CCHT is a credential that shows someone has training in home care

CCHT stands for Certified Clinical Home Therapist. It is a credential issued by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) that shows a person has completed training in delivering clinical care in someone's home. The person holding it has studied how to provide skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy in a home setting — not in a hospital or clinic.

The credential is not the same as a nursing license or a therapy license. Those come from your state. CCHT is a separate certification that sits on top of a base license and shows the person has additional knowledge about home care specifically. Someone with CCHT has learned how to work safely in a home environment, manage equipment there, and coordinate care when the patient is not in a medical facility.

Home care agencies often require or prefer staff to hold CCHT because it signals they understand the unique demands of treating people in their own homes — different equipment, different safety concerns, different family dynamics than a hospital ward.

Key Takeaways

  • CCHT is a credential from the National Association for Home Care & Hospice showing training in clinical home care delivery, not a state license.
  • The person holding CCHT must already have a base license (nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy) from their state.
  • CCHT requires passing an exam that covers home care safety, equipment, infection control, and patient assessment in home settings.
  • Home care agencies often prefer or require CCHT for clinical staff because it shows knowledge specific to treating patients at home.
  • Recertification is required every three years and involves continuing education hours and a renewal fee.

Who can get CCHT certification

To pursue CCHT, you must already hold a current, active license in your state as a registered nurse (RN), licensed practical nurse (LPN), physical therapist (PT), occupational therapist (OT), or speech-language pathologist (SLP). You cannot get CCHT without one of these base licenses — it is an add-on credential, not a standalone one.

You also need to have worked in home care for a minimum period. The NAHC requires at least two years of full-time home care experience (or the equivalent in part-time hours) in your licensed field within the five years before you explore. This ensures the person taking the exam has real experience delivering care in homes, not just classroom knowledge.

Some employers or agencies may have additional requirements — for example, they might ask that you have worked for them for a certain length of time before they will sponsor you for the exam or pay the fee. Check with your employer or the agency you want to work for about their specific expectations.

What the CCHT exam covers

The CCHT exam is a written test administered by NAHC. It covers topics specific to home care delivery that go beyond what a standard nursing or therapy license covers. The exam tests your knowledge of home safety assessment, infection control in home settings, medical equipment used in homes, patient assessment and monitoring, documentation for home care, and how to work with family members and caregivers in the home.

The exam also covers legal and ethical issues in home care — things like patient rights, privacy, informed consent, and how to handle situations where a patient's home is unsafe or unsuitable for the care they need. You will be tested on how to recognize signs that a patient is not getting adequate care at home and what to do about it.

The test is typically multiple choice and takes a few hours to complete. You can take it at testing centers in your area. The NAHC website lists approved testing locations and dates. You register for the exam through NAHC and pay a fee, which varies but is typically in the range of $200 to $400.

How to prepare and register for the exam

NAHC offers study materials and a candidate handbook that outlines exactly what the exam covers. You can purchase these directly from NAHC. Many people also use textbooks on home care nursing or therapy, depending on their field, and some take prep courses offered by home care agencies or continuing education providers.

To register for the exam, you will need to submit proof of your current state license, proof of your two years of home care experience, and a completed process form. You submit these to NAHC along with the exam fee. Processing typically takes a few weeks, and NAHC will send you authorization to test once your process is approved.

You can retake the exam if you do not pass on your first attempt. There is usually a waiting period of a few weeks before you can schedule a second test, and you will need to pay the exam fee again.

Maintaining CCHT certification after you pass

CCHT certification is valid for three years from the date you pass the exam. After three years, you must renew. Renewal requires completing a set number of continuing education hours in home care topics — typically 30 to 36 hours over the three-year period — and paying a renewal fee to NAHC.

The continuing education hours must come from approved providers. NAHC maintains a list of organizations and courses that count toward renewal. Many home care agencies offer in-house training that qualifies, and there are also online courses, conferences, and workshops you can take.

You do not have to retake the exam to renew, but you do have to document your continuing education hours and submit them with your renewal process and fee. If you let your certification lapse, you can reactivate it within a certain window, but if too much time passes, you may have to retake the exam.

How CCHT affects your job and pay

Having CCHT can make you more competitive when looking for home care work. Many agencies list CCHT as preferred or required for clinical positions. Some agencies will hire you without it but may ask you to get it within a certain timeframe — often within the first year of employment.

Whether CCHT leads to higher pay depends on the agency and the market in your area. Some employers offer a pay bump for staff who hold CCHT; others do not. It is worth asking during a job interview whether the agency offers any financial incentive for certification. Some agencies will even pay the exam fee or continuing education costs for their staff.

CCHT is also useful if you want to move into supervisory or training roles in home care, since it shows you have deep knowledge of the field. Some agencies prefer to promote people with CCHT into management positions.

CCHT versus other home care credentials

Home care has several different credentials, and it is straightforward to confuse them. CCHT is different from a home health aide certification, which is a much shorter credential for people who help with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, meals) but do not provide clinical care. Home health aides do not need a nursing or therapy license.

CCHT is also different from a home care manager or case manager certification. Those credentials focus on coordinating care and managing patient cases, not on delivering hands-on clinical care. A home care manager might oversee a team of nurses and aides but may not be the person giving injections or doing physical therapy.

If you hold a nursing or therapy license and want to show you have specialized knowledge in home care, CCHT is the credential that does that. It is recognized across home care agencies and is the standard credential for clinical home care staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need CCHT to work in home care?

Not always. Many home care agencies will hire nurses and therapists without CCHT. However, some agencies require it, and many prefer it. Having CCHT makes you more competitive and can open doors to better positions or higher pay. Check with the agencies in your area to see what they require or prefer.

Can I get CCHT if I am a home health aide?

No. CCHT requires a state license as a nurse or therapist. Home health aides do not hold those licenses. If you want to pursue CCHT, you would need to become a licensed nurse or therapist first, which requires additional education and state licensing.

How long does it take to get CCHT after I explore?

From the time you submit your process to NAHC, approval typically takes two to four weeks. Once approved, you can schedule your exam at a testing center near you. The whole process from process to passing the exam usually takes one to three months, depending on how quickly you prepare and when testing dates are available.

What happens if I fail the CCHT exam?

You can retake it. There is usually a waiting period of a few weeks before you can schedule another test, and you will pay the exam fee again. Many people pass on a second or third attempt. Using study materials and prep courses can improve your chances on a retake.

Does CCHT expire if I change jobs or stop working in home care?

Your certification remains valid for three years regardless of where you work, as long as you renew it on time. If you stop working in home care, you can still maintain CCHT by completing the continuing education hours and paying the renewal fee. However, if you let it lapse and want to reactivate it later, you may need to retake the exam depending on how long it has been.