Home Health Aide (HHA) Pre-Certification
Tuition-free 54-hour noncredit home health aide pre-certification building on nurse-assistant skills for in-home and hospice care.
3171 S. Bundy Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Cohort-based with limited seats; often offered after/with the CNA cohort. Contact the Noncredit/Health Sciences office for the next available cohort
Experience required
Program Philosophy
Santa Monica College's noncredit (School of Continuing & Community Education) initiative offers tuition-free, short-term training to help adults build job-ready skills and bridge into credit college or the workforce. Classes are open to the community with no prerequisites, removing cost and access barriers so motivated learners can gain marketable, entry-level skills and a certificate of completion in a single semester.
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In-home and hospice care aide roles, often paired with CNA training
Cohort-based, short 54-hour program. Foundational training (HEALTH 987) plus clinical lab (HEALTH 988) - e.g., foundational Mon/Tue and clinical lab on Fridays over roughly 3 weeks. Dates vary by cohort.
54-hour training for entry-level home health and hospice aide work
Cost & Outcomes
Tuition is free, and most program supplies are loaned to students. Students pay out of pocket for a required background check, drug screening, and current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification; Santa Monica College estimates these expenses at $250 to $350 for its nurse assistant and home health aide programs. With no tuition to finance, students take on no program debt.
Who This Program is Built For
This program was specifically designed with these communities in mind. If you see yourself, you belong here.
What Sets This Program Apart
Tuition-free 54-hour home health aide pre-certification
Builds directly on nurse-assistant knowledge and skills
Focused on in-home health and hospice care
Hands-on clinical training; most supplies loaned
Short, cohort-based completion
Day in the Life
- Classroom foundational training two days a week at the Bundy Campus, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
- Full-day clinical lab on Fridays at a local hospital, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Lessons on in-home health and hospice care and the medical and social needs of clients outside clinical settings
- Practicing personal care, safety, and communication with patients and families
Taught by licensed nurses meeting state rules: a registered nurse with 2+ years of nursing experience, 1 in home health care, or a licensed vocational nurse supervised by a registered nurse.
Soft and technical skills you'll gain by program completion.
California Home Health Aide certification (builds on nurse assistant pre-certification training)
Highs & Lows
A compressed 54 hours in about three weeks, including full-day Friday hospital labs that start at 7:00 a.m.
Quickly adding home and hospice care training on top of nurse assistant skills, which widens the range of jobs graduates can pursue.
Employment Support
SMC Career Services Center: career counseling, resume and interview support, and job-search resources
Academic and noncredit counseling to plan next steps into credit programs or the workforce
Certificate of Completion documenting job-ready skills for employers
How It Works
Apply to SMC as a student (free) at smc.edu/apply
Contact the Noncredit office (310-434-3399 / NoncreditRegistration@smc.edu) or Health Sciences (CertifiedNursingAssistant@smc.edu) about the next cohort
Submit required clearance documents in one email from your SMC student email - application plus AHA CPR/BLS certification
Complete background check and drug screening (student expense)
Enroll in HEALTH 987 (foundational) and HEALTH 988 (clinical lab)
Complete the program to earn the Home Health Aide pre-certification certificate
Frequently Asked Questions
If you can't find what you're looking for, feel free to contact us.About 54 hours (roughly 3 weeks), building on nurse-assistant training.
The HHA pre-certification builds on nurse-assistant knowledge and skills; many students take it with or after the CNA pre-certification.
Tuition-free, but students pay for a background check, drug screening, and CPR/BLS certification. Most supplies are loaned.
Adults 18+ with a high school diploma or GED, living in California, with American Heart Association CPR/BLS certification. F1 visa holders are not eligible.