The short answer Idaho now imposes no state home care licensure at all: under the 2025 Streamlined Facilities Licensing and Inspection Act, Medicare-certified home health agencies no longer need an Idaho license as of July 1, 2025 (the federal 75-hour aide standard applies through Medicare certification), and there has never been state licensure — or a training mandate — for private-pay non-medical home care agencies.
What Idaho requires
Idaho
Home health aide standard. Home health aides at Medicare-certified Idaho agencies must meet the federal 75-hour/16-practical-hour training and competency standard of 42 CFR 484.80, with duties assigned and supervised by an RN; the former state licensing rule (IDAPA 16.03.07) was retired when state home health licensure ended in 2025.
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Licensing scope (ended 2025). Under Idaho's Streamlined Facilities Licensing and Inspection Act, effective July 1, 2025, Medicare-certified home health agencies are no longer required to hold an Idaho license and no new home health licenses are issued; Idaho likewise has no licensure category for non-medical personal care or companion agencies, so no state-set initial training hours apply to private-pay caregivers.
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Medicaid personal assistance. Agencies serving Idaho Medicaid personal care/waiver clients must meet Medicaid provider rules requiring attendant competency and agency-provided training, but hours are agency-determined rather than state-mandated.
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In-service. Annual in-service for aides follows the federal requirement of 12 hours per 12-month period at Medicare-certified home health agencies; PHI's state compilation confirms Idaho sets no additional PCA training requirement.
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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://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-484/subpart-B/section-484.80
- https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/providers/acute-and-continuing-care/home-health-agencies
- https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/medicaid-health/home-and-community-based-services
- https://www.phinational.org/advocacy/state-training-requirements/