What to Do After Finishing a Home Health Aide Certification Class in New Jersey

What to Do After Finishing a Home Health Aide Certification Class in New Jersey 

You've completed your Certified Home Health Aide certification class successfully.  You're on your way to providing needed care throughout the state of New Jersey. Once you complete your course, the steps between the class and the actual license can be a bit confusing. I've come across several students, in my line of work, who ask me what they should after they have finished the course.

To reassure that these steps work, double check with your school or agency to verify that your New Jersey Board of Nursing application was submitted properly.  These steps will guide you through the process painlessly and effectively.

1. Update Your Immunization Records and Basic Physical 

It takes an additional 2-4 weeks for a Home Health Aide graduate to receive a temporary license from the New Jersey Board of Nursing.  While you wait for your temporary license number, use the free time to update your immunization records and basic physical as most medical facilities require their employees to have up-to-date physicals.

2. Check Your Temporary License Status 

The New Jersey Board of Nursing updates their system often.  You can verify and check your temporary license by visiting the New Jersey Board of Nursing Verification site.   Once you visit the site, it will ask you for your first name and last name.  Inputting your information and hitting enter, should bring you to a page with your name.  There should be a status of your license next to your name.

3. Apply to Home Care Agencies in the Area 

You're ready to start applying! There are vocational schools that provide both the training and employment services as a combination to better assist Home Health Aides find employment.  After you've done steps one and two, you'll be able to work for most home care agencies in your area.  These agencies know how valuable Home Health Aides are.  It's best you search around for the one most convenient to you.  In addition, you can work for more than one agency with flexible hours to boot. It's a dream profession if you are in search of quick, flexible, and a supplement income.  There are several home care agencies willing to pay a good hourly rate.

4. Check Your Mail Daily 

Your temporary license is available for 120-days.  It's important that you check your mail daily for updates from the New Jersey Board of Nursing.  I mean it!  I cannot stress this enough to Home Health Aides that complete their training.  A temporary license will not last forever.  You need to stay on top of your permanent license because there is nothing worse than a lapsed license. If you do not receive anything in the mail, contact the New Jersey Board of Nursing for status.