Home Health Aide

HHA

Federally structured almost exactly like CNA.

The CMS floor for aides at Medicare-certified home-health agencies is 75 hours with at least 16 supervised practical hours and an RN-conducted competency evaluation by direct observation. That structure mirrors CNA so closely the existing engine carries it with minimal change.

Texas-regulated credential

At a glance

Credential: RN competency evaluation (42 CFR §484.80)
Exam: RN-observed hands-on skills competency evaluation
Regulator: Federal CMS floor · state-administered (TX via HHSC)
Hours: ≥16 classroom before practical · ≥16 supervised practical · 75 hrs federal minimum

Competency model

RN observation + clinical-hour ledger

$34,900

median · $16.78/hr

+17%

2024–2034 · much faster than average

Adds the most new jobs of any U.S. occupation

openings / year

Texas

state-regulated

Why the demand: The shift of care into the home and the aging-in-place wave — the fastest-growing slice of the care economy. — BLS OOH, Home Health & Personal Care Aides, May 2024.

The program

What students master.

The curriculum maps to the credential — every competency below becomes a tracked, signed-off record inside the platform.

In-home personal care

ADLs & mobility in the home
Safe transfers without facility equipment
Vital signs & observation
Infection control in the home

Client & family support

Communication & boundaries
Nutrition & meal prep
Documentation & reporting
Emergency response

Competency evaluation

RN direct-observation on a patient/pseudo-patient
16 supervised practical hours
Annual 12-hour in-service tracking
State-specific hour overrides handled

On the platform

How AscendantCare runs HHA.

This isn't a new build — it's the CNA compliance backbone, configured. The same ledgers, the same sign-off, the same inspection-grade records.

1
Structurally a CNA twin
75/16 hours and RN observation map 1:1 onto the clinical-hour ledger and preceptor sign-off already in production.
2
Multi-state hour profiles
~20 states require more than the federal floor — the regulatory-profile layer absorbs that without a code change.
3
In-service compliance clock
The annual 12-hour in-service requirement is tracked and surfaced before it lapses.

The competitive edge

Ride the single fastest-growing occupation in the country with the same inspection-ready rails you already trust for CNA.

In development

In active development alongside Medication Aide.

Enrollment

Who can enroll.

Six-gate enrollment compliance verifies every prerequisite before a student starts — and flags anything missing.

Often builds on CNA / registry listing

BLS/CPR + immunizations

TB clearance

Background check (state/agency level)

Certified Nurse Aide

The credential the platform was built around.

In development

Certified Medication Aide

The natural next step after CNA — same regulator, same rhythm.

In development

Patient Care Technician

CNA + phlebotomy + EKG, stacked into one role.

Run Home Health Aide on rails built for inspection.

Book a 30-minute call. We'll show you exactly how HHA maps onto the platform — and where it sits on the build sequence.

Back to all programs