Choose Your Caregiver Path in Pennsylvania

Before you apply for a job, you need to know which type of care you want to provide. Pennsylvania has different rules depending on the employer and the medical needs of the client.

You can work in non-medical home care, Medicare-certified home health, or facility care. You can also work directly for a family member.

If you work for a non-medical agency, you do not need a state certification or a CNA license. You provide assistance with daily activities, not medical treatments. Non-medical services include personal care, companionship, and respite care. You will not perform wound care, injections, or nursing assessments, because those are skilled services.

If you want to become a Medicare-certified home health aide, federal law requires at least 75 hours of classroom and supervised practical training. A registered nurse must perform your competency evaluation.

To become a Certified Nursing Assistant, you must complete a state-approved nurse aide training program. You then take the Pennsylvania Nurse Aide competency exam to be placed on the state registry.

For more details on these credentials, read our caregiver guide.

Steps to Become an Agency Caregiver in PA

Pennsylvania law sets specific rules for hiring non-medical direct care workers. Every licensed home care agency must follow these steps before sending you to a client’s home.

1. Apply and interview: You start by applying to a licensed home care agency. Under Act 96 of 2024, your agency interview can take place using two-way video. You must provide proof of residency, such as a driver’s license, utility bill, or lease.
2. Provide references: You need at least two satisfactory references. These must come from a former employer or another person who is not related to you.
3. Pass a background check: The agency must obtain your criminal history report. If you have lived in Pennsylvania for the two preceding years, you need a PA State Police record. If you lived outside the state, you need a federal FBI record and a letter of determination from the PA Department of Aging. The agency cannot hire you if you have a prohibited conviction.
4. Complete a TB screening: You must complete a screening for active tuberculosis before you have any contact with a consumer. This screening must be dated within one year before your start date. You will need to update this screening every 12 months.
5. Meet competency requirements: You must prove you can safely perform the job. You can do this by holding a valid PA nurse’s license, passing the agency’s competency exam, or completing a recognized training program.
6. Pass the specific topic tests: Your competency evaluation covers many specific topics. You must show you understand confidentiality, basic infection control, universal precautions, and handling emergencies. You also need to know how to recognize and report abuse or neglect.
7. Demonstrate personal care skills: If you will provide personal care, you must prove your skills in hands-on tasks. This includes bathing, shaving, grooming, dressing, toileting, and transferring. You must also show you can assist with self-administered medications. Read more about Pennsylvania caregiver certification.

Ready to start working in Philadelphia? Call New Century Home Care at 215-974-0000 or fill out our online form and select “I am a caregiver.”

Steps for Paid Family Caregivers

Many people in Philadelphia want to know how to get paid for caring for a loved one. Family members can be paid, but the process is different from getting a traditional agency job.

Your loved one must first be approved for the Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver. This program pays for Personal Assistance Services at home. The CHC waiver is part of Pennsylvania’s Medicaid managed care program.

Paid family caregivers work through either a licensed agency like New Century or the Services My Way participant-directed option. If you choose Services My Way, your loved one acts as the employer and Tempus Unlimited handles your payroll.

The CHC waiver has rules about who can be paid. The waiver will not pay for services furnished by the participant’s spouse. It also excludes the participant’s legal guardian, representative payee, or power of attorney.

If you meet the relationship rules, you still need to meet basic worker standards. Learn more about family caregiver requirements.

If your loved one is not yet approved, they must apply through the Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227. The local Area Agency on Aging, which is the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging (PCA) in Philadelphia, will do the functional assessment.

You can read our full guide on how to get paid to care for family.

How Long It Takes to Start Working

The time it takes to become a caregiver depends mostly on your background check. Criminal history reports can take days or weeks to process.

Pennsylvania law allows a provisional hire while you wait for your background check results. If you have been a PA resident for two years, you can work provisionally for up to 30 days. If you have lived outside the state, this extends to 90 days.

You cannot be assigned to a consumer until you meet the competency requirements. Even as a provisional hire, you must pass your exam and complete your TB screening first.

While working provisionally, the agency will monitor you. This includes random direct observation and gathering feedback from your consumer.

Apply for Caregiver Jobs at New Century

New Century Home Care is a licensed non-medical home care agency. We serve clients in Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties.

Our caregivers provide companion care, personal care, homemaker services, and mobility assistance. We also offer respite care and specialized support for conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke recovery, and chronic disease.

We hire for several roles. You can find open positions on our jobs page. Our job titles include Caregiver, Home Health Aide (HHA), Direct Care Worker, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and Live-In Caregiver.

Our office staff speak English, Russian, and Ukrainian. We support our team with strong benefits and reliable hours.

Caregivers at New Century receive weekly pay and direct deposit. We offer paid sick days, paid vacation or extra pay, and holiday pay. New hires can also receive a $350 signing bonus.

We provide a free health insurance plan and free life insurance. You can also participate in a 401(k) retirement plan.

Your pay rate depends on your experience and the type of care you provide. You can learn more about average wages in our guide to caregiver salary in PA.

Start your career with us today. Call 215-974-0000 or submit our contact form. Choose “I am a caregiver” and then select “I already have a client” if you are bringing a family member, or “I need a client” to take new shifts.