How to Become A Home Health Aide in Florida
Florida employs approximately 90,170 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $33,800 1. 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 Florida, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Health Aide in Florida
How do I become a home health aide in Florida? Florida requires credentials such as Certified Nursing Assistant. The licensing authority is the FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Florida? Yes. Florida has licensing or registration requirements for home health aides. The FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do home health aides earn in Florida? The median annual wage for home health aides in Florida is $33,800 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,660 and experienced professionals can earn $38,310 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance
- Median wage (Florida): $33,800 per year 1
- Exam requirement: Third-party exam required
Home Health Aide License Requirements in Florida
The FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance oversees home health aide licensing in Florida 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Certified Nursing Assistant | Florida Statutes (F.S.): Chapter 464, Part II; Chapter 456; Chapter 435; Section 408.809. Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.): Chapter 64B9-15. |
Additional Requirements
- Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
- Exam: Third-party exam required
- Experience: No experience required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Florida
Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Florida
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Florida vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | 28,350 | $32,890 | $34,420 | $31,200 | $37,660 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 13,120 | $34,210 | $35,380 | $30,880 | $41,880 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 8,260 | $34,110 | $34,360 | $30,290 | $37,670 |
| Jacksonville | 5,740 | $34,380 | $34,520 | $30,030 | $37,060 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | 3,530 | $35,400 | $36,030 | $31,150 | $40,180 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | 3,120 | $35,010 | $35,690 | $30,700 | $42,860 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 2,390 | $34,440 | $34,830 | $30,390 | $37,950 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | 2,220 | $34,110 | $34,110 | $29,710 | $37,310 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | 2,210 | $33,570 | $33,400 | $29,570 | $36,080 |
| Port St. Lucie | 2,180 | $34,140 | $34,540 | $30,740 | $37,130 |
| Tallahassee | 1,990 | $32,710 | $33,800 | $29,480 | $42,400 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | 1,670 | $33,180 | $33,540 | $28,840 | $37,170 |
| Naples-Marco Island | 1,550 | $35,160 | $36,510 | $30,970 | $41,560 |
| Gainesville | 1,430 | $33,320 | $33,490 | $29,570 | $36,160 |
| Ocala | 1,370 | $31,550 | $32,850 | $29,570 | $35,900 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | 820 | $34,070 | $34,260 | $30,580 | $37,900 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | 780 | $34,860 | $34,990 | $31,200 | $36,660 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | 570 | $32,670 | $34,220 | $29,940 | $41,400 |
| Punta Gorda | 550 | $34,500 | $36,170 | $29,090 | $37,080 |
| Homosassa Springs | 470 | $32,240 | $33,070 | $29,660 | $35,700 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | 470 | $33,900 | $34,580 | $29,100 | $38,450 |
| Sebring | 320 | $32,940 | $32,640 | $28,990 | $35,780 |
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 2025.
Top Metros for Home health aides in Florida
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within Florida according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | 28,350 | $32,890 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | 13,120 | $34,210 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | 8,260 | $34,110 |
| Jacksonville | 5,740 | $34,380 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | 3,530 | $35,400 |
Explore More Trades in Florida
- Electrician in Florida
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- CNC Machinist in Florida
- Certified Nursing Assistant in Florida
- Medical Assistant in Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for home health aides in Florida? Florida currently employs approximately 90,170 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 Florida with an out-of-state license? Contact the FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Florida? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Florida.
How much do home health aides earn in Florida compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Florida is $33,800, which is $1,100 below the national median of $34,900 according to BLS data 1.
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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
FL Department of Health - Division of Medical Quality Assurance - Licensing Information: https://www.doh.state.fl.us/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.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) |