Home Health Aide (HHA) & Continuing Education (CE) Credit

This course is approved by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for CNA Continuing Education (CE) credit.

Are you a CNA interested in working on a health care team with a home health agency or hospice?

The HHA course prepares Certified Nurse Assistant’s for certification as a Home Health Aide by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The HHA certification allows you to function as an entry-level worker on a health care team or with a home health agency and/or Hospice. The course includes training on the medical and social needs of the client, personal care services, nutrition, cleaning and care tasks in the home. 

A Home Health Aide provides essential in-home care to individuals who need assistance with daily living activities and basic medical support. They help clients maintain their independence and quality of life by assisting with tasks like bathing, dressing, grooming and mobility.

An active CNA certification from California is required before applying for this program.
HHA is a two-week class offered each spring, summer, and fall semester.

For the dates to apply, scroll down to Application Periods.

*Class Schedule

HHA is a two-week course (40 hours total). Students will attend two classes and one clinical rotation each week:
• Monday (5 hrs.), Tuesday (5 hrs.), and Wednesday (10 hrs.)
• Class dates: August 10, 11, 17, 18
• Clinical dates: August 12, 19
• 15 students maximum
          *Schedule may slightly adjust due to COVID and holidays.

*Location

• SWC – HEC at Otay Mesa: 8100 Gigantic Street, San Diego, CA 92154
          *Clinical sites vary and are subject to change.
            Students attend classes at SWC's HECOM campus and complete clinical work at healthcare facilities. 

HHA is a non-credit course

HHA is offered as a non-credit course. This means students do not pay class enrollment fees and no credits are earned (0 units will appear on your student transcript). Students who apply and are accepted for the HHA class will be enrolled in course number NC-443.

Cost

• Total estimated cost is up to $280 (subject to change). Costs include uniforms, parking, DISA/Complio (background/drug screening, etc.) and malpractice insurance. Students are required to purchase malpractice insurance; the cost is currently $13 (subject to change). The college has a blanket policy which covers the students for $1,000,000/$5,000,000 per year.
• The HHA course may be free of cost ( $0) if you have an active DISA/Complio account (created within one year at SWC; has not expired) and you have the CNA uniform (burgundy scrubs and white shoes).  
• Estimated total cost of program (PDF) 

Application Periods

Submit your Home Health Aide Program application packet during the dates listed:

Application Period	Program Start
May 11, 2026 - June 30, 2026	Fall 2026 (This class is August 10 - 19, 2026)
October 19 - December 4, 2026	Spring 2027 (This class is January 19 - 28, 2027)
TBD	Summer 2027 (June 2027)

Note: Submitting an application does not guarantee entry into the program.

Application and Enrollment

Submit a complete application packet based on the checklist provided. Enrollment is restricted to students who have applied during the application period and have been accepted into the program by the Nursing and Health Occupation Programs Office. 

Home Health Aide Program application packets can be submitted in person or by regular U.S. Mail.
If submitting by mail, the Home Health Aide application packet must be postmarked by the deadline to be considered. 

The program will accept up to 15 students for each class. Complete applications will be the priority for program admission. All students are notified of their status via SWC e-mail.

How to apply (and submit a complete HHA application packet):

1. Download, print, and review the Home Health Aide Checklist & Application (PDF) and SWC Physical Exam/Immunization forms (PDF).
2. Gather all required documents and forms on pages 1-2 of the checklist. Use this checklist as your guide.
3. Fill out the SWC Physical Exam/Immunization forms (pages 1-7) as follows:
   1. Pages 1-2 are filled out by you
   2. Pages 3-4 (physical exam) and pages 5-7 (immunizations, TB test results, and flu shot form) are filled out by your healthcare provider/doctor
4. Include a copy of your immunization records and/or titers (lab work) for MMR, Hep B, Varicella, TDAP, COVID-19, flu shot, and TB test results with your HHA application packet. Please note the immunization records, lab work report and TB results are separate from the SWC Physical Exam/Immunization forms.  

SWC Physical Exam/Immunization forms and copies of immunization records and/or titer (blood test) results are required for clinical placement in the program. 

• Home Health Aide (HHA) Checklist & Application (PDF) (Rev. 7/2026)
• SWC Physical Exam and Immunization Forms (PDF) (Rev. 6/2026)
• Home Health Aide (HHA) Program Information flyer (PDF) (Rev. 5/2026)   

Important note: Give yourself and your doctor/healthcare provider ample time to complete the physical exam/immunization forms. Most of the work in applying for the program involves getting the forms filled out and providing copies of your immunization records and/or titers.

Update related to CoVid-19 vaccine: Major Healthcare Systems in San Diego County require students and faculty to be fully vaccinated for Covid-19. Students and faculty must have the most recent Covid-19 vaccine recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Applicants to any Nursing and Health Occupations Program (ADN, VN-Step-up, VN, CNA, Acute Care CNA, Surgical Technology, Central Service Technician, and Operating Room Nurse) will be required to submit proof of vaccine status at time of application (Rev. 12-09-25).

Letters of acceptance will be emailed to SWC email accounts after the application deadline and after all applications have been reviewed. Notifications will not be sent to personal email accounts.