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Austin has several practical routes into home health care, but students should understand one important difference before choosing a program: Texas treats Home Health Aides and Certified Nurse Aides as separate occupations.
A Texas HHA training and competency program requires at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of clinical experience.
Texas does not maintain a separate HHA registry or require a state HHA certification exam.
A current CNA with no disqualifying findings on the Nurse Aide Registry can also meet the qualification requirements to work as a home health aide for many licensed agencies.
Because dedicated HHA schools are relatively uncommon in Austin, CNA training is one of the most useful routes for someone who wants to work in home health.
It requires more training, but the credential also allows graduates to pursue roles in nursing homes, assisted living, rehabilitation, hospice, and other patient-care settings.
How Much Does Home Health Aide Training Cost in Austin?
The cost depends heavily on the training route.
Someone who finds employer-provided HHA training or qualifies for a Goodwill or workforce grant could potentially spend $0 on tuition.
For paid CNA programs in the Austin area, a realistic tuition range is approximately $554 to $1,450.
Based on the programs below:
- Austin Community College can be about $554 under its current reduced Fast Track pricing.
- Central Texas Nurse Network costs approximately $1,350.
- Texas Regional Healthcare Training Center costs approximately $1,200 before discounts.
- Williams Career School of Excellence costs approximately $1,450.
- Goodwill may reduce tuition to $0 for eligible students.
CNA students should also account for the Texas certification examination.
Beginning September 1, 2026, the combined written and clinical skills exam costs $125.
A clinical-skills retest costs $92, while a written-only retest costs $33.
Additional expenses can include:
- Background checks
- TB testing
- Immunizations
- CPR certification
- Scrubs
- Books
- Supplies
- Transportation to clinical sites
A realistic all-in budget for a self-paying Austin CNA student is therefore roughly $800 to $1,800 depending on the school and what tuition includes.
HHA vs. CNA in Austin
Students sometimes assume they must find a school advertising a program specifically called “Home Health Aide.”
That is not necessarily the case in Texas.
A formal Texas HHA training and competency program requires at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of clinical experience.
Texas does not issue a separate HHA certificate through a state examination or maintain a Home Health Aide registry.
A person can qualify to work as a home health aide in several ways.
One of those routes is holding current CNA status without findings involving abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of client property.
Other qualifying routes can include relevant direct-care experience or completion of an approved HHA training and competency program.
For a new student with no healthcare experience, CNA training is often the more versatile investment.
It may take 100 to 126 hours instead of the minimum 75 hours associated with HHA training, but it provides a recognizable credential that can also be used when applying for nursing-home, rehabilitation, assisted-living, and other healthcare positions.
Home Health Aide Salary in Austin
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan area have a median wage of approximately $13.64 per hour, or about $28,370 per year.
Workers around the 25th percentile earn approximately $11.89 per hour, while the 75th percentile is approximately $14.75 per hour.
Higher-paid workers around the 90th percentile earn approximately $17.75 per hour.
Obtaining CNA certification can improve the range of jobs available.
Nursing Assistants in the Austin metropolitan area have a median wage of approximately $18.53 per hour, or $38,550 per year.
The middle 50% earn approximately $18.12 to $21.85 per hour, while workers around the 90th percentile earn approximately $23.13 per hour.
That difference is worth considering when comparing a basic HHA route with CNA school.
Even if your immediate goal is working in a client’s home, investing a few additional weeks in CNA training can potentially give you access to positions paying several dollars more per hour.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Home Health Aide in Austin?
A student can potentially prepare for home health work surprisingly quickly.
Texas HHA training can be completed once the student satisfies the required 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of clinical experience.
CNA training typically takes approximately 3 to 8 weeks in Austin.
Some examples show how much schedules differ:
- Central Texas Nurse Network: approximately 3 weeks on weekdays
- Texas Regional Healthcare Training Center: approximately 3 weeks
- Williams Career School of Excellence: approximately 4 to 5 weeks
- Austin Community College: approximately 8 weeks
- Goodwill Career & Technical Academy: accelerated schedules vary by cohort
The fastest program is not automatically the best choice.
A student whose only goal is getting into basic home care quickly may benefit from an HHA pathway or employer-sponsored training.
Someone who wants home health employment now but also wants better-paying healthcare options later should strongly consider becoming a CNA.
In Austin, the difference can mean spending a few additional weeks in training but gaining a credential that can be used across a much larger portion of the healthcare industry.
1 Austin Community College
Austin Community College offers a Certified Nurse Aide program through Continuing Education.
The program covers communication, residents’ rights, observation and reporting, safety, personal care, and other fundamental nursing-assistant skills.
Students complete both classroom education and supervised direct patient care.
Although it is not labeled specifically as an HHA program, ACC states that CNAs can work in home-care settings as well as hospitals, hospice organizations, and long-term care facilities.
Program Length
The complete program includes 126 hours of training.
Students complete:
- 78 classroom hours
- 48 clinical hours
The program takes approximately 8 weeks to complete.
This makes ACC more extensive than many of Austin’s 100-hour accelerated CNA programs.
Cost
ACC lists the standard CNA tuition at $1,108.
However, its current Fast Track career information lists the program at $554, representing a 50% reduced tuition amount.
Students should still budget for additional expenses.
Recent program information estimates approximately:
- $50 for third-party account setup
- $62 for the background check
- $125 for the Texas CNA examination
Additional costs for immunizations, books, scrubs, and supplies
Using the $554 reduced tuition figure, the identifiable training, background-check, account, and examination expenses total approximately $791 before books, uniforms, and healthcare requirements.
Admission Requirements
Students go through an application and selection process before beginning the program.
Those selected should be prepared for a criminal background check, TB screening, required immunizations, and other clinical eligibility requirements.
Students also need appropriate clothing and supplies for clinical training.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
ACC stands out because students receive 126 hours of instruction for a relatively low current Fast Track price.
The 48 hours of clinical training are especially valuable for someone who has never provided hands-on care before.
ACC is also a sensible choice for students who may eventually continue into nursing or another healthcare program rather than remaining in home health permanently.
Address: 11928 Stonehollow Drive, Austin, TX 78758
2 Central Texas Nurse Network
Central Texas Nurse Network offers a Nurse Aide training program designed for entry-level healthcare employment.
Students study infection control, personal care, safety, nutrition, communication, psychological needs associated with aging, observation, reporting, and basic nursing skills.
The program includes actual clinical experience in a long-term care facility.
Graduates can pursue CNA certification and eventually work in settings that include nursing facilities, hospitals, clinics, and home health agencies.
Program Length
The program contains 100 total contact hours.
Training is divided into:
- 60 hours of classroom, laboratory, and skills instruction
- 40 hours of resident-care clinical experience
Students attending Monday through Friday can finish in approximately 3 weeks.
A weekend option takes approximately 5 weeks.
Morning and evening schedules are available, with weekday classes generally running from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM or 4:00 PM to 10:30 PM.
Cost
The approved program cost is approximately $1,350.
Students should also plan for the Texas CNA certification examination.
As of September 1, 2026, the combined written and clinical skills examination costs $125.
That produces a basic training-and-testing budget of approximately $1,475 before any additional expenses.
Payment plans are available, and the school provides information about outside organizations that may help students pay for training.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should be able to read and write English or Spanish.
The school lists a GED or high school diploma among its minimum requirements, and students must complete a criminal background check before starting CNA training.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Speed is the major advantage.
Completing 100 hours of CNA preparation in approximately 3 weeks is useful for someone trying to move into paid healthcare work quickly.
The weekend option also gives working students a realistic alternative if weekday training is impossible.
Central Texas Nurse Network is particularly interesting for Spanish-speaking students because Spanish-language assistance and training materials are available.
Address: 313 East Rundberg Lane, Suite 208, Austin, TX 78753
3 Texas Regional Healthcare Training Center
Texas Regional Healthcare Training Center offers an accelerated hybrid Nurse Aide program serving the Austin area.
The program combines online learning with in-person clinical training.
Students learn patient safety, emergency procedures, infection control, basic nursing care, and other skills needed by entry-level nurse aides.
The CNA credential can subsequently be used to pursue employment with home healthcare agencies in addition to nursing facilities and assisted living employers.
Program Length
This is one of the fastest programs in the Austin area.
Students complete 100 hours consisting of:
- 60 hours of online instruction
- 40 hours of in-person clinical training
The accelerated program can be finished in approximately 3 weeks.
Cost
The full tuition price is $1,200 before discounts.
The school offers installment options, although students paying electronically may face a processing charge of approximately 3.6%.
At the full $1,200 tuition price plus the current $125 CNA examination fee, a student should expect at least $1,325 before considering other expenses.
Admission Requirements
Applicants generally need:
- A valid driver’s license or passport
- High school diploma or GED if age 18 or older
- Social Security card
- Valid Social Security number or ITIN
- Negative TB test completed within 6 months
- Signed enrollment agreement
Students ages 16 or 17 may be able to enroll with parental consent rather than meeting the adult education requirement.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
The hybrid structure is the biggest attraction.
Completing 60 of the 100 hours online can reduce the amount of time students spend commuting to class while still providing 40 hours of face-to-face clinical experience.
It is especially appealing to students balancing training with a job or family responsibilities.
Address: 3301 S Bagdad Rd, Leander, TX 78641
4 Goodwill Career & Technical Academy
Goodwill Career & Technical Academy offers Nursing Assistant training designed to prepare students for CNA certification.
Training includes personal care, basic nursing skills, simulated patient care, clinical practice, and an introduction to long-term care.
The skills are applicable in hospitals, long-term care facilities, assisted living communities, rehabilitation facilities, and home health care.
The academy also provides employment assistance after students complete their training and certification requirements.
Program Length
Goodwill runs accelerated training rather than a traditional semester-length college program.
Nursing Assistant schedules can vary between cohorts, and students should check the current calendar because CNA classes are not offered continuously throughout the year.
Previous accelerated schedules have generally placed the course in roughly the 6-to-9-week range.
Cost
This is potentially the least expensive option on the list.
Goodwill provides training at little to no cost for eligible students, and full tuition grants may reduce the student’s tuition expense to $0.
Eligibility is not automatic.
Current enrollment screening considers factors such as household income, education, and county of residence.
Applicants currently need to reside in Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, or Hays County to qualify for enrollment.
Students should still ask whether the $125 Texas CNA examination and expenses such as immunizations, uniforms, or supplies are covered by their particular funding package.
Admission Requirements
Applicants generally need:
- Photo identification
- Authorization to work in the United States
- Criminal background check
- Passing entrance assessment scores
- Required healthcare immunizations and TB screening
- A high school diploma or GED is preferred but is not necessarily required.
For training that involves direct patient contact, students must satisfy applicable immunization requirements before participating in clinical activities.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Cost is the obvious advantage.
For someone who qualifies for full funding, Goodwill can potentially turn a training program that would normally cost $500 to $1,500 into a $0 tuition opportunity.
The downside is availability.
Students may need to wait for the next Nursing Assistant cohort rather than being able to start immediately.
Address: 1015 Norwood Park Boulevard, Austin, TX 78753
5 Williams Career School of Excellence
Williams Career School of Excellence is located south of Austin in San Marcos, making it an option for students living in South Austin, Kyle, Buda, or Hays County.
Its Nurse Aide program uses a hybrid format and provides 106 hours of training.
The program prepares students for CNA certification and entry-level patient-care employment.
Program Length
The accelerated program can generally be completed in approximately 4 to 5 weeks.
Day classes can run for approximately 4 weeks, while evening schedules may extend to approximately 5 weeks.
The complete approved curriculum consists of 106 hours.
Cost
Tuition is $1,450.
Students should also budget approximately $125 for the Texas written and clinical CNA examination if testing is not included.
That creates a basic budget of approximately $1,575 for tuition and certification testing.
The school also works with a workforce-development partner that may provide free CNA tuition to eligible students, potentially reducing the $1,450 tuition expense to $0.
Admission Requirements
Students should expect the normal requirements associated with approved Texas CNA training, including identification and eligibility for clinical participation.
Because financial assistance can substantially change the final price, prospective students should determine their sponsorship eligibility before making a tuition payment.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Williams is particularly appealing for students living south of Austin.
Someone in Kyle or Buda could have a significantly shorter commute to San Marcos than to a school in North Austin.
The possibility of sponsored tuition also makes the program worth investigating before automatically choosing a less expensive school.
Address: 300 CM Allen Parkway, San Marcos, TX 78666
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | Austin Community College |
|
#2 | Central Texas Nurse Network |
|
#3 | Texas Regional Healthcare Training Center |
|
#4 | Goodwill Career & Technical Academy |
|
#5 | Williams Career School of Excellence |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Home Health Aide
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HHA Schools by State