CDPAP caregiver requirements in New York
What you need to become a paid CDPAP caregiver, called a personal assistant, in New York City: who is allowed, the health assessment, the paperwork and what training is expected.
No license needed
A CDPAP caregiver must be an adult who is not the person’s spouse, designated representative or the parent of a child under 21. They must pass PPL’s health assessment and complete PPL’s hiring paperwork. No certificate, license or home health aide training is required.
Last checked October 7, 2026, against New York State and PPL sources listed at the bottom of this page.
Who can be a CDPAP caregiver
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Adult children, grandchildren and other adult relatives | The person’s spouse |
| Friends, neighbors and other adults the person trusts | The person’s designated representative |
| A parent of an adult child (21 or older) | A parent of a child under 21 |
| A court-appointed legal guardian, if they are not also the designated representative | Anyone under 18 |
The person getting care, or their representative, chooses and hires the caregiver. CDPAP does not assign one.
The health assessment
PPL requires every caregiver to pass a health assessment before the first shift. It includes:
- A physical exam showing you are healthy enough to do the work.
- A tuberculosis (TB) test, either a skin test or a blood test, with a chest x-ray if the result is positive.
- Proof of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), from vaccination records or a blood test. Once shown, it does not expire.
PPL assigns you to one of its screening partners, Mobile Health or The IMA Group, and the assignment appears in your To Do list in PPL@Home. You can use your own doctor instead, at your own cost, with the partner’s forms. Results usually reach PPL in 3 to 5 business days.
Every year after that, you complete a short self health assessment and a TB screening. If you miss it, PPL puts you on hold and you cannot submit hours until it is done.
Paperwork to finish before you are paid
- Your PPL offer letter
- Federal W-4 and New York IT-2104 tax forms
- Form I-9, which confirms you are allowed to work in the United States
- A payment method form: direct deposit, paper check or the Wisely Pay debit card
- The health assessment above
You complete these in PPL@Home, PPL’s online portal. PPL sets your start date only after both you and the person you care for are registered.
Training and what the job involves
No certificate, license or home health aide course is required. Instead, the person getting care, or their designated representative, trains you and directs your work.
Depending on the care plan, CDPAP caregivers help with personal care such as bathing and dressing, with household tasks, and with some health-related tasks that would otherwise need a nurse, when the care plan includes them.
Rules to know once you start
- Work only the approved hours. PPL pays for hours within the care plan’s authorization. Submit your time by Saturday at midnight each week.
- Families can hire more than one caregiver. The Department of Health recommends at least one caregiver for every 40 approved hours, so people with many hours often have two or more.
- Relatives earn the same rate. Family caregivers are paid like anyone else: $20.65 an hour in New York City in 2026. See the pay guide.
- Keep your health assessment current every year, or your pay stops until it is done.
cdpap.nyc is an independent guide. We are not New York State, Medicaid or PPL. PPL and the care plan decide who is approved to work and when.
Common questions
Do I need to be a home health aide (HHA) to do CDPAP?
No. Unlike agency home care, CDPAP does not require home health aide or personal care aide certification. The person you care for, or their representative, trains you.
Can I be paid if I am my parent’s legal guardian?
Yes. A court-appointed guardian can be the paid caregiver for an adult, as long as they are not also the designated representative. Someone else must fill that role.
Can I be my mom’s caregiver and also her designated representative?
No. One person cannot be both. If your mom needs a representative, another family member or trusted adult takes that role while you work as the caregiver.
Do I have to pay for the health assessment?
Use the screening partner PPL assigns you. If you choose your own doctor instead, PPL says that visit is at your own expense.
Sources
- 18 NYCRR 505.28: CDPAP regulation (who can be a personal assistant)
- NYS Department of Health: MLTC Policy 23.04, legal guardians in CDPAS
- PPL: personal assistant health assessments
- PPL: resources and registration for personal assistants
- PPL: New York CDPAP frequently asked questions
All sources checked October 7, 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
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