Caregiver Credentials Compared in Pennsylvania

It helps to understand the different job titles in the home care field. The table below compares the rules for Direct Care Workers, Home Health Aides, and Certified Nursing Assistants.

How Pennsylvania Agencies Verify Your Competency

Even without a state certification, you must prove you can do the job safely. Under PA home care law, an agency can verify your skills before assigning you to a client. They use one of three approved methods to confirm your competency.

1. You hold a valid Pennsylvania nurse’s license.
2. You pass the home care agency’s own competency exam.
3. You complete a recognized training program, such as a PA nurse aide training or a Medicaid waiver program training standard.

If you do not have prior certification, the agency will test your knowledge on required topics. This ensures you understand how to support a client safely in their own home.

What Non-Medical Competency Training Covers

If you take an agency competency exam, it will cover specific subjects mandated by the state. You will learn about consumer control and the independent living philosophy. You can review more details on caregiver requirements if you plan to care for a relative.

The exam tests your understanding of confidentiality, recognizing changes in the consumer, and documentation. You must also know how to recognize and report abuse or neglect, and how to deal with difficult behaviors.

Safety topics include basic infection control, universal precautions, and handling emergencies.

If your job includes personal care, the competency check adds more hands-on topics. These include bathing, shaving, grooming, and dressing. You also need to know about hair, skin, and mouth care, ambulation and transferring, meal preparation and feeding, toileting, and assistance with self-administered medications.

Are you looking to get paid for caring for a loved one? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form and choose “I am a caregiver” then “I already have a client.”

Other Requirements to Work as a Caregiver in PA

Competency is only one part of the hiring process. Before you start working with clients, agencies must complete several screenings.

You must provide at least two satisfactory references from a former employer or another person who is not related to you. You also need a criminal history report obtained at application or within the year prior.

If you have lived in Pennsylvania for the past two years, the agency requests a PA State Police record. Proof of residency can include a driver’s license, utility bills, or local tax records. If you are a newer resident, you need a federal FBI record and a letter of determination from the PA Department of Aging.

Agencies also require a tuberculosis screening for active TB before you have consumer contact. The screening must be dated within one year before you start and updated every 12 months. If the agency serves people under 18, you will also need a ChildLine child abuse verification.

Under PA law, an agency can sometimes hire you provisionally while waiting for your background check results. This provisional period lasts a maximum of 30 days if you have lived in Pennsylvania for the past two years, or up to 90 days otherwise. During this time, you cannot be assigned to a client until you meet the competency requirements. The agency must monitor you through random direct observation and consumer feedback.

Consumers also have rights regarding your employment. They must be involved in their service planning and receive at least 10 calendar days’ written notice before an agency terminates services. Additionally, no one affiliated with the home care agency may assume power of attorney or guardianship over a consumer of that agency.

When a CNA or HHA Credential Helps

While non-medical agencies do not require a state license, certain healthcare settings do. Understanding these differences helps you plan your career. You can learn more about these career paths by reading our guides on Caregiver vs CNA and HHA vs Caregiver.

If you want to work for a Medicare-certified home health agency, you must meet federal home health aide requirements. This means completing at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. A registered nurse must perform your competency evaluation, and you need at least 12 hours of in-service training every 12 months.

If you prefer to work in a nursing facility, you need a Certified Nursing Assistant credential. This requires completing a state-approved training program and passing the PA Nurse Aide competency exam to join the registry.

Caregiver Training Resources in Philadelphia

Many non-medical home care agencies provide their own training materials and exams for new hires. This allows you to start working without paying for outside classes.

If you decide to pursue a CNA license, you must complete a formal education program. In Philadelphia, the Community College of Philadelphia offers a nurse aide training course. Program lengths vary by school, but they all prepare you for the state exam administered through Credentia.

Once you meet the competency requirements, you can apply for non-medical caregiver jobs across the city.

Ready to start your home care career? Call 215-974-0000 or submit our contact form by selecting “I am a caregiver” and “I already have a client” to join New Century Home Care.