Caregiver Training Requirements in Florida (2026)

The short answer Florida requires HHAs at Medicare/Medicaid-certified agencies to meet the federal 75-hour/competency standard, while HHAs at licensed-only agencies need 40 hours of training or a passing competency test (or CNA licensure); homemaker-companion services carry no training-hour mandate, but all covered providers face the statewide Alzheimer's/dementia (ADRD) training law with its July 1, 2026 catch-up deadline.

What Florida requires

Florida

HHA training tiers. Per AHCA and Rule 59A-8.0095(5), F.A.C. (implementing s. 400.497, F.S.), an HHA at a Medicare/Medicaid agency needs at least 75 hours of training and/or a competency evaluation; at a licensed-only agency, 40 hours of training or successful passage of the agency-administered competency test suffices, and licensed CNAs also qualify. Source ↗

Personnel rule. Rule 59A-8.0095, F.A.C. sets the qualification, training-documentation, and competency-test requirements for home health agency personnel under Chapter 400, Part III, F.S. Source ↗

Homemakers/companions. Agencies providing only homemaker or companion services register under s. 400.509, F.S. and Florida imposes no training-hour requirement on homemakers or companions (they may not provide hands-on personal care). Source ↗

ADRD dementia training. Section 430.5025, F.S. requires covered providers (home health agencies, nurse registries, homemaker-companion providers, etc.) to give a DOEA 1-hour ADRD training within 30 days of hire to employees with direct client contact, plus 2 additional hours within 7 months for staff providing personal care. Source ↗

July 1, 2026 deadline. Employees hired before July 1, 2023 must complete the required ADRD training no later than July 1, 2026 — the statutory catch-up compliance date now in effect. Source ↗

In-service, HIV/AIDS, CPR. HHAs at Medicare/Medicaid agencies must complete 12 hours of in-service training every 12 months; all HHAs must complete HIV/AIDS training and maintain current CPR certification, which may count toward the 12 in-service hours (Rule 59A-8.0095(5), F.A.C.). Source ↗

No aide registry; Level 2 screening. Florida has no HHA certification registry; instead, all home health personnel must clear Level 2 background screening through AHCA's Background Screening Clearinghouse under Chapter 408/435, F.S. Source ↗

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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. Source ↗

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. Source ↗

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. Source ↗

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. Source ↗

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