US · guidance
CMS SOM App. B, Tag G754
§484.80(a) Standard: Home health aide qualifications
(1) A qualified home health aide is a person who has successfully completed:
(i) A training and competency evaluation program as specified in paragraphs
(b) and (c) respectively of this section; or
(ii) A competency evaluation program that meets the requirements of
paragraph (c) of this section; or
(iii)A nurse aide training and competency evaluation program approved by
the state as meeting the requirements of §483.151 through §483.154 of this
chapter, and is currently listed in good standing on the state nurse aide
registry; or
(iv) The requirements of a state licensure program that meets the provisions
of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
Interpretive Guidelines §484.80(a)(1)
The regulation describes four methods by which a home health aide may become
qualified:
• The candidate may successfully complete a training and competency evaluation
program offered by an HHA (except by an HHA specified in §484.80(f)).
• The candidate may successfully complete a competency evaluation program only.
The competency evaluation program must address all requirements in §484.80(c).
• A nurse aide who successfully completes a nurse aide training and competency
evaluation program, and is found to be in good standing in the state nurse aide
registry, is considered to have met the training and competency requirements for
an HHA aide. See also 42 CFR Part 483, Subpart D for requirements for states
and state agencies on Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation.
• The candidate may successfully complete a State administered program that
licenses or certifies HHA aides and that meets or exceeds the requirements under
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section.
The HHA is responsible for ensuring that any HHA aide (whether employed directly or
under arrangement) who provides home health aide services for the HHA meets the
provisions of this regulation.
Any state requirement regarding aide education, training, competency evaluations, or
certification and supervision that is more stringent that the corresponding federal
requirement takes precedence over the federal requirement. Likewise, any federal
requirement that is more stringent than a corresponding state requirement takes
precedence over the more lenient state requirement
History
Rev. 219; Issued: 04-12-24; Effective: 04-12-24; Implementation: 04-12-24
Provenance
- Source
- cms.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-07-22
- Edition
- som-2026-07-22
- Content hash
2f4f3895ce93c8101e997c7d91d73ee205c9bdac01373d71c49f48d8d3ef51a3
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