The Home Health Aide Certificate of Achievement prepares individuals to enter the healthcare industry as a Home Health Aide and builds on the Personal Care Attendant Certificate of Achievement for career advancement. The Certificate meets the New Mexico Department of Health training requirements.
This educational option is an: Certificate of Achievement
This educational option can be completed: In one term
This educational option is designed for: Persons who want to enter the healthcare field and work with the elderly, disabled and or those convalescing in their homes with bandage changes, taking and recording vital signs, feeding patients and monitoring and reporting health changes. They may also help with activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, housekeeping, food preparation and helping clients ambulate and transfer from sitting to standing, bed to wheelchair, etc.
This educational option can be started: Any Term
Primary course location: Main campus
Special Requirements
Physical Requirements
Students must be in good physical and psychological health. Many health programs require the student to be able to safely lift and/or move a minimum of 50 pounds. Persons must be able to communicate orally, lift and move persons and see and hear a manual blood pressure and palpate a pulse and recognize client problems. Reasonable accommodations are made for students with disabilities, however, some disabilities may prohibit students from completing program specific competencies or gaining employment. Students with disabilities that may interfere with completing program competencies are advised to contact the School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety (HWPS) Office for more information.
Felony Conviction
Persons with felony convictions may participate in this classroom and lab-based educational opportunity however, employers will conduct state and federal felony criminal background checks with fingerprints during the hiring process.
Educational Opportunities
This program provides a basic foundation to relating and doing well in more advanced healthcare and social assistance training programs such as nursing assistant, patient care attendant, nursing, community health worker or social work.
Career Opportunities
ONet Online projects a large number of job openings in New Mexico, at least 350 jobs per year, during 2014 to 2024. It is an occupation that is growing much faster than average due to the aging population.
Graduates of the program can work privately or for home care and personal caregiver agencies full-time, part-time or on an as needed (prn) basis.
Although the program is not eligible for Federal Financial Aid, there are some possible outside funding options (i.e. VA, DVR, institutional funding, etc.). For more information go to http://www.cnm.edu/depts/financial-aid.
Home Health Aide Certificate of Achievement
This program prepares students at two levels: a foundational training for Personal Care Attendants and more advanced training for Home Health Aides. Completion of the program meets or exceeds the New Mexico Department of Health requirements for each level of training.