San Jose has several strong pathways into home health care, including a college program that combines CNA and HHA preparation and a nearby 40-hour HHA course specifically for active CNAs.
In California, the common HHA route requires completion of approved Nurse Assistant training followed by 40 hours of HHA education.
CNA programs generally contain 160 hours, including 60 hours of theory and 100 hours of clinical training.
Around San Jose, CNA tuition ranges from roughly $322 in base community-college tuition to about $1,900 at private schools, while a dedicated 40-hour HHA add-on can cost around $650.
1 Evergreen Valley College
Evergreen Valley College offers one of San Jose’s best options, as NURS 109 combines Nurse Assistant and Home Health Aide training into a single 7-unit course approved by the California Department of Public Health.
Students learn vital signs, transfers, feeding, hygiene, bed-making, infection control, safety, body mechanics, communication, patient rights, and home health concepts through hands-on experience in a San Jose skilled nursing facility.
Program Length
NURS 109 is a 7-unit semester course.
The program includes the nursing-assistant classroom, laboratory, and clinical preparation needed for California certification, along with HHA content.
Students must earn at least 70% to complete the course and qualify for CNA testing.
Cost
California residents pay $46 per unit, so base tuition for 7 units is $322.
Current semester fees add approximately $21 for health services, $5 for student activities, $2 for student representation, and $11 for the VTA EcoPass, bringing normal college charges to roughly $361 before parking and program-specific expenses.
Students should also budget about $120 to $140 for the CNA written and skills examination, roughly $100 to $150 for uniforms and shoes, plus physical examination, TB testing, fingerprinting, and other health-clearance costs.
A reasonable minimum starting budget is around $600 to $750 before medical screening expenses.
Admission Requirements
Applicants need a high school diploma or GED, a valid Social Security number or taxpayer ID, background clearance, a physical examination, TB clearance, and required health documentation.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
The $322 base tuition is exceptionally low compared with private San Jose CNA schools charging $1,700 to $1,900.
More importantly, the course incorporates both CNA and HHA training, making it especially attractive for students whose long-term goal is home health.
Address: 3095 Yerba Buena Road, San Jose, CA 95135
2 CAL ACE Nursing Academy
CAL ACE offers both a 160-hour CNA program and a separate 40-hour Home Health Aide program for active California CNAs.
The CNA course consists of 60 hours of live online theory, followed by 100 hours of in-person clinical training.
San Jose clinical sites include Herman Healthcare Center and Canyon Springs Post-Acute.
Program Length
The HHA program contains 40 hours.
A current November 2026 HHA cohort meets on November 7, 8, 15, and 21, allowing students to complete the course across four training days.
CNA training contains 160 hours and generally takes about 6 to 7 weeks.
Weekday theory runs Monday through Friday from either 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM or 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, followed by 100 clinical hours.
Cost
The HHA program costs $650.
CNA tuition is currently $1,798, with $200 due at registration, $800 during week 3, and $798 during week 6.
Paying in full includes a blood-pressure cuff and stethoscope kit, while installment students still receive a digital textbook, uniform, clinical starter kit, exam-preparation materials, and career support.
Live Scan, BLS/CPR, TB testing, physical examination, and the state exam are separate.
Adding a $140 CNA exam brings the basic CNA total to about $1,938 before those other outside expenses.
Completing both CNA and HHA through CAL ACE would start around $2,588 before health and background costs.
Admission Requirements
CNA applicants must be at least 16 and provide a Social Security number or taxpayer ID, identification, TB testing, physical clearance, and fingerprinting.
The 40-hour HHA program is designed for active California CNAs.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
CAL ACE is one of the strongest choices for students who specifically want to progress from CNA to HHA.
The $650 HHA course is short, clinical training is available directly in San Jose, and the academy is also a regional CNA testing center.
Address: 1535 Landess Avenue, Suite 103, Milpitas, CA 95035, with clinical sites in San Jose
3 Golden Heart School of Nursing
Golden Heart School of Nursing offers a California-approved Nurse Assistant Training Program with classroom instruction and extensive supervised clinical practice.
The curriculum provides 60 hours of theory and 100 hours of clinical training.
Program Length
The complete program contains 160 hours.
Morning students complete 10 theory days totaling 60 hours, followed by approximately 15.5 clinical days totaling 100 hours.
The standard schedule takes about 6 weeks. Morning theory runs from 7:30 AM to 2:00 PM, while clinical training generally runs from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Evening and weekend formats are also available.
Cost
Tuition is $1,900.
The installment plan consists of a $100 nonrefundable registration payment, followed by payments of $400, $500, $500, and $400
. A uniform and student ID are included.
Adding approximately $120 to $140 for California CNA testing brings the basic cost to around $2,020 to $2,040 before health screening, fingerprinting, CPR, and other outside requirements.
Admission Requirements
Students must be at least 16 and provide a driver’s license, state ID, or passport along with a Social Security card or ITIN.
Additional California clinical health and background requirements apply before patient-care training.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Golden Heart operates directly in South San Jose and offers morning, evening, weekend, and online-theory options.
The 160-hour structure is clearly divided into 60 theory and 100 clinical hours, and the school is also an approved regional CNA testing center.
Address: 5671 Santa Teresa Boulevard, Suite 212, San Jose, CA 95123
4 Diamond School of Nursing
Diamond School of Nursing offers a California-approved CNA program with theory, hands-on skills training, clinical experience, and state-exam preparation.
The school includes training materials, scrubs, online study resources, and required supplies in its program price.
Program Length
The program meets California’s 160-hour requirement.
Weekday cohorts are designed for faster completion, while weekend programs take longer.
One 2026 weekend cohort ran from July 11 through September 19, approximately 10 weeks.
Cost
Standard program tuition is approximately $2,000, although 2026 early-enrollment promotions have reduced the price to $1,895.
The $1,895 package includes scrubs, online program access, study materials, supplies, an online CNA study guide, exam preparation, and additional study resources.
The California CNA competency examination may still be separate.
If a student pays $1,895 plus a $120 to $140 state examination fee, the core total is approximately $2,015 to $2,035 before any separately required medical or background expenses.
Admission Requirements
Students must meet California CNA training requirements, including identification, background eligibility, health clearance, TB testing, and any additional clinical documentation required by the school.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
Diamond’s main advantage is that many supplies are bundled into the approximately $1,895 program price.
That makes its real cost easier to compare with schools advertising lower tuition but charging separately for uniforms, study materials, and training supplies.
Address: 1762 Technology Drive, Suite 115, San Jose, CA 95110
5 ReachPoint Nurse Education Center
ReachPoint offers a California Department of Public Health-approved CNA program with 60 hours of classroom education and 100 hours of clinical training.
Students study vital signs, activities of daily living, infection control, safety, communication, documentation, and other core nursing-assistant skills used in nursing facilities and home-health settings.
Program Length
The program contains 160 hours.
Morning, afternoon/evening, and weekend schedules are available.
Current weekday morning classes begin at 8:00 AM, while afternoon classes run approximately 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
Clinical training is completed near the end of the program at local healthcare facilities.
Cost
Regular tuition is $1,800.
A current 5% early-enrollment discount reduces tuition by $90 to $1,710.
Payment plans are available directly through the school.
The CNA state exam is separate, so a student using the discounted tuition should expect a basic total of approximately $1,830 to $1,850 after adding $120 to $140 for testing.
Without the discount, that rises to around $1,920 to $1,940.
Health screening, background checks, uniforms, CPR, and other requirements may add more.
Admission Requirements
Students must be at least 16.
A high school diploma or GED is recommended but not required.
Applicants must complete orientation and provide required health and background documentation before clinical training.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
ReachPoint is one of the more affordable private CNA schools located directly in San Jose.
The current $1,710 discounted tuition is about $190 less than Golden Heart’s $1,900 tuition, while students still receive the full 160 hours required for California CNA training.
Address: 1190 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 138, San Jose, CA 95128
6 Northern California Nursing Academy
Northern California Nursing Academy is farther from San Jose, but it is worth considering for students who specifically want a dedicated Home Health Aide program.
The course is intended for students who have completed the 160-hour Nurse Assistant Training Program or already hold CNA certification.
Training focuses on bathing, dressing, hygiene, personal care, and other duties performed in clients’ homes.
Program Length
The HHA program contains 40 hours and takes 2 weeks.
Day classes meet Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, while evening classes meet from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. An externship is included.
Cost
The complete HHA program costs $975.
That price includes registration, tuition, books, handouts, a uniform, materials, and supplies. There is no separate HHA state examination.
Students who already have CNA certification therefore have a fairly predictable total cost of $975.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must be at least 18, have completed the 160-hour Nurse Assistant Training Program, possess valid government-issued identification, speak and understand English, have or be obtaining a Social Security number, and hold current BLS/CPR certification before direct patient contact.
What Makes This Program Worth Considering?
It is more expensive and farther away than CAL ACE’s $650 HHA course, but the $975 price includes books, uniform, materials, and supplies.
The two-week day or evening schedule can also work well for an employed CNA who wants dedicated HHA certification.
Address: 355 Gellert Boulevard, Suite 101, Daly City, CA 94015
Schools Summary Table
Read the full guide: How to Become a Home Health Aide
