Free home health aide (HHA) training is real in New York City, and the state’s own rules explain why. A home health aide training program approved by the New York State Department of Health may not charge tuition, only a fee of up to $100 for materials you keep. The course must total at least 75 hours, and the quickest way to find a legitimate free class is to check the Department of Health’s approved list.
Is HHA training really free in NYC?
It can be, depending on who approved the program. The Department of Health’s training program FAQ spells out the rule: a home health aide training program approved by the Department of Health may not charge tuition. A program approved by the State Education Department, which usually means a school, is allowed to charge tuition.
The Department of Health also allows an approved program to charge a participant fee of up to $100 for required materials that you keep. The department’s program guide adds that a program planning to charge more than $100 in fees or tuition must apply to the State Education Department instead.
Only licensed home care agencies and hospices can run a program under Department of Health approval. That is why free classes of this kind are run by agencies. Ask about any work commitment before you sign.
| Route | What you pay | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Agency program approved by the Department of Health | No tuition; materials fee up to $100 | Whether the agency expects you to work for it afterward, and for how long |
| Workforce1 / ITG training through Jobs NYC | Free, funded federally, for people earning under $91,000 | Registration, an assessment test, and the diploma or GED requirement |
| School approved by the State Education Department | May charge tuition | Total cost, refund policy, and whether it leads to the same certificate |
| Competency evaluation only | Ask the program | Only for people with qualifying experience, listed below |
How many hours is HHA training in New York?
At least 75 hours, according to the Department of Health: 59 hours of classroom instruction and 16 hours of supervised practical training with an approved nurse instructor. Testing and the competency evaluation are not counted in the 75 hours. Programs are allowed 60 days from the day you enter to complete the training.
The department’s FAQ breaks the 75 hours into a 40-hour home care curriculum, all classroom, and a 35-hour health-related tasks curriculum with 19 classroom hours plus the 16 practical hours. A personal care aide (PCA) course is shorter: the approved list says PCA programs provide basic training of at least 40 hours, while HHA programs provide core training of at least 75.
| Course | Minimum hours | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Home health aide (HHA) core training | 75 | 59 classroom hours and 16 hours of supervised practical training |
| Home care curriculum (part of the HHA course) | 40 | All classroom |
| Health-related tasks curriculum (part of the HHA course) | 35 | 19 classroom hours plus the 16 practical hours |
| Personal care aide (PCA) basic training | 40 | Shorter course; a PCA can later take an upgrade course to become an HHA |
Prior experience as a PCA does not replace the practical hours. The program guide says it cannot be used to satisfy the supervised practical training requirement, though a PCA can take an upgrade course to become an HHA.
Who can skip the full course?
The Department of Health lets some people take a competency evaluation, a written exam and skills demonstration, instead of the full training:
- A nursing assistant with one year of full-time hospital experience in the past five years.
- Someone with documented home health aide or nurse aide training and a competency evaluation from an out-of-state program.
- An HHA who has not worked as one for 24 consecutive months.
- A nursing student with documented coursework covering HHA tasks within the past 24 months.
- A veteran trained in the U.S. military as a medical technician or medic.
Certified nurse aides on the state’s Nurse Aide Registry can also take a shorter transition course instead of repeating what they already learned.
How do you find an approved program near you?
- Open the state’s approved list. The Department of Health publishes Approved PCA and HHA Training Programs. The edition we checked is dated October 1, 2026. It lists each agency’s address, county, phone, approval type and language.
- Filter by your borough. Brooklyn is Kings County. On that edition, Kings and Queens counties together have more than 100 HHA entries. Each entry is one site and language, so agencies repeat. Languages in those entries include English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Korean.
- Call two or three programs. Ask for the next start date, the schedule, the fee if any, and whether they place graduates.
- Check Workforce1. The city’s Jobs NYC site posts hiring and training events. In 2026 it listed an HHA session under the federally funded ITG program, which offers free training to people earning under $91,000. Participants need to be 18 or older, have a high school diploma or GED, be looking for work, be authorized to work in the U.S., and register with Workforce1. Screening can include an assessment test lasting up to two hours. Check the Jobs NYC event listing for how these sessions work, and look for newer dates.
- Ask for the registry details. Once you finish, your certificate is generated through the state Home Care Registry. See how to check the registry.
What are the requirements to enroll?
The state sets fewer entry requirements than many people expect. The Department of Health’s guide says programs should screen applicants on factors such as a sympathetic attitude toward caring for the sick, the ability to read, write and carry out directions, and maturity. A minimum age of 18 is recommended but not required. A high school diploma is not mentioned in the state guide.
Individual programs and funders can add their own rules, for example the ITG program’s diploma or GED and work authorization requirements above. Ask each program for its list in writing.
How do you tell a legitimate free program from a scam?
- Find it on the state list. If the agency is not on the Department of Health list, check whether it is approved through the State Education Department instead.
- Be wary of tuition at an agency program. Under Department of Health approval, tuition is not allowed, and the materials fee is capped at $100.
- Read any agreement before you sign, especially anything about repaying costs or committing to work for a set time.
- Confirm you will get a certificate and that your name is added to the Home Care Registry.
What happens after you are certified?
The Department of Health says a home health aide stays certified as long as they work for a certified or licensed agency, which must provide nursing supervision and 12 hours of in-service training a year. If you leave to work privately or out of state, certification lapses two years from the date you last worked at a New York home health agency. Our guide to renewing your HHA certificate covers keeping it active.
For what comes next, see our guides to the HHA certificate, HHA jobs in NYC and HHA and PCA pay. The state minimum wage for home care aides in New York City is $19.65 an hour in 2026.
ProLife Home Care is a licensed home care agency in Brooklyn and Queens, NY State Department of Health licence #2572L001. If you have questions about home care work or services, call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page.
Training rules and program lists change. Everything above was checked on 9 October 2026 against the New York State Department of Health and NYC Jobs NYC pages linked in the text. Always confirm a program’s approval and costs with the program itself before you enroll.
Frequently asked questions
Is HHA training really free in NYC?
Programs approved by the New York State Department of Health may not charge tuition, only a materials fee of up to $100. Workforce1 also offers free federally funded training to people who meet income and eligibility rules. Programs approved by the State Education Department can charge tuition.
How long does HHA training take?
At least 75 hours: 59 classroom hours and 16 hours of supervised practical training. Programs are allowed up to 60 days to complete it. How many weeks that takes depends on the class schedule.
Do I need a high school diploma to become a home health aide in New York?
The state’s training guide does not require one. It asks programs to screen for the ability to read, write and follow directions. Funded programs such as ITG through Workforce1 do ask for a diploma or GED.
What is the minimum age for HHA training?
The Department of Health recommends a minimum age of 18 but does not require it. Individual programs set their own age rules.
Can I take a test instead of the full HHA course?
Some people can, including nursing assistants with a year of full-time hospital experience, aides trained out of state, and military medics. The program offers a written exam and skills demonstration instead of the course.
Where do I find a list of approved HHA programs?
The Department of Health publishes “Approved PCA and HHA Training Programs.” The edition we checked, dated October 1, 2026, lists each program’s address, county, phone, approval type and language.
How much does a home health aide earn in NYC?
The state minimum wage for home care aides in New York City is $19.65 an hour in 2026 and $20.00 from January 1, 2027, per the Department of Labor. Employers may pay more.
