How to become a caregiver in California (HCA, CNA & HHA)
There are a few official paths to caregiving work in California - registering as a Home Care Aide for non-medical care, or certifying as a Nurse Assistant or Home Health Aide for clinical aide work. Each step below links to the governing state agency so you can apply from the official source.
Last verified 2026-06-20
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Official sources
Which credential do you need?
The credential depends on the work. Non-medical personal care and companionship through a licensed home care agency requires registering as a Home Care Aide (HCA). Clinical aide work in facilities or skilled home health usually requires Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) or Home Health Aide (HHA) certification. Many caregivers start as an HCA and add a CNA or HHA certificate later.
Home Care Aide (HCA): non-medical in-home help (bathing, dressing, meals, companionship) through a licensed Home Care Organization.
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA): basic nursing care under supervision, typically in skilled nursing facilities.
Home Health Aide (HHA): a CNA plus extra training for care under a home health agency's plan of care.
To work for a licensed Home Care Organization in California, you register on the state's Home Care Aide Registry. Registration requires submitting an application, completing a criminal background check (Live Scan fingerprinting), and paying the registration fee. The Home Care Aide registration fee is $35 for a two-year period.
Apply through the California Department of Social Services (Guardian online portal or by mail).
Complete a Department of Justice and FBI background check before approval.
Your status appears on the public Home Care Aide Registry once approved.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) certifies nurse assistants. You must complete a state-approved Nurse Assistant Training Program - currently at least 160 hours (60 hours of classroom instruction and 100 hours of supervised clinical training) - and pass the competency evaluation. CDPH certification is governed by California Health & Safety Code sections 1337–1338.5.
Enroll in a CDPH-approved Nurse Assistant Training Program.
Pass the written and skills competency exam.
Complete Live Scan fingerprinting and a background check; renew every two years with continuing education.
A Home Health Aide certificate lets you provide aide-level care under a home health agency's plan of care. In California, HHA certification builds on CNA training with additional approved instruction. CDPH's Healthcare Workforce Branch oversees CNA, HHA, and hemodialysis technician certification and maintains the registry.
HHA training is additional hours on top of an approved CNA program.
HHAs are listed on the same CDPH registry as CNAs.
Required for aide work billed through Medicare-certified home health agencies.
Every caregiver path requires a criminal background check. HCAs, CNAs, and HHAs all complete Live Scan fingerprinting so the state can review Department of Justice and FBI records before issuing a registration or certificate. Keep your registration or certificate active and renew on time to stay eligible to work.
Live Scan fingerprinting is part of HCA registration and CNA/HHA certification.
Disqualifying convictions may require an exemption before you can work.
Renew before expiration to avoid a lapse in eligibility.
Training hours, fees, and steps are set by California agencies and can change. This page summarizes the public process - confirm current requirements with the linked CDPH and CDSS sources before you apply. It is informational, not legal or career advice.
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