How to Become a Home Health Aide in California (2026)
California employs about 970,150 home health aides earning a median $34,320 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Home Health Aide here means completing a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required, then applying through CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section.
Compare Home Health Aide Schools in California
| # | School | BOC Score (0–100) | Tuition | Median grad earnings (all majors) | Graduation rate | Online | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moorpark College | 65.2 | Contact school for pricing | $77,599 | 44% | — | 87 mi |
| 2 | Ventura College | 61.1 | Contact school for pricing | $51,753 | 40% | — | 82 mi |
| 3 | Santa Barbara City College | 56.7 | Contact school for pricing | $63,514 | 34% | Yes* | 72 mi |
| 4 | Allan Hancock College | 55.3 | Contact school for pricing | $55,202 | 27% | Yes* | 61 mi |
| 5 | Cuesta College | 55.2 | Contact school for pricing | $57,231 | 46% | Yes* | 83 mi |
| 6 | Lemoore College | 55.0 | Contact school for pricing | $43,402 | 44% | Yes* | 62 mi |
| 7 | Coalinga College | 49.2 | Contact school for pricing | $46,286 | 43% | Yes* | 68 mi |
| 8 | College of the Sequoias | 47.3 | Contact school for pricing | $44,147 | 36% | — | 63 mi |
| 9 | Taft College | 46.3 | Contact school for pricing | $44,555 | 28% | Yes* | 20 mi |
| 10 | Porterville College | 44.8 | $1,438 - $20,730 | $36,940 | 32% | Yes* | 51 mi |
Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.
California employs approximately 970,150 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $34,320 1. The state’s concentration of home health aide jobs is 1.92x the national average, indicating strong demand. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 765,800 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Home Health Aide in California, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.
At a Glance
- Training paths: state-approved home health aide program (find programs)
- Typical timeline: a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required
- Licensing authority: CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section
- Exam: HHA competency evaluation
- Median wage (California): $34,320 per year 1
Quick Answers About How to Become a Home Health Aide in California
How to become a Home Health Aide in California? Complete a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required. Apply through CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section.
How long does it take? Most people finish a state-approved home health aide program, competency evaluation, and state listing where required. Confirm current hour totals with the program and CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section.
Do I need a license in California? Yes. California credentials this role through CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section 3. See the licensing section below.
What do home health aides earn in California? The median annual wage for home health aides in California is $34,320 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $34,320 and experienced professionals can earn $39,260 or more 1.
How to Become a Home Health Aide in California
- Meet entry rules. Confirm age, background-check, and health-screening rules with the training program and CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section.
- Complete a state-approved HHA program. Finish an approved home health aide program in California. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
- Pass the competency evaluation. Complete the skills and knowledge evaluation the state uses for HHAs.
- Get certified or listed. Get listed or certified as an HHA where the state uses that credential. Do not treat a CNA listing as the HHA credential. Confirm with CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section.
Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the state board before you apply.
Home Health Aide License Requirements in California
Home health aides in California complete an approved HHA program and competency evaluation. Some states certify this role; most do not. Confirm with CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section when a state credential exists. See CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section 3.
Typical path
Meet entry rules.
Complete a state-approved HHA program.
Pass the competency evaluation.
Obtain HHA certification or listing from CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section.
Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section before you enroll.
Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in California
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in California vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | 385,530 | $34,320 | $35,890 | $34,320 | $38,010 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | 119,120 | $35,950 | $38,810 | $35,950 | $44,820 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | 102,760 | $34,320 | $35,430 | $34,320 | $36,770 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | 60,350 | $34,320 | $35,770 | $34,320 | $38,240 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 57,080 | $35,300 | $36,830 | $34,940 | $40,850 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | 49,610 | $37,640 | $39,360 | $37,600 | $44,870 |
| Fresno | 33,580 | $34,320 | $35,000 | $34,320 | $36,050 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | 17,270 | $34,320 | $35,190 | $34,320 | $36,300 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | 15,250 | $34,320 | $37,190 | $34,320 | $42,790 |
| Stockton-Lodi | 12,580 | $34,320 | $35,710 | $34,320 | $38,130 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | 10,150 | $36,850 | $38,400 | $36,060 | $44,370 |
| Modesto | 9,160 | $34,320 | $35,780 | $34,320 | $38,890 |
| Visalia | 8,220 | $34,320 | $35,120 | $34,320 | $36,210 |
| El Centro | 8,020 | $34,320 | $34,540 | $34,320 | $34,320 |
| Vallejo | 7,850 | $34,320 | $37,200 | $34,320 | $45,720 |
| Salinas | 6,740 | $34,320 | $35,570 | $34,320 | $38,660 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | 6,470 | $34,320 | $36,960 | $34,320 | $44,080 |
| Chico | 5,940 | $34,320 | $35,580 | $34,320 | $38,100 |
| Redding | 5,500 | $34,320 | $35,330 | $34,320 | $36,300 |
| Merced | 4,990 | $34,320 | $34,980 | $34,320 | $36,190 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | 4,470 | $34,320 | $37,720 | $34,320 | $45,560 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | 4,160 | $34,320 | $36,720 | $34,320 | $43,040 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | 3,250 | $34,320 | $34,580 | $34,320 | $34,320 |
| Yuba City | 3,120 | $34,320 | $35,140 | $34,320 | $37,210 |
| Napa | 2,900 | $34,320 | $40,520 | $34,320 | $48,360 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for home health aides in California? California currently employs approximately 970,150 home health aides 1. Nationally, home health aide employment is projected to grow 17.0% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a home health aide in California with an out-of-state license? Contact the CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in California? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in California.
How much do home health aides earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in California is $34,320, which is $580 below the national median of $34,900 according to BLS data 1.
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Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
CDPH Aide and Technician Certification Section - Licensing Information: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CHCQ/LCP/Pages/HHA.aspx ↩︎ ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |