HCA Registry Steps: How To Launch Your HCA (Home Care Aide) Career
IF YOU NEED TO FIND OUT YOUR EXISTING HCA NUMBER PLEASE CALL DSS (THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA) AT (877) 424-5778.
SACRAMENTO AREA CAREGIVERS – CLICK HERE TO TEXT US YOUR HCA #
STEP 1: Register as a HCA (Home Care Aide) with the state (this is what CA calls caregivers — “Home Care Aides”).
⇒ Time: 5-10 minutes (you do it online here)
- when asked for a PIN enter R38XKSPE
- TAKE A SCREENSHOT OF YOUR HCA ID # once you get it in case you lose it
- Text your HCA to FirstLight at 916-749-4307 if you are trying to work in the Sacramento area only
- IF YOU FORGET YOUR HCA ID # you can call this number and get it by using your social security number or California driver’s license: 1-877-424-5778
- IF YOU THINK YOU ALREADY HAVE A HCA ID # you can call the same phone # and retrieve it: 1-877-424-5778
⇒ Cost: $35
⇒ Reimbursement: FirstLight will reimburse you after 160 hours of client visits (you must give us the original receipt)
When you are done registering, you will get a HCA ID (Home Care Aide ID). Don’t lose this number. Please text or email this HCA ID to FirstLight at 916-749-4307.
STEP 2: Get “Live Scanned” (this means you will get background checked using your fingerprints). [NOTE to CNA’s and others: You can skip this step IF you already got live scanned for a senior/residential care facility (RCFE) or for a child care company].
⇒ Time: 10-20 minutes to get fingerprinted, and usually less than a week to get the results (here is the LIC 9163 – HCA Live Scan Form)
⇒ Cost: approximately $80
⇒ Reimbursement: FirstLight will reimburse you after 160 hours of client visits (you must give us the original receipt)
To get Live Scanned, first Print this LIC 9163 – HCA Live Scan Form and fill it out (it has the FirstLight information already on it). Then bring this form to a Live Scan location.
Some places you can go include Five Star Fingerprinting at 6721 Five Star Blvd in Rocklin ((916) 630-7827) and UPS Stores. If you also need a TB test, you can get a Live Scan and a TB test at the same time at the Wellness Mart at 300 Harding Blvd. Suite 117, Roseville, (916) 781-2555. Wellness Mart also has a Sacramento location at the Arden Town Shopping Center (558 La Sierra Drive). To save you time, Wellness Mart also offers TB tests (see below).
STEP 3: Get a TB (Tuberculosis) test showing that you are “negative” or do not have TB, and bring it to FirstLight.
⇒ Time: 10-20 minutes to get tested, then you have to go back in 3-4 days to get the results (they look at your skin), and that will take 10-20 minutes
⇒ Cost: $47 at Wellness Mart, similar elsewhere, or sometimes you can get it for free through your insurance
To save time, you can go to the Wellness Mart and get live scanned AND TB tested. They’re just not the cheapest. There is one in Roseville at 300 Harding Blvd. Suite 117 (916) 781-2555 or askros@wellnessmart.com), and another at the Arden Town Shopping Center (558 La Sierra Drive) (916) 480-0600 or asksac@wellnessmart.com). Wellness Mart charges $38 for their TB test (http://wellnessmart.com/tb-testing/ ).
*** APPLY HERE to be a HCA-Registered FirstLight Caregiver! ***
Click here for the online HCA Registration form
Please contact us with any questions! Congratulations on embarking on an excellent career!
Please call or text us at 916-749-4307 with any questions!
Thanks.
