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Advanced Competency in Home Health Certification 

APTA Home Health's Advanced Competency in Home Health (ACHH) certification is a marker of excellence in and commitment to the practice of physical therapy in the home health setting.

Click the boxes below to see the program requirements for PTs and PTAs:

                                           

**Effective March 1, 2023 - Participants must successfully complete all certification requirements within an 
18-month period. Also, all aspects of the ACHH will be stand alone and can be taken in any order.

Who Should Attend?

ACHH is for licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. Individuals who successfully complete the Advanced Competency in Home Health program are provided with a certificate in, and may describe themselves as having obtained a “Certificate of Advanced Competency in Home Health”.  

How will you benefit from this certification?

  • For clinicians entirely new to home care: This program prepares you for the unique characteristics of practicing in the home care setting. The varied modules include an in-depth orientation to performing either patient assessments (PTs) or cardiopulmonary assessments of patients (PTAs) in their homes, recommended tests and measures to assess patient performance, and instruction in the regulatory requirements specific to home care. The program also offers supplementary education in pharmacology to prepare you for medication review with home care patients, and provides advanced tools for managing some of the most common treatment scenarios encountered in home care.

  • For therapists already practicing in home care: This program allows you to expand your expertise in home health and keep your skill set competitive. The program also brings you up-to-date on regulatory requirements and best practices in the home care setting. Most important, certification distinguishes you as an advanced clinician in home health.

  • For agencies and practices providing home care physical therapy services: This program enables you to ensure that the physical therapists you employ are adequately trained to work autonomously in the home health field. Whether you send new hires or existing staff through the advanced competency program, it’s an important investment in your peace of mind. You can also promote your company as employing certified staff, to set yourself apart from the competition.

About ACHH 

The Advanced Competency in Home Health (ACHH) Certificate is designed to help therapists and therapist assistants enhance their clinical expertise, efficiency, and confidence in the home health setting. This innovative program equips clinicians with advanced, evidence-based skills that support high-quality patient care and improved outcomes in the home environment.

The ACHH certification is offered through a flexible hybrid format that combines self-paced online learning modules with a comprehensive 15-hour seminar available either in person or virtually. The seminar is offered two to three times each year, allowing participants to select a schedule that best fits their professional needs.

Designed with working clinicians in mind, participants may begin the program with either the online modules or the seminar and have up to two years from their initial course enrollment to complete the certification requirements. Physical therapists’ complete additional elective coursework tailored to advanced clinical practice as part of the certification pathway.

All components of the program, including the online modules, electives and seminars, may also be taken independently for continuing education and professional development.

Completion of the ACHH Certificate positions therapists and therapist assistants to practice at the top of their license, utilizing current research, evidence-based strategies, and advanced clinical decision-making skills to excel in home health care.

For upcoming dates of the live or virtual seminars, visit our calendar of events. Requirements for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants varies slightly. Certificates are valid for five (5) years from the date completed. Graduates have 30 calendar days after their certificate's expiration date to renew without having to re-take the program. 

Other ACHH Resources: