What are the steps to become a home health aide in New Haven?
Since January 1, 1993, Connecticut has required anyone furnishing home health aide services for a home health care agency to first finish a training and competency evaluation program the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) has approved. In New Haven, the Gateway campus of CT State Community College runs a Certified Nurse Aide program that satisfies the training portion of that requirement, though a separate competency evaluation and employer orientation still apply.
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The training requirement
DPH sets the floor for homemaker-home health aide training at not less than 75 hours, covering communication, infection control, personal hygiene techniques, safe transfer and ambulation, and recognizing emergencies. The curriculum has to be taught in both a classroom and a clinical setting, not just lecture.
Someone who already finished a nurse's aide (CNA) training and competency program is treated as having met the homemaker-home health aide training piece, but they still have to pass a separate homemaker-home health aide competency evaluation before doing that work, and still need 10 hours of orientation from whoever employs them.
Where New Haven residents can train
CT State Community College's Gateway campus, at 20 Church Street in New Haven, offers a Certified Nurse Aide certificate program that prepares students for the state CNA exam and entry on the Nurse Aide Registry.
- Finish a DPH-approved training and competency evaluation program.
- If you train as a CNA first, plan for the separate homemaker-home health aide competency check too.
- Gather the identity and work-authorization paperwork an employer will need.
- Stop by the New Haven American Job Center at 370 James Street, Suite 404, for job search support.
More questions
Is 75 hours the minimum for every CT training path?
Yes, that is the floor DPH set for the homemaker-home health aide program specifically; a separate nurse's aide (CNA) curriculum runs longer.
Do I need to retrain if I already have CNA certification?
No, CT regulation treats completed CNA training as satisfying the home health aide training piece, though a separate competency evaluation and employer orientation still apply.
Where does the New Haven American Job Center sit?
It is located at 370 James Street, Suite 404, New Haven, CT 06513.
Sources
- Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, Title 19, Sec. 19-13-D69 (Services), Connecticut Department of Public Health / Secretary of the State
- Gateway (New Haven/North Haven) - CT State, CT State Community College
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) - CT State, CT State Community College
- American Job Centers, Connecticut Department of Labor
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the source before you rely on a detail. This page is general information, not legal advice.