The short answer Kentucky home health agencies (902 KAR 20:081) defer to the federal 75-hour HHA standard, while certified personal services agencies (KRS 216.712; 906 KAR 1:180) have no minimum training hours beyond orientation and competency. Kentucky's dementia law adds 6 hours initial and 3 hours annual dementia training for staff serving clients with Alzheimer's or dementia.
What Kentucky requires
Kentucky
HHA training. Licensed home health agencies operate under 902 KAR 20:081; Kentucky sets no separate state HHA hour requirement, so Medicare-certified agencies follow 42 CFR 484.80 (75 hours including 16 practical, competency evaluation, 12 hours annual in-service).
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Personal services agencies. Non-medical personal services agencies must be certified by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services under KRS 216.712-216.716, with operations governed by 906 KAR 1:180; the rule requires staff orientation and demonstrated competency but sets no minimum training-hour requirement.
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Dementia training mandate. Kentucky requires home health aides and personal services agency direct-care staff serving clients exhibiting symptoms of Alzheimer's or other dementia to complete 6 hours of initial dementia training before providing such care and 3 hours annually, using a cabinet-approved curriculum.
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No aide registry for home care. Kentucky's nurse aide registry applies to long-term care SRNAs; home care and PSA workers are not individually certified or registered — compliance is documented at the agency level, including dementia-training completion certificates.
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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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