Thank you for your interest in becoming a Certified Home Care & Hospice Executive (CHCE). We are in the process of updating the certification program and plan to have it available soon.

If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Devoti at andrea@nahc.org.

The CHCE certification is available to eligible individuals in home care/hospice leadership positions. This includes executives and managers in provider organizations and those serving in related organizations such as consultants, accreditation and regulatory surveyors, and state home care associations.

Certification is a sign of commitment to your profession as a home care or hospice executive. It communicates pride in your work and dedication to being fully versed in all of the areas of executive management required to effectively run a home care or hospice agency.

CHCE Seal

In order to receive your CHCE certification, you must complete a few steps.

Step 1. Submit your application. The application fee for NAHC members is $20, for nonmembers, it is $50

Step 2. Once approved you may register to take the CHCE Exam and will receive access to the CHCE Study Guide. The certification exam for NAHC members is $200, and $500 for nonmembers. The timed exam consists of 223 questions covering the following topics Legal Requirements, Financial Operations, Payment Source, Regulatory Compliance, Strategic Planning and Operations, Human Resources, Quality and Performance Improvement, Risk Management, Marketing and Public Relations, Training and Continuing Education, Ethics, Technology Application, and Policy and Advocacy. You will have one year to prepare for the exam.

Step 3. Once you pass the exam, you will receive your certification materials. Your CHCE certification will be valid for 4 years.

CHCE Candidate Information

Why is Credentialing Important?

Quality leadership by the home care or hospice executive is necessary to develop an effective framework to support the two organization’s mission and purpose. Credentialing home care and hospice executives is also important during this time of increased public scrutiny and rapid growth in the number of home care and hospice providers. Certification of home care and hospice executives provides the home care community with a mechanism to establish credentials, acknowledge experience and career involvement, and define a body of knowledge for individuals in leadership positions in home care and hospice organizations.

What Does Certification Mean?

Certification represents achievement of a gold standard of knowledge for the operation of a home care or hospice organization. It signifies that the individual has attained a defined level of education, experience and knowledge. Certified individuals may use the initials CHCE behind their names. CHCE is a trademark of NAHC and Home Care University.  Its use is strictly limited to those who successfully complete the application and testing process. Unauthorized users will be prosecuted.

What Are the Advantages of a Certification Program?

To the Home Care Community

  • Certification provides the opportunity to define the profession of home care and hospice executives by establishing and maintaining a uniform standard.
  • The certification program encourages continuing education and professional development of home care and hospice executives, which contributes to continuous improvement in home care leadership.

To the Consumer

  • The certification program facilitates the delivery of quality home care and hospice services through promoting standards for professionals who lead organizations that provide such services.
  • Certification is a symbol to the public that the individual has attained a defined level of education, experience, and knowledge.

To the Individual

  • Certification provides national recognition to home care and hospice executives who successfully meet the requirements for education, experience, knowledge, and professional conduct of the CHCE program.
  • Certification may provide enhanced career opportunities as employers recognize that certification represents professional commitment, motivation, and competency in a defined body of knowledge.
What are the Key Areas of Practice?

Home care and hospice executives set expectations, develop plans, manage, assess, improve, and maintain their organization’s activities. The areas of practice span finance, reimbursement, legal and regulatory issues, organization planning and management, human resources, quality and risk management, public relations and marketing, ethics, and information management. Home care and hospice executives use a comprehensive approach in the management and coordination of staff to provide efficient and effective home care and hospice services.

What are the Requirements to Become Certified?
  • Completed and signed application
  • Documentation of eligibility requirements
  • Attestation to adhere to NAHC Code of Ethics
  • Payment of application fees
  • Approval of the Application
  • Successful Completion of the Certification Exam

The purpose of the CHCE examination is to test the candidate’s knowledge in areas related to the job functions performed by home care and hospice executives. Candidates who meet the education and experience requirements must successfully complete the certification examination.

Who is Eligible to Take the Certification Exam?

The CHCE program and examination are intended for individuals in leadership positions in home care and hospice provider organizations and related* organizations.

Home care provider organizations include:

  • Home health care
  • Hospice
  • Support care
  • Personal care
  • Home infusion therapy

* Home care and hospice-related organizations include:

  • Home care/hospice consultant organizations
  • Home care/hospice regulatory organizations
  • Home care/hospice accreditation organizations
  • State home care associations

Note: Staffing agencies and durable medical equipment (DME) companies are not included.

Eligibility requirements vary with the applicant’s education background. Once eligibility is determined, candidates will receive approval from Home Care University and may proceed with test registration.

To determine eligibility:

  • Managers and executives in provider organizations should use Chart I (below).
  • Managers, executives, and surveyors in related organizations should use Chart II (below).
EDUCATIONYEARS EXPERIENCE  IN HOME CARE/ HOSPICE PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONEXECUTIVE LEVEL EXPERIENCE  HOME CARE/HOSPICEMANAGEMENT LEVEL EXPERIENCE  HOME CARE/HOSPICE
Master’s  DegreeThree years12 consecutive months full time within the last 3 years24 consecutive months full time
Bachelor’s DegreeFour years18 consecutive months full time within the last 3 years30 consecutive months full time within the last 4 years
Associate Degree  or professional licensure in a health-related fieldFive years24 consecutive months full time within the last 3 years36 consecutive months full time within the last 4 years
*The executive or management position in home care or hospice must have included a majority of the activities and responsibilities in the areas listed. Full time means FTE 1800 work hours equals one year.
EDUCATION*PAST  EXECUTIVE OR SENIOR MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE  IN
PROVIDER  ORGANIZATION
**LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE  IN HOME CARE/HOSPICE RELATED ORGANIZATION   
Master’s Degree36 consecutive months full time equivalent within the last 6 years36 months (†full time equivalent) within the last 4 years
Bachelor’s Degree48 consecutive months full time equivalent within the last 8 years48 months (†full time equivalent) within the last 5 years
Associate Degree or professional licensure in a health-related field60 consecutive months full time equivalent within the last 10 years60 months (†full time equivalent) within the last 6 years
*Executive or Senior Management level experience must have included a majority of the activities and responsibilities in the areas listed. **May be fulfilled by home care experience to the extent the experience falls within the allowable time frame. †Full time means FTE 1800 work hours equals one year.