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Bakersfield is an unusually good city for Home Health Aide training because students have several California-approved HHA programs within the city itself.
That gives local CNAs multiple ways to add the Home Health Aide certification without traveling to Los Angeles or another major California market.
California’s system is more structured than the HHA pathway in many states.
There are two main routes.
Someone who is already a California Certified Nursing Assistant can complete an approved 40-hour HHA program.
Someone entering through a full Home Health Aide training program without first becoming a CNA generally needs a 120-hour approved program.
For most Bakersfield students, becoming a CNA first and then completing the 40-hour HHA course is the more practical path because CNA certification also provides access to nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare employers.
Here are the Bakersfield programs I would consider first.
How Much Does Home Health Aide Training Cost in Bakersfield?
Bakersfield has a surprisingly wide range of HHA prices.
For students who already have CNA certification, current dedicated HHA program prices include approximately:
- Bakersfield Adult School: $185
- Bakersfield College: $69 base tuition, although additional program expenses can substantially increase the total
- Kern Healthcare College: $600
- Cellan Education Resources: $675
- Christian Central Valley College: current HHA price should be confirmed
- Kern Valley Medical College: current HHA price should be confirmed
For an existing CNA, I would budget roughly $200 to $800 for the HHA course itself.
Students starting from zero need to think differently.
If you must become a CNA before entering a 40-hour HHA program, your combined education can easily cost $1,000 to $3,500 depending on the schools you select.
That is why Bakersfield Adult School and Bakersfield College can be particularly valuable.
Publicly supported training can dramatically reduce the amount students need to borrow or pay out of pocket.
CNA vs. HHA in Bakersfield
California makes the relationship between CNA and HHA certification particularly important.
If you already have an active CNA certificate, the additional HHA program requires only 40 hours.
That makes adding HHA certification relatively easy.
Someone without CNA certification can instead pursue an approved 120-hour HHA pathway, but Bakersfield’s strongest local training selection revolves around becoming a CNA and adding the 40-hour HHA credential afterward.
For many students, CNA plus HHA is the better combination anyway.
An HHA primarily prepares you for home health and related community care.
A CNA can pursue jobs in:
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Hospitals
- Assisted living communities
- Hospice organizations
- Long-term care
- Home health
Adding HHA certification then strengthens your preparation specifically for in-home care.
Home Health Aide Certification Requirements in California
California HHA certification is administered through the California Department of Public Health.
There are two primary training routes.
The first is the 40-hour HHA program for someone who already holds active California CNA certification.
The second is a full 120-hour approved HHA training program.
Applicants generally must be at least 16 years old and complete required criminal background clearance.
Training covers areas such as:
- The HHA and agency role
- Medical and social needs of clients
- Personal care
- Nutrition
- Home cleaning and care responsibilities
- Infection control
- Patient rights
- Communication
- Safety
- Emergency procedures
- Helping clients maintain independence
California HHA certificates must also be renewed.
A certified HHA generally needs 24 hours of qualifying continuing education or in-service training during each two-year certification period, with at least 12 hours completed during each year.
This is an ongoing requirement students should consider when calculating the long-term cost of maintaining the credential.
Home Health Aide Salary in Bakersfield
Home Health and Personal Care Aides in the Bakersfield-Delano metropolitan area currently have a median wage of approximately $16.50 per hour.
That equals roughly $34,320 per year for someone consistently working 40 hours per week.
Higher-paid workers around the 90th percentile earn approximately $17.45 per hour, or about $36,300 annually.
Those numbers may initially make CNA certification look more attractive.
Nursing Assistants in the Bakersfield-Delano area have a median wage of approximately $22.18 per hour, or about $46,130 annually.
Workers around the 75th percentile earn approximately $23.32 per hour, while those around the 90th percentile earn about $27.10 per hour.
That is a substantial difference.
For a student deciding between spending $600 on HHA training and investing more time in CNA certification, I would seriously consider completing the CNA first.
You can then add the 40-hour HHA certification relatively cheaply and become eligible for a much broader selection of healthcare jobs.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Home Health Aide in Bakersfield?
For an existing CNA, becoming an HHA can be extremely fast.
California’s add-on program requires 40 hours, so several Bakersfield schools can complete the training in approximately one week.
Examples include:
- Cellan Education Resources: 5 days
- Kern Healthcare College: approximately 1 week
- Bakersfield Adult School: 40 hours
- Bakersfield College: 40 hours
- Christian Central Valley College: 40-hour HHA pathway
- Kern Valley Medical College: 40-hour HHA pathway
Someone starting without healthcare training should allow considerably more time.
California-approved CNA education normally involves at least 160 hours of training.
Accelerated Bakersfield CNA programs can complete those hours in approximately 3 to 6 weeks.
After passing the CNA certification process, another 40 hours of HHA training can be added.
A motivated student can therefore realistically go from no healthcare credential to CNA plus HHA preparation within roughly 1 to 2 months using one of Bakersfield’s accelerated programs.
For someone focused specifically on home care, Bakersfield Adult School is particularly difficult to ignore because its approximately $185 HHA program keeps the additional certification inexpensive.
Bakersfield College offers an equally compelling public-college alternative, while Cellan and Kern Healthcare College make sense for students who place more value on frequent start dates, fast schedules, and private-school flexibility.
1 Bakersfield Adult School Health Careers Center
Bakersfield Adult School offers a dedicated Home Health Aide program through its Health Careers Center.
The program is approved for California’s 40-hour HHA pathway and is designed for students who already have active CNA certification.
Training focuses on providing non-medical healthcare services in a patient’s home under appropriate supervision.
Students learn how to assist with personal care, exercise, ambulation, nutrition, home safety, and other daily needs.
Program Length
The HHA program consists of approximately 40 hours.
That means an existing CNA can potentially add HHA certification with roughly one additional week of full-time training or an equivalent part-time schedule.
Cost
The program cost is approximately $185.
That makes Bakersfield Adult School one of the least expensive dedicated HHA programs I found in Bakersfield.
The published breakdown places approximately $135 toward books and another $50 toward other required expenses.
Students should still ask whether any health screening, CPR, background check, uniform, or certification-related expenses fall outside the advertised program price.
Admission Requirements
The most important requirement is an active California CNA certificate.
Students should also be prepared for:
- High school diploma or GED
- Minimum age of 18 for the currently listed workforce program
- Immunization records
- TB testing
- Physical examination
- Clear drug screen
- DOJ/FBI background clearance
- California identification
- Social Security card or other required employment documentation
Some requirements may vary depending on the specific funding or enrollment route.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
The $185 price immediately stands out.
For a CNA who simply wants to add HHA certification, paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for another long healthcare program would make little sense when this approved 40-hour option is available.
Bakersfield Adult School also works with workforce programs that may help eligible students pay for healthcare training.
For a budget-conscious student who already has CNA certification, this would be one of my first programs to investigate.
Address: 2727 F Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
2 Cellan Education Resources
Cellan Education Resources offers both CNA and Home Health Aide training.
Its HHA course is designed for CNAs who want to expand into in-home and community-based patient care.
The school emphasizes hands-on training and keeps HHA education separate from its much longer CNA program.
Program Length
The HHA course lasts 5 days.
This corresponds with California’s 40-hour HHA pathway for existing CNAs.
Cellan also runs multiple HHA cohorts throughout the year rather than offering the course only once or twice annually.
For 2026, HHA start dates are available in multiple months, including September, October, November, and December.
Cost
HHA tuition is $675.
That is substantially more than Bakersfield Adult School and more than Bakersfield College’s base tuition, but it is still a relatively modest investment for a healthcare credential that can be completed in five days.
For students who first need CNA certification, Cellan’s CNA program costs:
- $2,440 without BLS
- $2,500 with BLS
The morning CNA program takes approximately 23 days and includes 169 training hours.
Admission Requirements
Because Cellan’s HHA program follows the 40-hour California pathway, students should expect to need an active CNA certificate.
Students may also need Live Scan fingerprinting, physical examination documentation, and TB clearance before patient contact.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Scheduling is Cellan’s biggest advantage.
A $185 program is cheaper, but price does not help much if the next class does not fit your schedule.
Cellan advertises numerous HHA start dates throughout the year and completes the program in only five days.
That makes it a particularly practical choice for working CNAs who want to add HHA certification without spending weeks back in school.
Address: 3210 Stine Road, Bakersfield, CA 93309
3 Kern Healthcare College
Kern Healthcare College offers a dedicated Home Health Aide certification program along with CNA, CPR, IV certification, and continuing education courses.
The HHA program focuses on helping students provide care to clients in residential settings.
Training includes assistance with activities of daily living, mobility, personal care, and other responsibilities associated with home healthcare.
The program is approved by the California Department of Public Health.
Program Length
The HHA program consists of 40 hours.
Kern Healthcare College advertises completion in approximately 1 week.
That makes it another realistic option for an existing CNA who wants to obtain the additional certification without interrupting work for an extended period.
Cost
The HHA program costs approximately $600.
Books and training materials are included.
Scrubs are not included.
The school also offers payment plans.
A minimum payment of approximately $300 may be required for the HHA program before beginning, with the remaining balance paid according to the school’s payment arrangement.
The school does not currently offer traditional federal financial aid.
Admission Requirements
Students need valid government-issued identification and a Social Security number.
Fingerprinting and background verification are required before clinical training.
The school also lists a minimum academic average of C.
Because this is a California 40-hour HHA program, applicants should confirm their active CNA status before enrolling.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Kern Healthcare College combines a reasonable $600 tuition price with a one-week schedule.
Books and materials being included also make the advertised price easier to evaluate.
Another benefit is job-placement assistance after graduation, which may be useful for students completing their first healthcare credential and looking for local employers.
Address: 1601 H Street, Suite 102, Bakersfield, CA 93301
4 Christian Central Valley College
Christian Central Valley College offers both Nurse Assistant and Home Health Aide training.
Its HHA program is included among California’s approved 40-hour Home Health Aide training providers in Kern County.
Students who have already completed CNA preparation can therefore return for the additional education required to expand into certified home health work.
Program Length
The HHA pathway requires approximately 40 hours.
For students who still need CNA certification first, Christian Central Valley College also offers an accelerated nursing assistant program.
The CNA program can be completed in:
- Approximately 20 days full-time
- Approximately 40 days part-time
Weekend training is also available.
Cost
Christian Central Valley College does not currently publish a clear 2026 standalone HHA tuition amount.
Students should request the complete HHA price before enrolling rather than assuming it is included with CNA tuition.
For comparison, the school’s CNA program costs approximately $2,595.
That price includes several items that other schools sometimes charge separately, including:
- Textbook rental
- Workbook
- Skills book
- Gait belt
- One uniform
- Name badge
- Stethoscope
- Manual blood pressure cuff
- CPR certification
Admission Requirements
Students following the 40-hour HHA pathway need active California CNA certification.
For students entering through the school’s CNA program, the minimum age is 16.
A high school diploma or GED is not currently required for CNA enrollment.
Students need government-issued identification and a valid Social Security number and card.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Christian Central Valley College is useful for someone who wants to complete CNA and HHA education through the same training provider.
The accelerated CNA schedule is particularly attractive.
A full-time student can finish CNA school in roughly 20 days and then complete the additional HHA training rather than enrolling in a lengthy college program.
The school is also an approved CNA examination site, which can simplify the certification process for its nursing assistant graduates.
Address: 1705 28th Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301
5 Kern Valley Medical College
Kern Valley Medical College provides accelerated healthcare education in Bakersfield and offers both CNA and Home Health Aide training.
The HHA program is included on California’s approved 40-hour Home Health Aide training list.
This makes it another legitimate option for local CNAs who want additional training specifically for home-based patient care.
Program Length
The HHA curriculum requires approximately 40 hours.
Kern Valley Medical College specializes in accelerated healthcare training, so students should ask about the current HHA schedule and whether those hours are offered intensively or across multiple weeks.
Its CNA program is also accelerated and can generally be completed in approximately 5 weeks.
Cost
A current standalone HHA tuition figure is not clearly published.
Students should request an itemized quote before enrolling.
The school’s CNA program has recently been priced around $2,100, although current tuition should always be verified for the specific cohort.
Payment plans are available for the school’s programs.
Admission Requirements
Students entering the 40-hour HHA program should already hold active California CNA certification.
Additional clinical requirements can include identification, health documentation, background clearance, and other requirements established by California and the school’s clinical partners.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Kern Valley Medical College is another option for students who value accelerated training.
It also offers several healthcare programs beyond HHA, including CNA, Patient Care Technician, phlebotomy, and medical assisting.
That can be useful for someone who sees home health as the beginning of a healthcare career rather than the final destination.
Address: 1401 Commercial Way, Suite 220, Bakersfield, CA 93309
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | Bakersfield Adult School Health Careers Center |
|
#2 | Cellan Education Resources |
|
#3 | Kern Healthcare College |
|
#4 | Christian Central Valley College |
|
#5 | Kern Valley Medical College |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Home Health Aide
HHA Schools by City
HHA Schools by State