The short answer Arkansas is one of the stricter personal-care states: under Ark. Code 20-77-2301 et seq. and the Department of Health's Home Caregiver Training rules, in-home caregivers at licensed in-home services agencies (including private-pay Class B private care agencies) must complete 40 hours of ADH-approved training before working independently.
What Arkansas requires
Arkansas
40-hour caregiver training. ADH's Rules for Home Caregiver Training require in-home assistants/caregivers to complete at least 40 hours of training — 24 didactic and 16 supervised practical, with at least 16 hours on physical skills with demonstrated competency — regardless of public or private payer.
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Statutory basis. Ark. Code 20-77-2303 mandates the training requirement for home caregivers; the ADH rules implementing it (updated per Act 70 of 2023) apply to caregivers at licensed private care agencies.
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HHA training (federal). Aides at Medicare-certified home health agencies must additionally meet 42 CFR 484.80: 75 hours including 16 supervised practical hours plus competency evaluation.
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Continuing education. Caregivers must complete ongoing continuing education (12 hours annually is the operative standard, matching the federal in-service rule for HHAs) to remain in compliance under ADH training rules.
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The federal baseline (applies in every state)
Federal
75-hour HHA training standard. Under 42 CFR 484.80(b), home health aides at Medicare-certified home health agencies must complete a training program of at least 75 hours, including at least 16 hours of classroom training completed before beginning at least 16 hours of supervised practical (hands-on) training.
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Competency evaluation / CNA pathway. 42 CFR 484.80(a) allows aides to qualify by completing the 75-hour training and competency evaluation program, by passing a competency evaluation alone, or by completing a state nurse aide training and competency evaluation program (CNA) and being in good standing on the state nurse aide registry.
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12-hour annual in-service. 42 CFR 484.80(d) requires home health aides to receive at least 12 hours of in-service training during each 12-month period, which may occur while the aide is furnishing care and must be supervised by a registered nurse.
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RN trainer requirements. Under 42 CFR 484.80(b)(3) and (c)(2), classroom and supervised practical training must be performed by or under the general supervision of a registered nurse with at least 2 years of nursing experience, at least 1 year of which must be in home health care; competency evaluations must likewise be performed by an RN in consultation with other professionals.
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Primary sources for this page
- https://healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/HomeCaregiverTraining.pdf
- https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=/Assembly/Meeting+Attachments/040/26562/D.3.d+DOH+SBH+Rules+for+Home+Caregiver+Training+in+AR+and+Act+70+of+2023.pdf
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-484/subpart-B/section-484.80
- https://healthy.arkansas.gov/wp-content/uploads/HomeCaregiverTraining.pdf
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