Caregiver Career Guide: Becoming a Caregiver in Pennsylvania
Caregiver Career Guide: Becoming a Caregiver in Pennsylvania
Short answer: To become a caregiver in Pennsylvania, you do not need a state license for non-medical home care. You must pass a background check, provide two references, pass a tuberculosis screening, and demonstrate competency before assisting clients.
- Pennsylvania does not require state certification for non-medical direct care workers.
- Home care agencies must verify your criminal background, references, and TB status.
- Home health aides need 75 hours of training, while CNAs must pass a state exam.
- The median market wage for personal care aides in the Philadelphia area is $14.33 per hour.
- Family members can get paid to provide care (except the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee or POA).
Caregiver Career Paths in Pennsylvania
You can choose from several roles when starting a career in home care. Each path has different training rules and job duties. Read more about what a non-medical caregiver does to see if this field is right for you.
| Career Path | Training & Certification | Job Description |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Medical Caregiver / Direct Care Worker | No state certification required. Must pass agency competency tests. | Assists with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, and meal prep. Learn the difference between a caretaker and caregiver. |
| Home Health Aide (HHA) | 75 hours of training, 16 supervised practical hours, and 12 annual in-service hours. | Provides care alongside skilled nursing. See the home health aide vs caregiver differences. |
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) | Complete a state-approved program and pass the PA Nurse Aide exam via Credentia. | Works in facilities or home care performing personal care. Read about comparing a caregiver vs CNA. |
| Paid Family Caregiver | Must meet agency or Services My Way requirements. The waiver won’t pay the participant’s spouse, legal guardian, representative payee or POA. | Cares for a relative at home. Learn how to get paid to care for family. |
Requirements to Become a Caregiver in PA
Under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 611, home care agencies must verify your background and skills before you work with clients. You can review the full Pennsylvania home care laws for complete details.
- Interview and References: You must complete an interview, which can happen via two-way video. You also need at least two satisfactory references from former employers or people not related to you.
- Background Checks: Agencies require a criminal history report from the past year. If you lived in Pennsylvania for the last two years, you need a PA State Police record. Otherwise, you need an FBI record and a PA Department of Aging letter. You must prove residency using a driver’s license, lease, or utility bills.
- Child Abuse Clearance: You only need ChildLine verification if the agency serves clients under 18.
- Tuberculosis Screening: You must pass a TB screening before having contact with clients. This must be updated every 12 months following CDC guidelines.
- Provisional Hiring: You can work provisionally while waiting for background checks. The limit is 30 days if you are a two-year PA resident, or 90 days otherwise. You cannot work independently until you prove competency.
- Competency Verification: You must pass the agency’s exam or finish a recognized training program. Required topics include infection control, handling emergencies, reporting abuse, and assisting with personal care like bathing and transferring.
For more details on the process, read our guide on how to become a caregiver in PA.
Start your caregiving career with New Century Home Care in Philadelphia. Call 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form, choosing “I am a caregiver” and then “I already have a client.”
Caregiver Pay in Pennsylvania
When researching caregiver jobs, look at market wages to understand what workers earn. These figures are different from the cost of care that families pay an agency.
According to 2025 data, the median market wage for home health and personal care aides in Pennsylvania is $14.14 per hour. In the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area, the median wage is $14.33 per hour. Entry-level wages at the 10th percentile are $13.58, while the 75th percentile reaches $16.63 and the 90th percentile is $18.61. You can find more details in our guide to the average caregiver salary in Pennsylvania.
Caregiver Guide Index
Explore our full library of resources to build your career in home care:
Open Roles at New Century Home Care
New Century Home Care hires caregivers to serve clients in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties. Our office staff speak English, Russian, and Ukrainian to support our diverse team.
We provide non-medical home care services, including companion care, personal care, and specialized support for clients with dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or stroke recovery needs. As a caregiver, you might help a client with Parkinson’s manage balance issues or assist a stroke survivor with safe transfers.
Our employee benefits include weekly pay, paid sick days, paid vacation or extra pay, holiday pay, and a $350 signing bonus. We also offer direct deposit, a 401(k) retirement plan, a free health insurance plan, and free life insurance.
Apply for our open positions or view our open jobs online:
- Caregiver
- Home Health Aide (HHA)
- Direct Care Worker
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- Live-In Caregiver
Ready to join our team? Contact New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or submit our contact form. Choose “I am a caregiver” and select “I already have a client” to connect with our hiring staff.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifies as a caretaker?
In Pennsylvania, a non-medical caregiver or direct care worker assists clients with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, and meal preparation. You do not need a state license, but agencies require a background check, tuberculosis screening, and proof of competency.
What certifications are required for caregivers?
Pennsylvania does not require a state certification to work as a non-medical direct care worker. You must pass a competency exam or complete agency training. Home health aides need 75 hours of training, and CNAs must pass the state nurse aide exam.
Who gets paid more, CNA or caregiver?
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) complete state-approved training and pass a competency exam to join the state registry, which often allows them to work in clinical settings. For comparison, the median market wage for personal care aides in Pennsylvania is $14.14 per hour.
What is caregiver fatigue?
Caregiver stress or fatigue includes denial, anger, social withdrawal, anxiety, exhaustion, and sleeplessness. Caregivers should take breaks using respite care, share duties, join support groups, and contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline for guidance.
New Century hires caregivers across Philadelphia and 4 counties. Weekly pay, $350 signing bonus, paid sick days, free health insurance plan available, 401(k). Call 215-974-0000.
Apply now