If you’re searching for a healthcare career that allows you to directly assist and care for patients, then becoming a home health aide in Florida may be the right career path to meet your goals.
Although the salaries aren’t staggering, you get immediate and continued gratification knowing that you are making a difference in the lives of others.
Also, many enter the medical field as home health aides to get basic training and move on to nursing and other healthcare fields in the future with additional experience and training.
If you’re interested in becoming a home health aide in Florida, keep reading to learn more about the field and the best-accredited schools to complete mandatory educational requirements!
Page Navigation
- 5 Home Health Aide Schools in Florida
- Salary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What licensure is required to be a home health aide in Florida?
- Is being a Florida home health aide difficult?
- What are some of the duties a home health aide can do in Florida?
- What is the process for keeping the home health aide certificate current?
- What's the difference between the 40-hour and 75-hour home health aide certificates?
5 Home Health Aide Schools in Florida
Academy of Nursing and Health Occupations
The Academy of Nursing and Health Occupations (ANHO) focuses on health career core classes, nurse assistant training, and health aide training.
Since this is an associate diploma program, the coursework consists of 240 hours of theoretical training, clinical fieldwork, and laboratory exercises.
In addition, the program provides job search assistance, sensitivity and employment skills, and conflict resolution.
The two-year program costs $39,300, and incoming students must have a high school diploma.
Manatee Technical College
Located in Lakewood Ranch, Manatee Technical College offers a home health aide preparation course for high school seniors and adults.
The system consists of 50 training hours and is part of the patient care technician 600-hour program.
Therefore, if you do not wish to complete the patient care technician program, the first semester covers all information necessary to become a home health aide or nursing assistant.
Seminole State College of Florida
Nestled in central Florida, Seminole State College of Florida is the ninth largest in the Florida College System, with around 32,700 students.
Their advanced vocational certificate program prepares students for in-home client care and comprises 215 semester hours.
In addition, the program covers personal care, household management, and food preparation.
Tuition is $3,131 for in-state residents and $11,456 for out-of-state students per year.
A high school diploma or equivalent is required to apply for the program.
Southern Technical Institute
The Southern Technical Institute provides all required skill sets and training to prepare students for home health aide employment in an online or in-class setting.
For $239, you can earn a home health aide certification that meets Florida state requirements.
Once the training course is complete, a two-hour in-person clinical practice session is required before graduation.
Introductory training courses include home care, legal and ethical responsibilities, infection control and prevention, safety practices, body mechanics and positioning, body systems, and personal care.
Technical Education Center – Osceola
The Technical Education Center – Osceola (TECO) is the only adult education institution in Osceola county.
The school offers a 75-hour home health aide training course that covers safety procedures, personal care, nutrition, disease concepts, CPR, and first aid.
Classes are provided full-time during weekdays.
Once complete, students learn to work with the elderly, critically ill, and physically disabled.
Home Health Aide Schools in Florida – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Florida
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Academy of Nursing and Health Occupations | 5154 Okeechobee Blvd Ste 201, West Palm Beach, FL 33417 |
| Manatee Technical College | 6305 State Road 70 East, Bradenton, FL 34203 |
| Seminole State College Student Center | 100 Weldon Blvd, Sanford, FL 32773 |
| Southern Technical Institute | 8200 66th St N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781 |
| Technical Education Center – Osceola | 501 Simpson Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34744 |
Salary
A home health aide’s median annual U.S. income is $27,500, with pay ranging from $23,800 to $33,300.
In Florida, the median income is $26,800, with pay ranging from $23,200 to $32,400.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Home Health Aides in Florida
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $26,115 |
| Miami | $26,823 |
| Tampa | $26,225 |
| St. Petersburg | $26,230 |
| Hialeah | $26,616 |
| Orlando | $26,211 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $26,757 |
| Tallahassee | $24,990 |
| Hollywood | $26,757 |
| Pembroke Pines | $26,583 |
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 2,640 | $33,930 | $16.31 | $40,470 | $28,340 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 800 | $31,160 | $14.98 | $35,630 | $28,290 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 2,070 | $30,100 | $14.47 | $34,640 | $25,300 |
| Gainesville, FL | 1,610 | $30,180 | $14.51 | $37,670 | $25,090 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 490 | $28,690 | $13.79 | $32,820 | $25,130 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 5,650 | $30,990 | $14.9 | $34,990 | $27,040 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 1,950 | $30,120 | $14.48 | $35,140 | $26,880 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 22,560 | $31,230 | $15.02 | $36,780 | $23,990 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 1,240 | $33,120 | $15.92 | $36,330 | $29,630 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 3,250 | $32,510 | $15.63 | $37,300 | $27,360 |
| Ocala, FL | 1,030 | $30,010 | $14.43 | $33,360 | $26,400 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 8,430 | $31,380 | $15.09 | $36,030 | $26,710 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 2,270 | $32,080 | $15.43 | $38,250 | $26,890 |
| Panama City, FL | 540 | $32,480 | $15.61 | $35,530 | $25,410 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 1,700 | $30,130 | $14.49 | $33,890 | $26,230 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 1,790 | $31,090 | $14.95 | $35,790 | $26,140 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 530 | $30,400 | $14.62 | $34,780 | $24,850 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 650 | $30,410 | $14.62 | $34,400 | $27,120 |
| Sebring, FL | 280 | $28,760 | $13.83 | $32,850 | $23,470 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 2,050 | $29,870 | $14.36 | $34,730 | $24,510 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 12,300 | $31,790 | $15.28 | $38,070 | $24,040 |
| The Villages, FL | 410 | $31,370 | $15.08 | $34,860 | $27,960 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What licensure is required to be a home health aide in Florida?
To become a home health aide in Florida, you must complete a 40-hour home health aide certificate, 75 hours certification, or earn a home health aide diploma through a school accredited by the Florida Department of Education.
The state government doesn’t issue annual licenses, but the above requirements must be met to practice.
Is being a Florida home health aide difficult?
Being a home health aide in Florida, where numerous elderly individuals can sometimes feel overwhelmed.
While the satisfaction of helping others perform basic tasks throughout the day is the main draw for entering this field, it can still be challenging.
Most aren’t in the field for the money but to help others.
What are some of the duties a home health aide can do in Florida?
Home health aides have a variety of responsibilities when caring for patients, including helping them move around and assisting with as much physical activity as possible.
Home health aides can check breathing rates and pulses, assist RNs in medication management, help clients with self-hygiene, including toileting, dressing, and bathing, and fulfill the essential quality of life needs.
Other responsibilities include providing transportation for errands or appointments, light house cleaning to ensure comfort and safety, preparing meals for special diets, and adding to the well-being of patients by providing emotional support.
What is the process for keeping the home health aide certificate current?
All home health aides must finish HIV/AIDS healthcare and CPR training courses yearly to maintain their certificate.
Those employed by Medicaid or Medicare home health agencies must complete 12 hours of in-service training during that same period.
What's the difference between the 40-hour and 75-hour home health aide certificates?
To work for a Medicaid or Medicare home health agency, home health aides must have at least 75 hours of healthcare training through a qualified program.
To work for a licensed-only agency, a home health aide must finish 40 hours of training or complete a competency test provided by the agency.
