The short answer Colorado licenses home care agencies (Class A skilled, Class B personal care) under 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 26. Personal care workers need agency-provided, topic-based initial training with skills validation but no state hour minimum, plus ongoing training on at least 6 topics every 12 months; nurse aides at Class A agencies must be DORA-certified CNAs.
What Colorado requires
Colorado
Licensing framework. CDPHE licenses home care agencies under 6 CCR 1011-1, Chapter 26 — Class A agencies provide skilled services and Class B agencies provide only personal care/non-medical services.
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PCW training (no hour min). Chapter 26 Part 7 requires personal care workers to complete initial training covering specified topics (ADL assistance, observation/reporting, protective oversight, adaptive equipment) with competency validation, but sets no minimum hour count.
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Ongoing training. Agencies must provide ongoing direct-care staff training covering at least six topics every 12 months, including consumer rights, dignity, and abuse/neglect prevention and reporting, per 6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26.
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CNA requirement (Class A). Class A home care agencies must ensure each nurse aide they employ is certified by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (or becomes certified within 4 months of starting), layering state CNA certification on top of the federal 75-hour HHA baseline.
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Federal HHA baseline. Medicare-certified agencies must still meet 42 CFR 484.80: 75 training hours, competency evaluation, and 12 hours annual in-service for home health aides.
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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://cdphe.colorado.gov/home-care-agencies
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/colorado/title-6/agency-1011/division-1/chapter-26/part-7
- https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=8507&fileName=6+CCR+1011-1+Chapter+26
- https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=8507&fileName=6+CCR+1011-1+Chapter+26
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-484/subpart-B/section-484.80
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