If you are a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) in New York, you do not have to start from zero to work as a home health aide (HHA). New York gives nurse aides credit for what they already learned, so the path to an HHA certificate is usually shorter than the full 75-hour program. This guide explains how the transition works and what to expect.
CNA vs. HHA in New York
CNAs are trained mainly for nursing homes and hospitals and are listed on the New York State Nurse Aide Registry. Home health aides provide care in a patient's home through a licensed home care agency, and their training is recorded on the New York State Home Care Worker Registry. Because the setting is different, home care has its own training requirements, even for experienced CNAs.
How the CNA-to-HHA transition works
The standard New York HHA training program is 75 hours, including 59 classroom hours and 16 hours of supervised practical training. According to the New York State Department of Health, a nurse aide "is not required to repeat training in the content and skills learned in the nurse aide training program." Instead, an approved home health aide training program (HHATP):
- Confirms that you are competent in the skills you already learned as a CNA.
- Trains you on the home care topics that CNA training does not cover.
- Completes a trainee evaluation, and you receive a copy of the HHA Trainee Evaluation Form.
After you finish, your HHA certificate is generated through the Home Care Worker Registry, so employers can confirm your training.
Competency evaluation instead of training
Some nursing assistants can take a competency evaluation in place of training. The Department of Health allows this for a nursing assistant with one year of full-time experience in a general hospital within the past five years. The evaluation is given by an agency that runs an HHA training program and includes a written exam and a skills demonstration.
If you are not a CNA, see our guide on how to become a certified HHA in New York City.
Steps to move from CNA to HHA
- Check your CNA status. Make sure your certification is active on the Nurse Aide Registry.
- Find an approved HHA training program. Ask whether they offer CNA transition training or a competency evaluation.
- Bring your documents. Your CNA certificate, photo ID and, if you qualify for a competency evaluation, proof of hospital work experience.
- Complete the transition training or evaluation. Expect a skills check plus the home care topics you have not covered yet.
- Confirm your registry record. Once your HHA certificate is issued, check that it appears on the Home Care Worker Registry.
- Apply to a home care agency. Agencies will also ask for health screening and background checks before your first case.
Why CNAs move into home care
Many CNAs choose home care for one-on-one work with a single patient, a wider choice of schedules, and the chance to support people in the place they feel most comfortable. Home care also needs aides across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, so experienced CNAs are often in demand.
Work as a home health aide with HumanCare
HumanCare NY provides personal care, elderly care and pediatric home care across New York. If you are a CNA or a certified HHA, visit our careers page to see open roles, or contact us with questions about working in home care.
Sources
- Home Health Aide Training Program FAQ, New York State Department of Health
- Home Health Aide Training Program Guide, New York State Department of Health
