The short answer Tennessee licenses home care organizations providing home health services (rules historically at chapter 1200-08-26, now under the Health Facilities Commission), with home health aides trained to the federal 75-hour standard. Separately licensed personal support services agencies must orient and train workers but face no state minimum hour requirement for private-pay work.
What Tennessee requires
Tennessee
HHA training (home care organizations). Under Tennessee's home care organization rules (chapter 1200-08-26) and 42 CFR 484.80, home health aides must complete 75 hours of training including 16 hours of supervised practical training, plus competency evaluation and 12 hours of annual in-service.
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Personal support services agencies. Non-medical personal support services agencies are licensed separately (rule chapter 1200-08-34); workers must be oriented and trained in personal care, safety, client rights, and household management, with language skills sufficient to read directions and communicate.
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No PSSW hour minimum. Tennessee sets no minimum training hours or annual in-service requirement for private-pay personal support service workers; publicly funded PSSWs must instead meet training set by TennCare MCOs and Area Agencies on Aging.
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Regulator. Since 2022, licensure of home care organizations and personal support services agencies is administered by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, which took over health facility licensing rules from the Department of Health.
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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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