Caregiver Training Requirements in Pennsylvania

Competency, not hours. Under 28 Pa. Code 611.55, before assignment a direct care worker must hold a PA nurse license, pass an agency-developed competency exam, or complete a qualifying training program; the state sets no minimum hour count for non-medical direct care workers. Source ↗

Required subject areas. Section 611.55(b) enumerates the subject areas any training program or competency exam must cover (e.g., consumer confidentiality, handling emergencies, infection control, personal care tasks such as bathing, toileting, transfers, and self-administration of medications). Source ↗

Annual competency review. Agencies and registries must document an annual (or more frequent, if warranted) competency review for each direct care worker under 611.55(e); no specific hour count is mandated. Source ↗

Portability of competency. Documentation of completed competency requirements is transferable between agencies/registries as long as the worker's break in employment or roster status does not exceed 12 months (611.55). Source ↗

Medicare-certified HHAs. Home health aides at Medicare-certified home health agencies must meet the federal condition of participation — a 75-hour training and competency evaluation program (or competency evaluation) plus 12 hrs/yr in-service — under 42 CFR 484.80. Source ↗

No state registry. Pennsylvania licenses home care agencies and home care registries under Chapter 611 (Department of Health) but maintains no state certification or registry for individual direct care workers. Source ↗

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 ↗