Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation study guide

Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation, administered by CMS (federal, 42 CFR §484.80) + state health departments / training programs, is mapped here as 8 topic areas; the heaviest are Personal Care & ADLs (16%), Infection Prevention & Control (15%) and Mobility, Transfers & Body Mechanics (13%).

About this course: Study communication, observation, personal care and safe support at home. Confirm the requirements for your state and employer program.

Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation at a glance

Questions

70

Time allowed

program-set (commonly ~1–2 hours for the written portion)

Passing standard

CMS competency evaluation (42 CFR §484.80): a WRITTEN exam PLUS a hands-on SKILLS demonstration

Format

Multiple-choice written test (English, ~70 items) PLUS a hands-on skills demonstration (hand-washing is the near-universal must-pass task)

Standard / edition

current 42 CFR §484.80 + current state rule sets (2026)

Administered by

CMS (federal, 42 CFR §484.80) + state health departments / training programs

Source: current 42 CFR §484.80 + current state rule sets (2026), CMS (federal, 42 CFR §484.80) + state health departments / training programs. Confirm current details with the exam owner before you book.

Topic areas and weights

Study plan in this course

1. Personal Care & ADLs: Personal Care, ADLs & Skin — 9 cards · free
2. Mobility, Transfers & Body Mechanics: Transfers, Body Mechanics & Positioning — 5 cards · free
3. Infection Prevention & Control: Infection Control & Hand Hygiene — 6 cards · full course
4. Vital Signs: Vital Signs — Temperature, Pulse & Respiration — 6 cards · full course
5. Observation & Reporting: Observation, Reporting & Documentation — 7 cards · full course
6. Emergencies & Body Function: Recognizing Emergencies & First Response — 5 cards · full course
7. Safe Environment & Nutrition: A Safe, Clean Home & Good Nutrition — 4 cards · full course
8. Client Rights & Scope: Client Rights, Communication & Scope — 6 cards · full course

Personal Care & ADLs

Personal Care & ADLs carries 16% of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation blueprint used in this course, the largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 5 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Personal Care, ADLs & Skin.

What Personal Care & ADLs covers

• When you give a bed bath or help with bathing, which direction do you wash, and how hot should the water be? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• How do you give perineal care to a FEMALE client? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• When you help a person get dressed, which arm or leg goes FIRST if one side is weak or paralyzed? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• A bedbound client must be repositioned how often to protect the skin, and what early skin change must you report? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• When you help a client eat, how should they be positioned to prevent choking? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

Official references for Personal Care & ADLs

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

In the app this area comes with 9 memory cards and 10 module-quiz questions and is part of the free starting modules.

Mobility, Transfers & Body Mechanics

Mobility, Transfers & Body Mechanics carries 13% of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation blueprint used in this course, the third-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 4 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Transfers, Body Mechanics & Positioning.

What Mobility, Transfers & Body Mechanics covers

• What are the basic rules of good body mechanics when you lift or move a client? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• How is a gait belt used safely? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• Before transferring a client from bed to a wheelchair, what safety steps come first? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• What is range-of-motion exercise, and what is the golden rule when you assist with it? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

Official references for Mobility, Transfers & Body Mechanics

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 7 module-quiz questions and is part of the free starting modules.

Infection Prevention & Control

Infection Prevention & Control carries 15% of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation blueprint used in this course, the second-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 4 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Infection Control & Hand Hygiene.

What Infection Prevention & Control covers

• WHEN must you wash your hands during care? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• When should you use soap and water instead of alcohol hand sanitizer? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• What are 'standard precautions'? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• How do you handle dirty linens and gloves safely? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

Official references for Infection Prevention & Control

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 7 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Vital Signs

Vital Signs carries 12% of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation blueprint used in this course, the 4th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 4 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Vital Signs — Temperature, Pulse & Respiration.

What Vital Signs covers

• What is the normal resting PULSE range for an adult, and when do you report it? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• What is the normal RESPIRATION rate for an adult, and what's the trick to counting it accurately? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• What oral temperature counts as a fever you must report? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• An axillary temperature reads differently from an oral one. How? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

Official references for Vital Signs

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 8 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Observation & Reporting

Observation & Reporting carries 12% of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation blueprint used in this course, the 5th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 2 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Observation, Reporting & Documentation.

What Observation & Reporting covers

• Which changes should you report to the nurse RIGHT AWAY? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• What are the rules for accurate documentation? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

Official references for Observation & Reporting

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

In the app this area comes with 7 memory cards and 9 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Emergencies & Body Function

Emergencies & Body Function carries 12% of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation blueprint used in this course, the 6th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Recognizing Emergencies & First Response.

Official references for Emergencies & Body Function

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

In the app this area comes with 5 memory cards and 7 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Safe Environment & Nutrition

Safe Environment & Nutrition carries 10% of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation blueprint used in this course, the 7th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 2 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: A Safe, Clean Home & Good Nutrition.

What Safe Environment & Nutrition covers

• Match the special diet to the client: low-sodium, diabetic, and thickened liquids. — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• What are the four basic food-safety rules? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

Official references for Safe Environment & Nutrition

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

In the app this area comes with 4 memory cards and 7 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Client Rights & Scope

Client Rights & Scope carries 10% of the Home Health Aide (HHA) Competency Evaluation blueprint used in this course, the 8th-largest of its 8 weighted areas. It spans 2 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Client Rights, Communication & Scope.

What Client Rights & Scope covers

• A client refuses the care you came to give. What do you do? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• Which tasks are OUTSIDE an HHA's scope of practice? — 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

Official references for Client Rights & Scope

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice

In the app this area comes with 6 memory cards and 9 module-quiz questions in the full course.

Official references

• 42 CFR §484.80 + standard home-health-aide care practice
• 42 CFR: §484.80
• State HHA program rules + state health-department registries
• CDC hand hygiene & standard precautions guidance
• MedlinePlus / NIH
• American Red Cross / American Heart Association first-aid & emergency guidance