How to Become a Home Health Aide in Cleveland Ohio
In a sluggish economy there seem to be fewer and fewer options for a solid career choice, even for bright, outgoing young people. Some industries manage to stand the test of a recession, and the health industry, not surprisingly, is one of them. As long as there are sick people, there will be a need for nurses and nurse assistants, whether in hospitals or hospice care. However, while home health aide jobs may always be a necessary position, the process of becoming one is not without its own complicated hoops to jump through. Think you might be interested in this career? Read on and find out just what you need to do to get a leg up in this competitive but rewarding industry.
Federal Requirements for Home Health Aide jobs in Cleveland Ohio
Before an aspiring home health aide can be employed by any agency that accepts federal funding, there are several government-set, minimum requirements that need to be attained. Federal qualifications are often called the National Licensing Program, and the certification is administered through the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. Their standards include receiving at least 75 hours of training, hands-on work with an instructor, and passing a competency test that looks at a number of home-care facets, from keeping up with nutrition needs to maintaining hygiene, to assisting with general bathroom facilities. These standards vary from state-to-state. With companies as large as Medicare receiving federal funding, it is hugely valuable to meet the industry’s requisite standards, especially for aides seeking employment with a hospice, or home health agency.
State Requirements for Home Health Aide Jobs in Cleveland Ohio
The Buckeye State is currently facing a high demand for Certified Nursing Assistants (or “State Tested Nurse Aides,” a term specific to Ohio), and while the industry is competitive, the need is predicted to be high for several years to follow. Salary-wise, the standard CNA/home health aide jobs in Cleveland Ohio tend to make more money than the national average, around $28,000, including benefits. Which makes this an unexpectedly great state to get a leg up in the home health industry.
In Cleveland, steps for becoming a CNA are similar to much of what the rest of the country requires: time spent in training, leading to passing a test for a CNA license. The Ohio Department of Health offers CNA training, which consists of a minimum of 75 hours of training, which is in keeping with federal guidelines. Usually these can be completed in as little as two weeks, and Ohio’s Department of Health standards divide these up to include 16 hours spent in the classroom and 16 hours of hands-on training with an instructor.
After training, the next step in the process is to pass a test administered by D & S Diversified Technologies, LLP. This examination is split into two parts, a written test (with the option of being taken as an oral evaluation), and a skills demonstration section, which costs $96 to take. After passing the CNA exam and registering with the Ohio Nurse Aide Registry, certification has to be renewed once every 2 years.
In Ohio, it is possible to receive full reimbursement for the costs of training and testing, if the trainee has been employed as a Nurse Aide during, before, or within a year of completing the program. This is an added incentive for an already easy, efficient way to get started on your choice career.
Obtain Home Health Aide Jobs in Cleveland Ohio with Private Duty Agencies
While the requirements enforced by federal government are diligently enforced, employees of a private duty agency (or those who are self employed), on the other hand, are usually not affected by these standards. The Personal Care and Support Credential was introduced in 2011 by the Direct Care Alliance, and was designed to allow health-care professionals a direct opportunity to display their most critical personal care skills to those who are chronically ill or dying. It is a 50 question written exam that costs $140, and has a very high success rate. Close to 80% of workers in the personal care industry have passed it after the first time. Successful test-takers are given the title of “Personal Care and Support Professional.”
In an effort to keep the exam fair and accurately updated, the Direct Care Alliance is also working on forming a group of veterans to the direct care industry, to examine the questions and assess any changes necessary.
While the test was created with the best of intentions, it has not received any approval from the federal government, or by any of the state. Its most vehement critics have made claims that its true value for home health aides is much more limited than any certification provided by the government, and that the exam does little to benefit those employees who already work in federally-funded health care programs. But for the self-employed who does not answer to a nurse, doctor, or other health care professional, the “Personal Care and Support Professional” title can be very helpful.
Online resources for finding Home Health Aide jobs in Cleveland Ohio
There are many websites and private duty agencies that offer home health aide jobs in Cleveland Ohio, including : http://jobs.oodle.com, http://www.indeed.com and http://thejobfool.com/ just to name a few of the many online home health aide job opportunities that you will find in this booming sector of the medical profession.