How to Become a Home Health Aide in Ohio (Requirements & Schools)

The healthcare industry is in a growing need for personnel all over the country.

If you want to know one of the easiest and fastest ways of entering, you can consider becoming a home health aide.

Here you can learn all about what it takes to become an HHA in Ohio.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate for the home health aide position has the same characteristics in all states.

These are:

• Compassion
• Detail-oriented
• Reliable
• Accurate
• Can prepare meals
• Is physically strong

The patients that home health aides generally work with are called clients, and they sometimes have specific needs.

The home health aide has to be able to adapt to them:

• Working with pets
• Working with children

In Ohio, those who need some assistance to complete daily tasks, such as the elderly, can register for the PASSPORT program.

With this program, they can receive help in paying for one of the following types of personnel:

• State-Tested Nurse Aide (STNA),
• Home Health Aide (HHA),
• A person with approved education

Training and Certification

No matter which type of home aide you want to become, you need to undergo some training.

In Ohio, the training is usually set at federal standards with a total of  75 hours of education.

16 hours of the total have to be spent in a clinical setting.

The programs need to cover topics such as:

• Personal care techniques
• Body functions
• Reporting changes in function – when and how
• Physical, developmental, and emotional needs
• Nutrition

The following schools offer approved training courses for those offering home health care services.

To enroll in any program, you’ll have to pass a background check, including one done by the FBI if you lived in this state for under 5 years.

The training lasts between 2 and 24 weeks, with many lasting 3 or 4 weeks.

Generally speaking, the longer programs cost more than the shorter ones, but this is not always the case.

Once the training is completed, you’re expected to pass an examination.

Those who pass the written and skills parts of the test will become certified.

The certification can come from one of these bodies:

• Community Health Accreditation Program,
• Accreditation Commission for Health Care
• Joint Commission

Training on the job is also possible, especially for those who seek employment with an agency.

Employment and Salary Details for Ohio

For the best chances of finding employment and getting a higher average salary, seek out the best employers and the larger cities in the state.

The best employers in the State of Ohio are:

• Capital Health Home Care in Ashtabula
• Mercy Home Care in Tiffin
• Home Health Care Solutions in Van Wert
• National Church Services Home and Community Serv in Waverly
• A M Friends & Family Health Care
• Able Support Services
• Americare Health Care Services

The Ohio Department of Health must regulate all the agencies offering services for home help, though they don’t have to be licensed like in other states.

The cities where the average salary is slightly higher are Cleveland and Columbus.

Regional Salary in Ohio

Extra Information

Generally speaking, in this state, those who offer care services at the home of someone else works under the supervision of a nurse.

This individual may or may not be affiliated with an agency, but they need to be trained.

The certification of the home health aides must be maintained by completing 12 hours of continuing education.

HHA Schools by State