How to Become an In-Home Caregiver: Requirements, Training, and Pay

Interested in becoming an in-home caregiver?

You don’t need years of training or a long resume to get started. Maybe you’ve helped a parent after surgery or checked in on a neighbor who needed extra support. Your experience already shows you can care for others with patience and empathy.

Caregiving jobs can fit around your life. The hours are flexible, the demand is steady, and the work is rewarding beyond the paycheck.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to become an in-home caregiver, including what the job involves, the requirements and certifications you need, the rules in 8 states, and how caregivers get paid.

Ready to start? Create your Helper profile on Herewith and browse caregiving jobs near you.

Key takeaways

• Many states don’t require a license for private, non-medical caregiving, while agency and medical roles require training, like 75+ hours for home health aides and CNAs.
• Home health and personal care aides earned a median of $17.21 an hour in May 2025, and Helpers on Herewith typically earn $20 to $30 an hour.
• Herewith offers free background checks and professional liability insurance, so you can start finding caregiving jobs near you.

What does an in-home caregiver do?

An in-home caregiver helps a person live safely and comfortably at home. Most caregivers work with older adults, though caregivers also support people with chronic conditions or people recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery.

A typical shift can include:

• Preparing meals and snacks
• Helping with bathing, dressing, and moving around the house
• Offering conversation and companionship
• Driving to appointments or running errands
• Noticing changes in mood, appetite, or mobility and letting the family know

Caregivers don’t provide medical care. Licensed nurses and other healthcare professionals handle tasks like giving injections or administering medications, while caregivers can give medication reminders.

There are several types of in-home caregiving jobs, including companion care, personal care, and memory care, so you can start with one and add skills over time.

Why become a caregiver?

Caregiving is meaningful work. You help a person stay in their own home and community, and you see the impact every day: a meal shared, a laugh, a quiet thank-you at the end of a visit.

It’s also reliable work. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 760,500 openings for home health and personal care aides each year through 2035. Demand also isn’t limited to big cities, so families in smaller towns and rural areas are looking for caregivers, too.

Becoming a caregiver also offers:

• Flexible hours: Work part-time, full-time, or around school or another job.
• One-on-one relationships: Get to know the people you care for and their families.
• Room to grow: Experience and certifications can lead to higher pay and new roles in health care.

If you want work that feels personal and purposeful, caregiving offers both, along with a dependable paycheck.

Caregiver job requirements

Caregiver job requirements vary by state and employer, but most in-home caregiving jobs ask for the same basics:

• Age: Most agencies and employers require caregivers to be at least 18.
• Education: A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, though many private families don’t require one.
• Background check: Families need to know they can trust you in their home. On Herewith, every Helper completes a free background check through Checkr before connecting with families.
• CPR and first aid: Many agencies require current certification, and families tend to prefer caregivers who have it.
• Transportation: If you’ll drive clients to appointments or errands, you’ll need a valid driver’s license, a reliable car, and auto insurance.

Jobs that involve hands-on personal care, especially through certified home health agencies, can also require formal training and a state test. The next section explains which certifications you might need.

How to get caregiver certification

In many states, you don’t need a certification to start working as a private, non-medical caregiver. Certain jobs do require one, though, and earning a certification lets you take on more hands-on care and often earn higher pay.

The three most common caregiver certifications are:

• Personal care aide (PCA): Requirements depend on your state. South Dakota, for example, sets no required training hours for non-medical home care, while Arkansas requires at least 40 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practice.
• Home health aide (HHA): HHAs who work for Medicare-certified home health agencies need at least 75 hours of training, including at least 16 hours of supervised hands-on practice, plus a competency evaluation.
• Certified nursing assistant (CNA): CNA programs require at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practice, followed by a state exam and listing on your state’s nurse aide registry. Many states require more than 75 hours.

Each role comes with different duties and pay, and comparing a PCA vs. HHA vs. CNA can help you decide where to start. Short courses can also help you stand out to families, like CPR and first aid through the American Red Cross, or Alzheimer’s and dementia care training

Your state’s rules decide which certification you need, so check the requirements for your state below.

Caregiver requirements by state

Caregiver requirements depend on your state and the type of care you provide. Here’s an overview for 8 states, with a full guide for each:

California

• Private, non-medical care: No license or registration required.
• Agency work: Register as a Home Care Aide with the California Department of Social Services, which requires 5 hours of training, a TB test, and a Live Scan background check.
• CNA: Complete a state-approved training program and pass the certification exam.

Florida

• Private, non-medical care: No state license or registration required.
• Home health aide: At least 75 hours of training for Medicare- or Medicaid-certified agencies.
• CNA: Complete state-approved training, pass a competency exam, and be listed on the Florida CNA Registry.

Texas

• Private-pay care: Work directly with families and set your own rates.
• Agency work: Requirements are set by each home care agency.
• Family caregivers: Certain family members can get paid through state programs like STAR+PLUS once their loved one qualifies.

Tennessee

• Private, non-medical care: No state license required.
• Personal support agency work: Be at least 18, complete role-based training, and pass background and abuse registry checks.
• CNA: Complete at least 75 hours of training and be listed on the Tennessee Nurse Aide Registry.

Idaho

• Private, non-medical care: No license or certification required.
• Medicaid personal assistance work: Complete training and a background check.
• CNA: Complete 120 hours of training, pass written and skills exams, and be listed on the Idaho CNA Registry.

New York

• Private, non-medical care: No state certification required.
• Personal care aide or home health aide: Complete 40 hours of training (PCA) or 75 hours (HHA) through a state-approved program.
• CNA: Complete at least 100 hours of training and be listed on the New York State Nurse Aide Registry.

Arizona

• Private, non-medical care: No state registration, training, or background check required.
• Medicaid direct care work: Pass skills assessments, earn CPR and first aid certification, and get a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• CNA: Complete state-approved training and pass the competency exam.

Maryland

• Private, non-medical care: No nursing assistant certification required.
• Agency work: Residential Service Agencies can require training and a skills assessment.
• CNA or home health aide: Earn CNA-I certification through the Maryland Board of Nursing, which includes approved training, a competency evaluation, and a criminal history check.

If your state isn’t listed, check with your state’s health or social services department, since requirements vary and can change.

How Much Do In-Home Caregivers Make?

Home health and personal care aides earned a median of $17.21 an hour, or $35,800 a year, in May 2025. Private caregivers can earn more. Helpers on Herewith typically earn $20 to $30 an hour.

How much you earn depends on how you work. Most in-home caregivers are paid hourly through one of three paths:

• Private pay: You work directly with families and agree on a rate together. With no agency in between, you keep more of what families pay, though you’re responsible for your own benefits.
• Agencies: A home care agency hires you, assigns your clients, and pays you a set wage. Hours tend to be more predictable, but agency rates include overhead, so a smaller share of what families pay reaches you.
• Medicaid and family caregiver programs: Many states pay caregivers, including certain family members, through Medicaid programs once the person receiving care qualifies. In Texas, for example, family caregivers can get paid through programs like STAR+PLUS.

Your rate will also depend on your location, experience, schedule, and the type of care you provide. If you work privately, learning how to set your pay rate helps you charge fairly for your skills, and it’s good to weigh the pros and cons of private caregiving vs. agencies before you choose a path.

Who Makes a Good Caregiver?

There’s no single path into caregiving. Many people get started after helping a family member or neighbor, or because they want work that feels meaningful and offers a flexible schedule.

You don’t need extensive experience or years of training. Families look for caregivers with these qualities:

• Patience and empathy: Care takes time. Meeting people where they are helps build trust and calm.
• Good communication: Listening carefully and sharing updates keeps families connected and informed.
• Dependability: Showing up on time and following through builds confidence between you and the person you help.
• Respect for privacy and dignity: Everyone deserves to feel comfortable and valued in their own home.
• A positive outlook: A calm, kind attitude can brighten the day for both you and your client.

A few hands-on skills also make the work safer and easier, like safe lifting and mobility techniques, light cooking and housekeeping, and staying organized with a client’s daily routine. Most caregivers build these skills over time through practice, training, and experience.

Start finding caregiving jobs on Herewith

You can start finding caregiving work near you in three steps:

1. Create your Helper profile: Add a friendly photo, a short introduction, your caregiving experience (including caring for family), your availability, and your hourly rate.
2. Complete your background check: Herewith provides background checks and ID verification at no cost, so families can feel confident hiring you.
3. Browse Help Requests and connect with families: See what local families need, chat with them in the app before you accept a job, and choose work that fits your schedule.

Once you’re booked, you can track your hours and get paid through the app. Free caregiver training is also available if you’d like to build your skills before your first job.

Ready to start? Sign up as a Helper and see caregiving jobs in your area.

A Career Built on Care

Getting started in caregiving may be easier than you think. There are different paths into the field, and you can start with the skills you already have while building experience over time.

When you’re ready, create your Helper profile on Herewith to find caregiving jobs close to home that match your experience and schedule.

Start your free Helper profile today and see who's hiring near you.

Helpers Also Ask:

How long does it take to become a certified caregiver?

It depends on the certification. You can start private, non-medical caregiving right away in many states, since no certification is required. Home health aides at Medicare-certified agencies need at least 75 hours of training, and CNA programs start at 75 hours, though some states require more, like 100 hours in New York and 120 in Idaho. After training, you’ll also need to pass a competency exam.

Can I become a caregiver with no experience?

Yes. Most in-home caregiving jobs don’t require previous work experience, and caring for a parent, grandparent, or neighbor counts as valuable experience. Training in CPR, first aid, or dementia care can help you feel prepared and stand out to families. Herewith also offers free training for Helpers.

Do private caregivers need insurance?

It’s a good idea. Private caregivers who work directly with families don’t have an agency’s insurance behind them, so liability insurance protects you if an accident happens on the job. Helpers on Herewith are covered by professional liability insurance through the platform at no cost to you. If you’ll drive clients, make sure your auto insurance covers it, too.

How do I avoid caregiver job scams?

Be cautious if someone offers you a job without an interview, or sends you a check before you start working and asks you to send part of the money back. That’s a common fake check scam, and the bank will hold you responsible when the check bounces. Use a platform that verifies families and keeps your messages and payments in the app, and report scams to the Federal Trade Commission.