Home Health Aide / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania Home Health Aide License Requirements

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

Provides personal care services to patients in their homes.

What the Pennsylvania data shows for Home Health Aides

To practice as a home health aide in Pennsylvania, the state licensing board requires 1,000 documented education or training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. The regulation sits under Pennsylvania's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Budget $100 to get started on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Pennsylvania, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

Pennsylvania handles out-of-state credentials on a case-by-case basis instead of a standing reciprocity list.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Home Health Aide · Pennsylvania

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Home Health Aide in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania requires 1000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Home Health Aide in Pennsylvania?
Certification as a home health aide in Pennsylvania means clearing the state's checklist: 1000 hours of education, and a passing exam score. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Home Health Aide license to Pennsylvania from another state?
There's no published blanket reciprocity rule for home health aides in Pennsylvania - applications from other states are reviewed individually. Interstate licensing compacts cover many occupations and may still apply. Reach out to the Pennsylvania licensing board for the current process.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Home Health Aide licensing?
Yes, Pennsylvania requires a criminal background check as part of the home health aide licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.

What to do with this home health aide license

Home Health Aide in Pennsylvania is one requirement row in a home health aide-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Pennsylvania licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.