Unless you plan to work in a facility that receives Medicare funding, South Carolina does not require Home Health Aides (HHA) to have a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate.
Although by law, no license is required, you will only get hired if you obtain one.
Employees will have to go through at least 75 hours of mandatory practical training after completing 16 hours of classroom training.
They are also required to pass a drug test and a criminal background check before they will be hired in the field.
5 Home Health Aide Schools in South Carolina
1. Greenville Technical College
Greenville Technical College offers a 100-hour Home Health Aide program, which consists of 60 hours of interactive learning and 40 hours of clinical experience.
The program introduces its students to the basic nursing skills that they will need to provide in healthcare facilities such as:
- Communication skills with patients, their families, and other healthcare co-workers.
- Health and Safety
- Patient safety and infection control
- CPR and BLS
- IV-Line and infusions
- Taking vital signs
After the successful completion of the course, students will be eligible to write and pass the State Competency Exam in order to graduate from the program and qualify for their HHA certification.
The school’s tuition and other additional fees can be found on its website.
The school is located at 506 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29607.
2. Aiken Technical College
Aiken Technical College offers a limited two-semester Patient Care Technician enrollment program which allows candidates to enter a work field relating to Health Aide.
The program has unique admissions requirements that must be met before students can be accepted, which include having completed 3 credit hours of the following courses first:
- Medical Terminology
- Psychology
- English Composition
- Contemporary Mathematics
- The Basic Anatomy and Physiology
After taking the required courses mentioned above first, students can then apply to the Patient care Technician program.
Upon the full completion of the program, students are then eligible to write and pass the Competency Exam to graduate and obtain their state certificate in Home Health Aide.
The school is located at 2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Graniteville, SC 29829.
3. Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College offers a two-semester CNA program for students who wish to work as Health Aides.
There are many class delivery methods, such as online, traditional on-campus, and hybrid, which means some classes are online and some are on-campus.
After completing the program, students are eligible to write and pass the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam to graduate and obtain their certification.
The school’s tuition is $4,136.00, excluding books and equipment fees.
The school is located at 1674 US-321 BUS, Winnsboro, SC 29180.
4. Technical College of the Lowcountry
Technical College of the Lowcountry offers a three-semester Medical Assistant program that provides its students with basic hands-on training and knowledge in nursing that they will need to know to pursue their career in the healthcare industry.
After completing the program, students are eligible to take the Certification Exam in order to obtain a Medical Assistant certificate.
Thereafter, individuals can apply for an entry-level job as a Home Health Aide.
The school is located at 921 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29902.
5. Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College offers a nine-semester CNA program that will consist of a curriculum that will prepare its students to work in a healthcare setting.
The program covers:
- Long-term care training
- technical communication
- CPR rescue skills
- Infection control
- Body Mechanics and Anatomy
After completing the program, students will be eligible to take and pass the Competency Exam for state certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant to obtain their Certification as a CNA.
The school’s In-County tuition is $205 per credit hour, which makes this course $20,500.
The out-of-county tuition will be $24,600 and out-of-state tuition is $33,000.
All of this is excluded from additional fees like lab, books, and supplies.
The school is located at 3250 St Matthews Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29118.
Home Health Aide Schools in South Carolina – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in South Carolina
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Greenville Technical College | 506 S Pleasantburg Dr, Greenville, SC 29607 |
| Aiken Technical College | 2276 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Graniteville, SC 29829 |
| Midlands Technical College | 1260 Lexington Drive, West Columbia, SC 29170 |
| Technical College of the Lowcountry | 921 Ribaut Rd, Beaufort, SC 29902 |
| Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College | 3250 St Matthews Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29118 |
Salary
The average annual salary for a certified nursing assistant in South Carolina is $31,622.
This is approximately $15 an hour, $608 a week, or $2,635 a month on the high end for an entry-level position.
The salary varies according to the exact location in the state of South Carolina, the type of employer, and the number of years of experience the candidate has.
All amounts are calculated at the top earning position for entry-level candidates.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Home Health Aides in South Carolina
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Columbia | $25,532 |
| Charleston | $26,165 |
| Spartanburg | $25,751 |
| Rock Hill | $27,120 |
| North Charleston | $26,165 |
| Sumter | $24,638 |
| Greenville | $26,173 |
| Mount Pleasant | $26,165 |
| Hilton Head Island | $25,723 |
| Florence | $24,836 |
Regional Salary in South Carolina
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 3,140 | $31,180 | $14.99 | $36,460 | $22,910 |
| Columbia, SC | 5,250 | $28,070 | $13.49 | $32,770 | $21,390 |
| Florence, SC | 1,850 | $26,940 | $12.95 | $34,470 | $20,280 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin, SC | 6,340 | $28,220 | $13.57 | $35,320 | $22,410 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC | 1,850 | $29,330 | $14.1 | $34,890 | $22,730 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC | 2,030 | $27,650 | $13.29 | $33,700 | $20,940 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 2,630 | $28,620 | $13.76 | $33,440 | $22,610 |
| Sumter, SC | 710 | $27,500 | $13.22 | $34,250 | $21,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Home Health Aides do in South Carolina?
The clinical role of a Home Health Aide includes practicing safety and infection control, taking the patient’s vital signs, administering their medication, executing first aid, preparing patients for their procedures, and performing selected diagnostic tests.
How long does it take to become an HHA in South Carolina?
To become a Home Health Aide in South Carolina, you will need to complete a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program with at least 100 hours of training, which includes clinical training.
Employees are allowed to graduate from an out-of-state program where they will still be required to have 100 hours of training completed.
Is there a high demand for HHA in South Carolina?
According to certain reports, South Carolinas Home Health Aide employment levels will rise by 34% by the year 2024.
The reason for this is the high demand for care providers for the rising number of retiring, elderly, disabled, and ill people.
