The short answer Wisconsin licenses home health agencies under DHS 133 and requires home health aides to complete state-approved nurse aide training — now a 75-hour minimum (reduced from 120 hours in 2021) — and appear on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry. Private-pay non-medical home care is unlicensed, while Medicaid personal care agencies follow DHS 105.17 worker qualifications.
What Wisconsin requires
Wisconsin
HHA training and registry (DHS 133). Wisconsin home health agencies are licensed under ch. DHS 133; home health aides must complete a state-approved training course directed by an RN covering personal care, nutrition, safety, and reporting, and qualify through the state's nurse aide program.
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75-hour nurse aide minimum. Wisconsin's nurse aide training minimum was reduced from 120 hours to the federal 75-hour floor by 2021 state legislation; a 75-hour state-approved program is now the requirement for listing on the Wisconsin Nurse Aide Registry.
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Medicaid personal care workers. Personal care agencies certified for Wisconsin Medicaid under DHS 105.17 must ensure personal care workers complete a department-approved training program or demonstrate equivalent competency under RN supervision.
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Private-pay home care unlicensed. Wisconsin does not license private-pay non-medical home care (companion/homemaker) agencies, so no state training or certification requirement applies to caregivers outside DHS 133 home health or Medicaid personal care programs.
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Annual in-service. Home health aides at Medicare-certified agencies must complete 12 hours of in-service education per 12-month period under 42 CFR 484.80; Wisconsin sets no separate annual hour 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://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dhs/110/133/21
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/caregiver/nurse-aide/nurse-aide.htm
- https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/dhs/101/105/17
- https://www.phinational.org/state/wisconsin/
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-484/subpart-B/section-484.80
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