Table of Contents
What Does a Certified Caregiver Do in Pennsylvania?
Who Needs a Caregiving Certification in Pennsylvania?
Which Type of Caregiving Path Is Right for You?
How to Get Paid to Care for a Loved One in Pennsylvania
Requirements to Become a Family Caregiver in Pennsylvania
What Happens After You’re Approved?
If you’re here, chances are you’re thinking about stepping up to care for someone you love. Maybe your parent is aging and needs help with daily tasks. Maybe a relative has a disability and you’ve been supporting them more and more. Or maybe you’re already doing the work of a caregiver, unpaid and unrecognized, and you’re wondering: How can I make this official? How can I get paid for the care I’m already giving?
At FreedomCare, we’ve helped thousands of people in Pennsylvania get paid to care for family members and friends. This guide will walk you through exactly what you need to know to become a certified caregiver in Pennsylvania, what kinds of certification may (or may not) be required, and how you can use your role to build a meaningful, sustainable career — or simply care for your loved one with dignity and support.
What Does a Certified Caregiver Do in Pennsylvania?
A certified caregiver helps someone live safely and independently at home. This can include:
- Helping with bathing, dressing, or using the bathroom
- Cooking meals and helping with eating
- Reminding them to take medications
- Driving them to appointments or errands
- Light housekeeping
- Offering companionship and emotional support
For many people, these aren’t just tasks on a checklist. They’re deeply personal acts of love. You may already be doing most of them without even calling yourself a “caregiver.” In Pennsylvania, you can take this caregiving one step further by becoming certified, which may help you get paid or open doors to future job opportunities.
Who Needs a Caregiving Certification in Pennsylvania?
Here’s where things get personal. If you’re caring for a family member through a Medicaid-funded program — like Pennsylvania’s Community HealthChoices (CHC) waiver — you don’t need a professional caregiver certification to get paid. What you do need is:
- To be at least 18 years old
- To pass background checks
- To be legally allowed to work in the U.S.
- To work with an agency like FreedomCare that is approved to provide services under the Medicaid waiver
FreedomCare makes this process simple. We’ve helped adult children, siblings, friends, and even neighbors get paid to care for someone they love — no prior certification required. While spouses aren’t eligible to be paid caregivers in Pennsylvania, there are still other family members and trusted individuals who can step into this role.
That said, if you’re interested in becoming a professional caregiver outside the home, like working in a nursing facility or with a home care agency, you may need to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Home Health Aide (HHA), or Personal Care Assistant (PCA), each with its own training requirements.
Which Type of Caregiving Path Is Right for You?
Here are a few caregiving paths in Pennsylvania, depending on your situation:
1. Family Caregiver Through Medicaid (No Certification Required)
If your loved one qualifies for Medicaid and needs assistance with daily living, you can get paid to provide that care through the state’s home and community-based services. This is where FreedomCare comes in. We’re a licensed provider through the CHC program, and we’ve helped thousands of Pennsylvanians care for loved ones in need — and get compensated for it.
You don’t need formal training or certifications. Just a caring heart, a willingness to help, and the ability to complete onboarding with FreedomCare.
2. Personal Care Aide (PCA)
If you want to provide care to people outside your family — such as clients of a home care agency — you may need to complete PCA training. This training often includes basic safety, hygiene, and communication skills, and is typically offered by the agency that hires you.
3. Home Health Aide (HHA)
To become an HHA in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours of training, including 16 hours of supervised practical training. HHA certification allows you to work in clients’ homes under the supervision of a nurse or therapist.
4. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
Becoming a CNA requires more training and certification, but it also opens more doors in healthcare settings. CNA training programs in Pennsylvania require at least 120 hours of instruction and passing a state exam.
If your goal is to stay home and care for someone you love, none of the above certifications are required. But if you want caregiving to become your career, these paths are worth exploring.
How to Get Paid to Care for a Loved One in Pennsylvania
If you’re already providing care to a loved one in Pennsylvania and wondering how to make it financially sustainable, you’re not alone. The truth is, caring for a family member often means leaving a job or cutting back hours. That’s a big sacrifice — and one you shouldn’t have to make without support.
Here’s how FreedomCare helps:
- We check if your loved one qualifies for Medicaid and home care services
If they already have Medicaid, great. If not, we’ll guide you through the application process. - We handle all the paperwork
There’s a lot involved in signing up to be a paid caregiver. We make it easier by walking you through it step by step. - We provide training and onboarding
You don’t need a formal certificate, but we’ll help you understand the role and get started the right way. - We pay you — fast and reliably
Once approved, you get paid weekly via direct deposit or a pay card. No delays, no confusion.
Thousands of families across Pennsylvania have already joined FreedomCare. We’ve helped adult children care for aging parents, parents care for children with disabilities, and spouses support each other through chronic illness.
Requirements to Become a Family Caregiver in Pennsylvania
To work through FreedomCare and get paid as a family caregiver in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass a criminal background check
- Pass a basic health screening
- Provide a valid photo ID and Social Security card
- Be legally allowed to work in the U.S.
Your loved one must:
- Be enrolled in Medicaid
- Live in Pennsylvania
- Be eligible for home care services through the CHC waiver or another state-funded program
- Be capable of directing their care, or have a representative to do so on their behalf
Not sure if you qualify? We’re happy to check. You can reach out to FreedomCare anytime and we’ll walk you through eligibility, next steps, and what to expect. Want a FreedomCare team member to reach out to you? Simply click here to enter your contact information.
What Happens After You’re Approved?
Once you’re officially a paid caregiver, here’s what your life might look like:
- You spend your time helping your loved one with tasks they can’t do on their own
- You keep a simple log of your hours using our app
- You get paid every week for the hours you’ve worked
And most importantly, you don’t have to choose between caring for someone you love and supporting yourself financially. You get to do both — with dignity and peace of mind.
Job Opportunities After Certification
If you’re using this experience as a stepping stone to build a career in caregiving, there are many options in Pennsylvania. With experience and additional training, you can move into roles such as:
- Home health aide with a local agency
- CNA in a nursing home or rehab facility
- Private-duty caregiver for clients with specific needs
- Even start your own home care business, if you’re ambitious and ready for the challenge
FreedomCare can be a great first step. It gives you hands-on experience, training support, and time to figure out whether caregiving is the right path for your future.
Career Advancement
Some caregivers start their journey just trying to help a loved one. But over time, they find they’ve developed skills, confidence, and a passion for making a difference.
From there, you might choose to:
- Enroll in nursing school
- Become a social worker or care coordinator
- Train to be a certified home health aide or CNA
- Work with a larger home care agency
You’ve already proven that you care. With the right support, that can grow into a lifelong career.
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering becoming a certified caregiver in Pennsylvania, know this: the path is more personal than professional. It’s about love, responsibility, and making sure the people closest to you are safe and supported.
At FreedomCare, we believe caregivers should be recognized and paid for the incredible work they do. We’ll guide you every step of the way — from Medicaid applications to onboarding to weekly paychecks.
You’re not just helping someone live. You’re helping them live with dignity. And that deserves all the support we can offer.
Ready to get started? Click here to check your eligibility or reach out to FreedomCare and let’s find out if you qualify to get paid for the care you’re already giving.