"How long does it take to become a home health aide in Rhode Island?"

"Most paths into the home health aide field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do home health aides need a license in Rhode Island?"

"Yes. Rhode Island requires state-level licensing or registration for home health aides, administered by the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for home health aides in Rhode Island?"

"In Rhode Island, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Rhode Island Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Home Health Aide in Rhode Island

Q: "How much do home health aides earn in Rhode Island?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), home health aides in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $43,680. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is roughly 0.54 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for home health aides in Rhode Island?"

"Rhode Island currently employs approximately 7,490 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 17.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Rhode Island home health and personal care aides earn a median annual wage of $43,680 ($21.00/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 7,490 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 22.0% above the national median of $35,800 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $43,680 ($21.00/hr)
25th percentile: $38,470 per year
75th percentile: $45,690 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $46,700 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $31,860 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 7,490
Versus national median: 22.0% above the U.S. median of $35,800
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.54 - this occupation is less concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Rhode Island employs approximately 7,490 home health aides according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $43,680 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 Rhode Island, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Health Aide in Rhode Island

How do I become a home health aide in Rhode Island? Rhode Island requires credentials such as Nursing Assistant (Aide). The licensing authority is the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation 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 Rhode Island? Yes. Rhode Island has licensing or registration requirements for home health aides. The RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do home health aides earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for home health aides in Rhode Island is $43,680 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $31,860 and experienced professionals can earn $46,700 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: RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation
Median wage (Rhode Island): $43,680 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Home Health Aide License Requirements in Rhode Island

The RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation oversees home health aide licensing in Rhode Island ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Nursing Assistant (Aide)	Gives personal care and related health care and assistance to patients under the direction of nursing and medical staff.

Additional Requirements

Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Home Health Aide Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Home Health and Personal Care Aides Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), home health and personal care aides wages in Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	15,670	$40,890	$42,200	$35,960	$46,620

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 Rhode Island

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home health aide employment within Rhode Island according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Providence-Warwick	15,670	$40,890

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for home health aides in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 7,490 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 Rhode Island with an out-of-state license? Contact the RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Rhode Island? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Rhode Island.

How much do home health aides earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home health aides in Rhode Island is $43,680, which is $8,780 above 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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
RI Department of Health - Health Professions Regulation - Licensing Information: https://health.ri.gov/licenses/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
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)