The short answer New Jersey requires essentially all home care aides — including those at private-duty health care service firms — to hold the Certified Homemaker-Home Health Aide (CHHA) credential from the Board of Nursing, based on a 76-hour training program, with biennial certification renewal.
What New Jersey requires
New Jersey
76-hr CHHA training. A Board of Nursing-approved homemaker-home health aide training program must consist of at least 76 hours: 60 hours of classroom instruction and 16 hours of clinical instruction (N.J.A.C. 13:37-14).
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CHHA certification. Aides are certified by the NJ Board of Nursing (Division of Consumer Affairs) after completing training, passing the certification exam, and clearing a criminal history background check; certification renews every two years.
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Applies to non-medical firms too. Health care service firms (private-duty/companion agencies registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs) may only refer or place actively certified homemaker-home health aides, so there is no lower-trained 'personal care aide' tier; firms must also obtain accreditation under P.L. 2019, c.48.
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Board of Nursing rules. The CHHA program standards, certification procedures, and practice rules are codified at N.J.A.C. 13:37-14 and published by the Division of Consumer Affairs.
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In-service education. DOH-licensed home health agencies must provide ongoing in-service education for homemaker-home health aides under N.J.A.C. 8:42-7.5; Medicare-certified agencies must additionally meet the federal 12 hrs/yr in-service standard (42 CFR 484.80).
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RN supervision. CHHAs work under the supervision of a registered professional nurse and perform delegated tasks consistent with N.J.A.C. 13:37-6.2 and 13:37-14.
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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.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/title-13/chapter-37/subchapter-14
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hhh
- https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2018/AL19/48_.HTM
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/hhh/Pages/regulations.aspx
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-8-42-7-5
- https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/News/PressAttachments/hhhaguide.pdf
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