Home Healthcare Certificate · 4 months

Patient care, in the home.

The fastest path into clinical care work. Four months of online study plus a structured 80-hour externship gets you employer-ready as a home health aide, hospice aide, or personal care attendant.

Certificate4 monthsOnline + 80hr externshipOpen enrollment
Who this is for

The Home Healthcare fit.

If any of these describe you, this program likely matches your goals and timeline.

01

Career changers

Coming from retail, food service, or admin work? This is the shortest credentialed path into the clinical workforce.

02

Pre-CNA bridge

Use HHA as a clinical-foundation step before pursuing CNA, PCT, or RN tracks.

03

Second-income earners

Per-diem and hourly home care work fits around an existing job or family schedule.

04

Hospice & palliative path

Strong introduction to end-of-life care for those drawn to hospice work.

Curriculum

6 modules. 164 hours.

16 weeks online + 80hr clinical externship. Asynchronous online with weekly live office hours.

01

Foundations of Home Care

What home health means, the care continuum, scope of practice, and where the HHA fits within the care team.

16 hrs
02

Patient Mobility & Safety

Safe transfers, fall prevention, body mechanics, and home environment risk assessment.

20 hrs
03

Nutrition & Medication Reminders

Meal prep for clinical diets, hydration monitoring, and medication-reminder protocols (no administration).

16 hrs
04

Vitals & Documentation

Taking blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and temperature; writing accurate care notes; HIPAA basics.

20 hrs
05

End-of-Life & Hospice Basics

Comfort care, family communication, signs of decline, and the hospice care framework.

12 hrs
06

Clinical Externship

80 hours of supervised in-home or facility-based care with a partner agency.

80 hrs
Skills you'll build

Practical, employer-ready competencies.

Every skill below is taught explicitly, practiced in coursework, and validated during the externship.

Patient transfers
Vital signs (BP, pulse, temp)
Medication reminders
Hygiene & ADL support
Wound observation
HIPAA & privacy
Care plan documentation
Family communication
CPR/BLS-ready
Career outcomes

Where graduates work.

Salary ranges reflect U.S. national averages. Local Texas market and metro Dallas pay tend higher in most categories. State HHA certification + CPR/BLS readiness on completion.

Role 1

Home Health Aide

$28,000–$36,000annual
Role 2

Personal Care Aide

$26,000–$32,000annual
Role 3

Hospice Aide

$30,000–$38,000annual
Role 4

Caregiver/Companion

$28,000–$34,000annual
21%Projected 2022–2032 job growth (BLS)
924KOpen positions nationally
$31KNational median pay

Tuition: $4,800 total · $349/mo payment plan

0% in-house payment plans, scholarships, employer reimbursement, and military/veteran benefits available. 87% of HCI students qualify for some form of aid. Federal Title IV pending ABHES accreditation.

See full tuition details →
FAQ

Home Healthcare questions.

Do I need a high school diploma?

Yes. A high school diploma or GED is required for enrollment. No prior healthcare experience needed.

Where does the externship happen?

We coordinate placement with home health agencies, hospice providers, or assisted-living facilities near you. We have 200+ partner sites nationwide.

Can I work as an HHA without state certification?

Many states require state-issued HHA certification. The HCI program prepares you for that exam where required, and your certificate alone is sufficient in others.

Is this a stepping stone to CNA?

Yes — many graduates enroll in our Nursing Assistant program afterwards, and HHA hours can sometimes count toward CNA prerequisites.

Ready?

Start the Home Healthcare program.

Open enrollment year-round. Cohorts start every 4 weeks. Application takes about 5 minutes and is free.

4 months · Certificate$349/mo · payment plans availableLifetime · career services included