Ohio · personal care aide (PCA)
Ohio’s rules depend on which program pays for care. Department of Aging PASSPORT aides can qualify with a 30-hour course or other routes, while Medicaid home care waiver aides need a state-approved competency program and first aid. Spouses and parents of minors can be paid only in limited cases.
At a glance
What the state asks of PCAs who work for licensed agencies or Medicaid programs.
| Job titles | Personal care aide (PCA), non-agency personal care aide, direct care worker, home health aide |
| Training | PASSPORT: a 30-hour course or another approved route, such as state tested nurse aide (STNA) training. Home Care Waiver: an Ohio Department of Health (ODH) approved competency program plus first aid. |
| Exam | Competency evaluation covering required subjects |
| Certification | Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) provider certification, or Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) enrollment for non-agency aides |
| Background check | Fingerprint-based state check (FBI check if you have lived in Ohio under 5 years), with ongoing monitoring |
| Yearly training | ODA: 6 hours a year. Home Care Waiver: 8 hours for agency aides, 6 hours for non-agency aides. |
| Minimum age | Not confirmed in state sources; ask the agency |
| Agency licensing | No state license for personal-care-only agencies. ODH licenses skilled home health agencies. Medicaid and PASSPORT providers must be ODA-certified or ODM-enrolled. |
Training
For PASSPORT personal care, run by the Ohio Department of Aging, an aide can qualify several ways: STNA training, Medicare home health aide standards, one year of supervised aide work plus a competency evaluation, a vocational health program, or a program of at least 30 hours covering set topics.
For the Medicaid Ohio Home Care Waiver, aides need a certificate from an ODH-approved or Medicare competency program, plus first aid certification that includes hands-on training. Non-agency aides need a certificate earned within the last 24 months, from an ODH-approved or Medicare program or another equivalent training program.
After that, plan on 6 to 8 hours of training each year, depending on the program and whether you work for an agency.
The steps
The usual path for a new aide.
Family caregivers
Possibly. PASSPORT offers participant-directed personal care, and waiver services can be self-directed through a Financial Management Service, which lets participants choose their own aide. Ohio’s family caregiver rule allows adult children and other adult relatives to be paid aides.
Spouses and parents of minor children face limits. Since January 1, 2024, they may be paid only if no other willing and able provider is available, the state confirms health and safety needs can be met, the care is extraordinary, and hours are generally capped at 40 a week.
Read our full guide: how to get paid to care for a family member.
Compare
All three help people with daily care. Training, tasks, and pay differ.
| Personal care aide | Home health aide | CNA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training | 30 hours (PASSPORT) or an approved program | 75 hours federal minimum, including 16 hands-on | State-approved program, 75 hours or more |
| Medical tasks | Mostly not. Help with daily living, like bathing, dressing, meals, and housework | Some, like vital signs, under nurse supervision | Yes, under nurse supervision |
| Where you work | Clients' homes, group homes, assisted living | Clients' homes, through home health agencies | Nursing homes and hospitals |
| Median pay (OH) | $16.57 an hour* | $16.57 an hour* | $18.76 an hour |
*Federal pay data groups personal care aides with home health aides. Many PCAs later become CNAs, which opens more jobs and higher pay.
FAQ
Short answers to what people ask most.
There is no personal caregiver license, but to be paid through PASSPORT or the Medicaid waiver you need approved training and ODA certification or ODM enrollment.
One PASSPORT route is a program of at least 30 hours. Other routes include STNA training or an ODH-approved competency program. Aides then need 6 to 8 hours a year.
Possibly, if she is in PASSPORT or another Medicaid waiver. Ohio's family caregiver rule lets adult children be paid aides, even if you hold her power of attorney, though paid care is then generally capped at 40 hours a week. You cannot be both her paid aide and her designated representative for self-directed care.
Only in limited cases. Since January 2024, a spouse may be paid if no other willing provider is available and the care is extraordinary, generally up to 40 hours a week.
Home health and personal care aides in Ohio earn a median of $16.57 an hour, based on the May 2025 federal wage survey.