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Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Home Health Aide Licensing Requirements by State

Home Health Aide licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Home Health Aide across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Home Health Aide: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Provides personal care services to patients in their homes.

Home Health Aide: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for healthcare. Athletic Trainer is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Home Health Aide drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Home Health Aide states

51

Above median

Board gates for Home Health Aide: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Other licenses near Home Health Aide's board count

Coverage band

Home Health Aide boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
Alaska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacist · Process Server
Arizona 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Nurse · Security Alarm Installer
Arkansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
California 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Sign Language Interpreter · Tow Truck Operator
Colorado 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
Connecticut 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Delaware 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Casino/Gaming Dealer · Court Reporter / Stenographer
District of Columbia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Florida 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Mortgage Loan Originator · Paramedic
Georgia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Hawaii 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
Idaho 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Illinois 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Auctioneer · Chauffeur / Limousine Driver
Indiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Iowa 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
Kansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Massage Therapist · Occupational Therapist
Kentucky 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Louisiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Notary Public
Maine 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
Maryland 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
Massachusetts 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
Michigan 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Psychologist · Roofer
Minnesota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Registered Nurse · Security Alarm Installer
Mississippi 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also School Librarian / Media Specialist · Surgical Technologist
Missouri 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
Montana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
Nebraska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Septic System Installer · Taxi/Ride-Share Driver
Nevada 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Athletic Trainer · Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
New Jersey 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
New Mexico 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tow Truck Operator · Armed Security Guard
New York 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
North Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
North Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
Ohio 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Bartender / Alcohol Server · Commercial Truck Driver (CDL)
Oklahoma 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Nurse-Midwife · Debt Collector
Oregon 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
Pennsylvania 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
Rhode Island 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
South Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Psychologist · Roofer
South Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
Tennessee 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
Texas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
Utah 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) · Glazier
Vermont 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) · Mobile Home Installer
Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Washington 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Landscape Architect · Medical Assistant
West Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pharmacy Technician · Professional Engineer (PE)
Wisconsin 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Medical Lab Technician · Optometrist
Wyoming 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist

What to do with this

Home Health Aide is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Home Health Aide's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #37 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Athletic Trainer →Reciprocity guide →Strictest states →Compare states →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Home Health Aide requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.