The short answer The District licenses home care agencies under 22-B DCMR Chapter 39, which requires both home health aides and personal care aides to complete 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training (at least 16 practical hours) with a competency evaluation, plus 12 hours of continuing education annually — one of the few jurisdictions applying the 75-hour standard to non-medical personal care aides.
What District of Columbia requires
District of Columbia
75 hours for HHAs and PCAs. 22-B DCMR 3915 requires home health aides and personal care aides at licensed home care agencies to complete 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training (minimum 16 hours supervised practical, with 16 classroom hours before practical training begins) and pass a competency evaluation.
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Annual continuing education. After the first year of service, each aide at a DC-licensed home care agency must obtain at least 12 hours of continuing education annually under 22-B DCMR Chapter 39.
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HHA certification program. DC Health administers home health aide certification through approved training programs, with the required HHA curriculum set out in 17 DCMR Chapter 93 (Home Health Aides); training may be through an approved community college, District-approved program, or reciprocity from another state.
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Federal baseline. Medicare-certified DC home health agencies must also satisfy 42 CFR 484.80's 75-hour training, competency evaluation, and 12-hour annual in-service requirements 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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