6 Best Home Health Aide Schools in San Diego, CA

Pacific Health Educational Center offers both CNA and Home Health Aide training and is approved by the California Department of Public Health.

The HHA program builds on CNA skills and covers the aide’s role, personal care, medical and social needs, nutrition, home safety, and household care.

Program Length

The HHA program contains 40 hours and is completed in 5 class days.

Current classes run from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, with weekend HHA schedules available.

The school’s accelerated CNA program takes 22 class days, including 8 days of theory and 14 days of clinical training.

Weekday CNA classes generally run from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, while weekend cohorts stretch over approximately 12 weeks.

Cost

HHA tuition is $600, split into $200 at enrollment and $400 at the end of the program.

The price includes a loaner textbook, program handouts, and the HHA completion certificate. CNA tuition is $2,200, with a $575 initial payment.

The CNA package includes registration, Live Scan fingerprinting, BLS/CPR, exam review, scrubs, a loaner textbook, training equipment, and program materials.

Admission Requirements

HHA students need an active California CNA certificate, government-issued ID, and a physical examination and TB test completed within the previous 6 months.

CNA applicants must be at least 16, have a high school diploma or GED, provide identification and a Social Security number, and satisfy physical and TB requirements.

What Makes This Program Worth Considering?

The HHA numbers are straightforward: 40 hours, 5 days, and $600.

Students who still need CNA certification can also complete both stages through the same school, and Pacific Health is an authorized CNA testing location.

Dalrada Career Institute, formerly International Health Group, offers a California-approved HHA program specifically for existing CNAs.

Training covers personal care, nutrition, medical and social needs, household care, and the responsibilities of working for a home health agency.

Program Length

The program contains 40 hours and takes 5 training days, combining lecture, laboratory instruction, and clinical experience.

A current October 2026 weekend cohort runs from October 10 through October 24, with Saturday and Sunday classes from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM.

Students also earn 26 continuing-education hours toward CNA renewal.

Cost

The school’s published program documentation lists HHA tuition at $650 plus approximately $135 in non-institutional charges, producing a total program cost of about $785.

The current class-registration fee is $250.

For comparison, Dalrada’s CNA program contains 160 hours and has published total charges of approximately $2,455.

Weekday CNA cohorts generally take about 5 weeks, while weekend training can take close to 12 weeks.

Admission Requirements

Students must hold a current California CNA certificate before entering the HHA program.

Additional identification, health, and clinical documentation may be required.

What Makes This Program Worth Considering?

Dalrada has trained healthcare workers in San Diego since 2006 and offers both weekday and weekend pathways.

The 5-day, 40-hour HHA format is particularly useful for working CNAs who want to add home health certification without committing to another long program.

San Diego Medical College offers both CNA and 40-hour Certified Home Health Aide training.

HHA students complete 20 hours of theory and 20 hours of supervised clinical instruction.

Topics include personal care, nutrition, home-care tasks, the role of the home health agency, and recognizing clients’ medical and social needs.

Program Length

The HHA course can be completed over 10 weekday evenings from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, or in 5 full weekend training days from approximately 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The CNA course contains the California-required training, and accelerated weekday classes can be completed in roughly 22 to 23 class days.

Weekend CNA training takes 11 weekends.

Cost

Current CNA tuition is $1,305, with a $100 registration or seat-reservation payment and installment options.

The school allows the remaining tuition to be divided into three payments.

The HHA program has separate pricing, so students should request the current 40-hour HHA enrollment amount before registering.

Students should also budget for any separately required physical exam, TB clearance, Live Scan, uniforms, CPR, and certification testing if those items are not included in their enrollment agreement.

Admission Requirements

HHA applicants must hold a current California CNA certificate.

CNA students complete the school’s registration process and must meet California health, background, identification, and clinical requirements.

What Makes This Program Worth Considering?

San Diego Medical College offers one of the lower published CNA tuition figures among private San Diego schools at $1,305.

It also provides several locations around the county and offers both 10-evening and 5-day HHA schedules, which is useful for students already working as CNAs.

San Diego College of Continuing Education offers tuition-free Nursing Assistant training, preparing students for California CNA certification.

The program covers personal care, infection prevention, vital signs, patient rights, emergency procedures, communication, observation, documentation, and hands-on clinical care.

Program Length

The CNA course includes the theory, laboratory, and clinical education required for California certification.

SDCCE healthcare career programs commonly run several months, with CNA schedules varying by semester and clinical placement.

Cost

Tuition is $0.

Students are still responsible for clinical and certification expenses. SDCCE’s detailed program budget estimates roughly $45 to $250 for health clearance, $70 for textbook and workbook costs, $50 to $70 for CPR, around $75 for a clinical uniform, approximately $46 for basic equipment and a watch, and additional background, drug-screening, compliance, and certification expenses.

The school’s published estimated out-of-pocket total has ranged from approximately $574 to $905, although individual medical and screening costs can change.

Admission Requirements

Students must satisfy California clinical requirements, which can include TB clearance, physical examination, immunizations, Live Scan or background screening, drug screening, CPR certification, identification, and Social Security documentation.

What Makes This Program Worth Considering?

The main number is $0 tuition.

Even after several hundred dollars in required supplies, screening, CPR, and certification costs, SDCCE can be considerably cheaper than a private CNA program charging $1,500 to $2,500.

It is one of the strongest options for students who need CNA certification before enrolling in a 40-hour HHA course.

Fast Track Medical Training Center offers a California-approved CNA program with theory, skills training, and supervised clinical experience.

Students study personal care, infection control, vital signs, patient safety, nutrition, medical terminology, emergency procedures, and preparation for California’s CNA competency examination.

Program Length

The California CNA curriculum includes about 60 hours of classroom instruction plus approximately 100 hours of supervised clinical training, for at least 160 hours.

Full-time California CNA programs of this format typically take about 4 to 6 weeks, although Fast Track’s specific schedule varies by cohort.

Cost

Current program listings place total tuition at approximately $1,500, with $500 required to start and the remaining $1,000 due before completion.

CPR training and job assistance have also been offered as part of the program.

Students should separately confirm whether the California competency examination, Live Scan, uniforms, physical examination, TB clearance, and equipment are included in the current $1,500 package.

Admission Requirements

Applicants generally provide a Social Security card and California ID or driver’s license.

Students must also satisfy California background, TB, physical examination, immunization, and clinical requirements.

What Makes This Program Worth Considering?

At approximately $1,500 for a 160-hour CNA program, Fast Track sits below several San Diego private schools charging $2,000 or more.

The $500 starting payment also reduces the amount students need upfront.

Heart to Serve Institute is located about 15 miles east of downtown San Diego and offers both CNA and dedicated Home Health Aide training.

Its HHA course focuses specifically on preparing existing nursing assistants for California home health certification.

Program Length

The HHA course follows California’s approximately 40-hour CNA-to-HHA curriculum.

CNA students complete the state’s required classroom and hands-on nursing-assistant preparation before becoming eligible for certification testing.

Cost

HHA training is approximately $500, with about $100 required to start. CNA training is approximately $1,500, with about $225 required upfront.

A student completing both programs would therefore spend around $2,000 in school charges before any outside testing, screening, health, or equipment expenses not included by the school.

Admission Requirements

The HHA program is intended for students with qualifying CNA preparation.

CNA applicants must satisfy California identification, health, background, and clinical requirements.

What Makes This Program Worth Considering?

The $500 HHA price makes Heart to Serve one of the lower-cost dedicated HHA options around San Diego.

It can also be practical for East County residents who would rather train in El Cajon than commute to central San Diego.