How to Become a Home Health Aide in New Mexico

New Mexico requires you to be 18 years old the first day you begin your home health aide position.

The state also requires a negative tuberculosis test.

Home health aides in New Mexico assist with activities of daily living, such as feeding, bathing, and toileting.

They also help keep client/patient areas of the home clean and sanitary and perform household tasks that the client/patient cannot complete safely.

New Mexico does not license home health aides.

Instead, once trained, home health aides in New Mexico receive a certificate.

Additionally, all home health aides in the state must report to medically-trained supervisors licensed in New Mexico, including physicians and registered nurses.

New Mexico Requirements for Home Health Aide Training Programs

In theory, you can complete up to 59 of the 75 required training hours while still in high school.

To do so, take advantage of suitable high school courses and attend dual credit college classes.

For example, to fulfill the communications requirement, take speech and debate in high school or attend any college-level Speech Communication course through dual credit enrollment.

Likewise, you can use any college-level health class to meet the healthy environment requirement.

For more information, speak with your guidance counselor before the end of your sophomore year.

Or call (505) 428-1002 or (505) 428-1779 or visit our website: www.sfcc.edu/offices/dual-credit.

If you turn 18 while still in high school, you could take the 16 hours of nurse-supervised professional coursework for free.

But first, consult the home health agency you intend to join before registering for any program and use their recommendations to guide you in selecting your classes.

Five Home Health Aide Schools in New Mexico

1. Santa Fe Community College Home Health Aide Certificate

In-state, in-district tuition for the 5.5 credit certificate will cost $48 per credit hour, or $ 264.

Additional fees will make the program cost approximately $412, excluding textbooks.

Out-of-district tuition costs $60 per credit hour, and out-of-state tuition will cost $143 per credit hour.

Out-of-district means you live outside the Santa Fe Public School District, while out-of-state means you did not reside in New Mexico for the 12 months before enrollment.

2. Santa Fe Community College Allied Health Associate in Applied Science Degree

The Allied Health, A.A.S degree includes training in five areas:

• Community Health Worker Certificate
• Home Health Aide Certificate
• Nursing Assistant Certificate
• Nutrition Certificate
• Phlebotomy Certificate

The entire Allied Health A.A.S. degree program requires three to four semesters to complete the minimum 60 credit hours, costing at least $2880 for in-district, in-state students, $3600 for out-of-district, in-state students, and $8580 for out-of-state students.

Taking this program will allow you to command higher wages.

3. Central New Mexico Community College: Home Health Aide, Certificate of Achievement

You can complete this program in a single term in the Spring, Fall, or Summer.

This certificate program costs $189 for in-district, in-state tuition plus $168 in fees, excluding books.

However, with just three classes to attend, the shorter time frame offsets the higher cost per credit.

You will take courses in foundational skills for personal care assistants and home health aides, advanced personal care theory and practice, basic life-saving, CPR, first aid, and safety issues.

All these classes will meet or exceed state home health aide training guidelines.

4. Ashworth College Home Health Aide Certificate

Ashworth’s home health aide certificate program lasts four months, but you have up to a year to complete everything.

Tuition includes your textbook, Being a Caregiver in a Home Setting, a student portal with lessons and support, an online library, and online labs.

The program costs $799 if you pay in full in one lump sum or $989 if you use the monthly payment plan.

5. Doña Ana Community College Patient Care Technician – Certificate of Completion

Patient care technicians can choose to work in private homes.

In addition, several state HHA training programs have been permanently closed.

PCT training exceeds state requirements for HHAs.

Consequently, the DACC PCT program will prepare you for the unique challenges facing New Mexico healthcare workers.

This program covers 38 to 42 in-class credits over three to four semesters.

Tuition: $76.75 per credit or $921 for full-time in-district students, 93.15 per credit or $1119.00 for out-of-district New Mexico attendees, $101.75 or $1221.00 for 135-mile radius scholars, and $114.50 per credit or $2940 for out-of-state or international program participants.

Home Health Aide Schools in New Mexico – Summary Table

Salary

Nationally, as of May 2021, home health aides make a median salary of $29,430 per year.

However, New Mexico’s home health aides garner just $25,120, a wage gap of $4,310 per year.

For this reason, many home health aides graduating from New Mexico travel to other states to work, especially the five highest-paying: Washington State, Vermont, Massachusetts, Alaska, and North Dakota.

Regional Salary in New Mexico