Home health aides (HHAs) prove to be extremely beneficial to those who are in need.
An HHA may help with all sorts of daily living activities while also working alongside therapists and nurses to care for patients.
If you love the idea of helping people in need, find out what it takes to become a home health aide in Montana.
5 Home Health Aide Schools in Montana
You will find a variety of schools that offer home health aide programs in Montana.
It’s important to compare the programs in terms of cost, mode of instruction, and length of the program.
This way, you will be able to choose the school that works best for you.
Great Falls College
Great Falls College is a part of the Montana State University system.
The Home Health Aide program offers a hybrid model for class times, allowing you to do online bookwork while coming onto the campus one day a week for a skills day.
The fee for the course is $250 and includes instruction, books, materials, and job placement assistance.
The course is offered every other month.
The college also offers various other courses that you can add to your HHA training so that you can have a stronger skillset for the workforce.
E&S Academy
E&S Academy allows you to complete a Certified Home Health Aide program online.
You’ll learn about patient care, blood-borne pathogens, and even how to deal with such situations as elderly abuse and domestic violence.
There are 80 lessons that are completed in the span of 76 hours.
You can work at your own pace to complete the program in approximately four weeks.
The cost of the program is $400 and includes videos, lectures, and quizzes.
Then, in the end, there are 16 hours of in-person skills training – which the academy helps to coordinate based on where you live.
Highlands College of Montana Tech
Located in Butte, MT, the college offers a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program.
This allows you to work as a home health aide as well as a CNA.
The program includes 50 hours of face-to-face instruction and another 25 hours of clinical site instruction, which provides you with hands-on skills labs.
Throughout the program, you’ll learn how to provide care to patients in their homes and in assisted living/long-term care facilities.
At the end of the program, you’ll also have the ability to take the Montana CNA licensing exam.
The cost of the program is $1450 and includes textbooks, CPR & First Aid training, as well as the state licensing exam fee.
Missoula College University of Montana
In Helena, you can attend the Missoula College University of Montana to receive your home health aide training.
The program allows you to attend courses on a part-time basis over the span of 15 weeks.
In order to apply, you will need to provide a physical exam, a TB skin test, and a criminal background check.
You will also need a high school diploma or GED.
The cost of the program is $800 and includes the tuition and book.
Upon completion of the program, you will receive a certificate to show that you have mastered the skills in order to seek employment as an HHA throughout the state.
The Lifelong Learning Center
In Missoula, you can attend the Lifelong Learning Center in order to get the training to become a home health aide.
The program lasts for 10 weeks – and many of the classes are hybrid.
This means you’ll take some of the training online and attend in-person skills labs.
The cost of the program is $473, and you’ll need to submit to a criminal background check and provide a negative TB test.
Once you become an HHA, you can also take other courses to boost your skills including phlebotomy, CPR and first aid, and more.
Home Health Aide Schools in Montana – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Montana
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Great Falls College Montana State University | 2100 16th Ave S, Great Falls, MT 59405 |
| E&S Academy | |
| Highlands College of Montana Tech | 25 Basin Creek Rd, Butte, MT 59701 |
| Missoula College University of Montana | 1205 E Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59802 |
| Lifelong Learning Center | 310 S Curtis St, Missoula, MT 59801 |
Salary
The salary for a home care aide in Montana can vary depending on experience, education, and even location.
Salary.com estimates that the average aid in Helena earns an annual salary of $23,186.
With more skills and even potentially overseeing others, it is possible to increase your earnings.
Those in the 90th percentile are expected to earn around $28,000 a year.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Home Health Aides in Montana
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Billings | $26,387 |
| Missoula | $22,772 |
| Great Falls | $23,888 |
| Butte | $22,772 |
| Bozeman | $22,772 |
| Helena | $23,186 |
| Kalispell | $24,196 |
| Belgrade | $22,772 |
| Anaconda | $22,772 |
| Miles City | $25,974 |
Regional Salary in Montana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 1,230 | $32,440 | $15.6 | $41,110 | $23,110 |
| Great Falls, MT | 820 | $29,830 | $14.34 | $36,360 | $25,530 |
| Missoula, MT | 1,620 | $29,420 | $14.14 | $36,350 | $22,810 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost to be licensed in Montana?
There is no cost as licenses are not required in Montana.
The only requirement is that an HHA registers with the state.
What is the minimum age to become a home health aide in Montana?
The minimum age is recommended to be 18, and most training programs will require you to be at least 18 as well.
Where do the most opportunities for home health aides exist in Montana?
You’ll find more opportunities throughout the larger cities, including Billings, Missoula, Great Falls, and Bozeman.
Is there a large need for home health aides in Montana?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies that there is a growing need for home health aides – and opportunities may nearly double within the next 10 years.
Do licenses expire in Montana?
Only CNA licenses expire.
HHAs do not need to be licensed.
