How to Become a Home Care Aide in Pennsylvania: Requirements & Pay

Home care aide vs. home health aide

The titles are often used interchangeably, but the rules are different.

• Home care aides (also called direct care workers) work for licensed home care agencies like Trinity Home Care. They provide non-medical help: companionship, personal care, meals, and mobility. Their training is set by Pennsylvania's home care regulations, 28 Pa. Code Chapter 611.^[1]
• Home health aides at Medicare-certified home health agencies must complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, plus 12 hours of in-service training each year.^[3]

Pennsylvania training and competency requirements

Before an agency can assign you to a client, Pennsylvania requires you to show competency in one of these ways:^[1]

• Hold a Pennsylvania nursing license.
• Pass the agency's competency exam.
• Complete an approved training program, such as an agency program, a federal home health aide program, the PA Department of Education nurse aide program, or a Medicaid waiver training program.

Training must cover topics such as confidentiality, consumer rights, recognizing changes in a client's condition, infection control, emergencies, documentation, and reporting abuse or neglect. Aides who give personal care also learn bathing and grooming, safe transfers and walking, feeding, toileting, and assisting with self-administered medications.^[1]

Background checks

Pennsylvania requires a criminal history check for direct care workers.^[2]

• If you have lived in Pennsylvania for the past two years, you need a Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report.
• If not, you need an FBI federal criminal history record and a letter of determination from the PA Department of Aging.
• The report must be obtained when you apply, or within the year before.

Job outlook and pay

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of home health and personal care aides to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 760,500 openings each year. The national median pay was $17.21 per hour in May 2025. Most aides start with a high school diploma or equivalent.^[4]

Demand is high close to home, too. The Alzheimer's Association projects Pennsylvania needs 15.3% more home health and personal care aides by 2032.^[6] For local wage data, see the BLS release on occupational wages in the Pittsburgh area.^[5] For Trinity's current pay and schedules, ask during your interview.

Skills that make a great caregiver

• Patience and a calm presence, especially with clients living with dementia.
• Reliability. Families plan their days around you.
• Good observation and clear notes when something changes.
• Safe body mechanics for transfers and lifting.

Apply at Trinity Home Care

We hire compassionate caregivers across the Pittsburgh area, including home health aides, personal care aides, companion caregivers, and CNAs, for full-time and part-time schedules. Apply online in a few minutes or call 412-345-3721.