility as CNA certification.
If you think you might eventually want to work in a nursing home, hospital, or rehabilitation facility, spending more for CNA training may be the better long-term investment.
Address: 1755 The Exchange, Suite 330 V, Atlanta, GA 30339
5 Woodruff Medical Training and Testing
Woodruff Medical Training and Testing offers nurse aide training convenient for students living in Decatur and eastern Atlanta.
The curriculum prepares students for hands-on patient care and includes the types of skills frequently needed when caring for clients in their homes.
Training includes personal care, infection prevention, mobility, patient safety, vital signs, communication, and assistance with activities of daily living.
Program Length
The program takes approximately 5 weeks.
Students receive approximately 96 hours of training.
That is more instructional time than the basic minimum associated with many entry-level caregiver programs.
Cost
Tuition has been approximately $695.
Students should budget separately for certification testing and determine whether uniforms, textbooks, CPR training, clinical expenses, background checks, and health screenings are included.
A realistic total budget may therefore be somewhat higher than the advertised tuition.
Admission Requirements
Students entering nurse aide training should be prepared for both classroom and clinical requirements.
Health documentation, TB screening, background checks, and other clinical eligibility requirements may apply.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
At approximately $695, Woodruff offers a relatively inexpensive way to pursue CNA training without traveling into central Atlanta.
The approximately 96-hour curriculum is also substantially more extensive than a basic 40-hour PCA course.
For someone living in Decatur, Tucker, Avondale Estates, or eastern Atlanta, the location could make the program considerably more convenient.
Address: 2637 North Decatur Road, Decatur, GA 30033
6 Education & Career Resources of Georgia
Education & Career Resources of Georgia provides several entry-level healthcare training programs.
Available areas of study have included Home Health Aide, Certified Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Medical Assistant, EKG Technician, and Phlebotomy Technician.
For a student specifically interested in home care, the HHA program provides a more focused alternative to completing an entire CNA or PCT program.
Program Length
Home Health Aide training has been offered in an approximately 4-week format.
The relatively short schedule makes it possible for students to begin preparing for employment without spending an entire semester in school.
Cost
Home Health Aide training has been priced at approximately $560.
Prospective students should verify the current tuition before enrolling and request a complete breakdown of additional charges.
Ask specifically about registration fees, textbooks, uniforms, CPR certification, background screening, TB testing, and other required expenses.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements depend on the healthcare program selected.
Students entering direct-care programs should expect to provide identification and may need background and health documentation.
Additional employer requirements can apply after graduation.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
One advantage is the number of related healthcare programs available.
Someone could begin with Home Health Aide training and later return for CNA, PCT, phlebotomy, or EKG training.
This makes the school especially interesting for students who see HHA work as their first healthcare job rather than their final career destination.
Its Lilburn location is also convenient for students in northeastern Atlanta and western Gwinnett County.
Address: 4055 Lawrenceville Highway NW, Suite 200, Lilburn, GA 30047
7 Alpha Health Institute
Alpha Health Institute provides healthcare training in several areas, including Home Health Aide, Personal Care Aide, Certified Nursing Assistant, caregiver training, phlebotomy, and EKG.
Students therefore have the option of choosing training specifically for home care or pursuing the broader CNA route.
This is particularly useful for someone who has not yet decided whether they want to work exclusively in clients’ homes.
Program Length
Program length depends on whether the student selects HHA, PCA, or CNA training.
Short caregiver and home-care programs can be completed significantly faster than traditional college certificates.
Students should request the current course calendar before enrolling because class schedules can vary between sessions.
Cost
A clear standalone 2026 tuition price for the HHA program is not consistently published, so students should request a complete written cost before registering.
For students considering the CNA route, the certification examination itself can add approximately $130, with around $35 for the written portion and $95 for the skills examination.
Payment plans or workforce funding may be available to qualifying students.
Admission Requirements
Requirements depend on the specific program.
Home-care and CNA students should expect requirements involving identification, health documentation, and potentially background screening before completing hands-on or clinical portions of training.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Location is a major advantage.
Students living in Marietta, Smyrna, Cumberland, or other parts of Cobb County can train without commuting into downtown Atlanta.
The range of programs is another benefit. Students can begin with basic caregiver or HHA training and later pursue CNA or additional allied-health credentials through the same training provider.
Address: 2480 Windy Hill Road, Suite 406, Marietta, GA 30067
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