Compliance
Caregiver Training Requirements by State: What Agencies Need to Know
There is no federal training rule for non-medical caregivers. States set hours from 5 to 75. Six states compared, with sources, plus what to document for a survey.
How much training do caregivers need in each state?
Initial and annual training hours for non-medical caregivers, state by state. Pick a state for what has to happen before a caregiver works alone.
Last reviewed October 17, 2026
| State | Initial training | Annual training |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 40 hours | No set hours |
| Arizona | No set hours | 6 hours |
| Arkansas | 40 hours | 12 hours |
| California | 5 hours | 5 hours |
| Colorado | No set hours | No set hours |
| Connecticut | No set hours | No set hours |
| Delaware | No set hours | No set hours |
| District of Columbia | 125 hours | 12 hours |
| Georgia | 40 hours | 8 hours |
| Hawaii | No set hours | No set hours |
| Idaho | No set hours | No set hours |
| Illinois | 10 hours | 10 hours |
| Indiana | No set hours | No set hours |
| Kansas | No set hours | No set hours |
| Kentucky | No set hours | No set hours |
| Louisiana | 16 hours | 8 hours |
| Maine | No set hours | No set hours |
| Maryland | No set hours | No set hours |
| Massachusetts | No set hours | No set hours |
| Minnesota | No set hours | 8 hours |
| Missouri | 12 hours | 5 hours |
| Montana | No set hours | No set hours |
| Nebraska | No set hours | No set hours |
| Nevada | No set hours | 8 hours |
| New Hampshire | 8 hours | No set hours |
| New Jersey | 76 hours | No set hours |
| New Mexico | No set hours | No set hours |
| New York | 40 hours | 6 hours |
| North Carolina | No set hours | No set hours |
| North Dakota | No set hours | No set hours |
| Ohio | No set hours | No set hours |
| Oklahoma | No set hours | No set hours |
| Oregon | 12 hours | 6 hours |
| Pennsylvania | No set hours | No set hours |
| Rhode Island | 20 hours | No set hours |
| South Carolina | No set hours | No set hours |
| South Dakota | No set hours | No set hours |
| Tennessee | No set hours | No set hours |
| Texas | No set hours | No set hours |
| Utah | No set hours | 6 hours |
| Virginia | No set hours | No set hours |
| Washington | 75 hours | 12 hours |
| Wisconsin | No set hours | No set hours |
How Caregiver Scheduling handles this
Training hours are paid hours. Timesheets that flag overtime before payroll are coming soon, so adding a training session to a full week won't turn into a surprise on the paycheck. See what’s coming for timesheets and payroll.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
No. Federal rules set 75 hours of training for home health aides at Medicare-certified agencies, but non-medical personal care and companion training is set by each state, and by Medicaid programs for the services they pay for.
Yes. Required training for employees is hours worked under federal law, so it is paid and counts toward overtime.
Often. Many state Medicaid waivers set their own training and competency rules for personal care workers, on top of any licensing rule. Check your waiver provider manual.
Related guides
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What Should a Caregiver Onboarding Checklist Include?
Three stages: paperwork, screening and training before the first shift, a supported first shift, and check-ins through day 90. Federal deadlines included.
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Track every caregiver credential with an expiry date, alert at 60 and 30 days, and block assignments when something lapses. Surveyors check the visit date.
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Can You Hire Caregivers With No Experience? A 30-Day Training Plan
Yes. Hire for reliability and judgment, meet your state's training minimum before the first visit, pay for training time, and use shadow shifts before solo work.
These free tools are made by the team behind Caregiver Scheduling, caregiver scheduling software for home care agencies.
Simple pricing
From $199 /month
Up to 10 caregivers on Starter, 50 on Growth.
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