New York's aide training rules, in plain language
What a licensed home care services agency (LHCSA) must give its home health aides and personal care aides every year, with the official sources.
| Requirement | Home health aide (HHA) | Personal care aide (PCA) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual in-service hours | At least 12 hours every year | At least 6 hours every year | 10 NYCRR 766.11 |
| How the hours are spread | Any time during the year | 3 hours in each half of the year | 18 NYCRR 505.14(e) |
| Which year counts | The agency chooses: calendar year or each aide's hire anniversary | DAL DHCBS 17-01 | |
| Orientation hours | Do not count toward the annual in-service hours | DAL DHCBS 17-01 | |
| Supervision | In-service supervised by a registered nurse | Under professional supervision | 42 CFR 484.80(d) |
| Bloodborne pathogens | Training every year for staff with possible exposure to blood | 29 CFR 1910.1030 | |
| Sexual harassment prevention | Interactive training every year for every employee | NY Labor Law 201-g | |
| HIV confidentiality | Staff must understand who may see HIV-related information and how it is protected | NY Public Health Law Art. 27-F | |
Home health aides: 12 hours a year
New York requires home health aides to take part in at least 12 hours of in-service education each year. Federal rules for Medicare-certified agencies set the same 12-hour minimum and call for the training to be supervised by a registered nurse. Topics should be specific and relevant to the aide's work.
Personal care aides: 6 hours a year, in two parts
Personal care aides need at least 6 hours of in-service education each year. Under the Medicaid personal care rules, this is given as 3 hours on a semiannual basis, so each half of the training year has its own session.
Calendar year or anniversary year
The Department of Health lets each agency decide whether the yearly requirement follows the calendar year or the aide's employment anniversary. Whichever you choose, apply it the same way for every aide. The requirement starts from the aide's date of hire.
Orientation is separate
Training given to orient a newly hired aide does not count toward the 6 or 12 annual in-service hours.
Yearly required topics
Beyond in-service hours, agencies cover certain topics every year for all staff: bloodborne pathogens and standard precautions, HIV confidentiality, the agency's emergency plan, and New York State sexual harassment prevention, which must be interactive and given to every employee annually.
Official sources
- 10 NYCRR 766.11: Personnel requirements for licensed home care services agencies
- 18 NYCRR 505.14: Personal care services (Medicaid)
- 42 CFR 484.80: Home health aide services (federal)
- NYS DOH Dear Administrator Letters DHCBS 17-01, 21-02 and 21-09: In-service requirements for personal care aides and home health aides
- 29 CFR 1910.1030: OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
- New York Labor Law § 201-g: Prevention of sexual harassment
- New York Public Health Law Article 27-F: HIV and AIDS related information
Let G Career track these rules for you
Hours, sessions and signatures are checked automatically for every aide.