Home care licensing questions, answered

It depends on the state. The reference guide found a license, registration or certification for non-medical or personal care agencies in many states, and no general state license in others, where a Medicaid provider pathway may apply. Open your state to see which.

They are different tools, and the entry names the exact one. California lists CDSS Home Care Organization (HCO) license; Florida lists AHCA Homemaker & Companion Services registration; HHA license for hands-on care; Kentucky lists CHFS OIG Personal Services Agency certification.

Not in the guide’s terms. Where a state has no private-pay license, the guide describes the Medicaid provider pathway and labels it as such. Alabama’s entry, for example, says this describes a service-provider pathway, not a general agency license.

Sometimes. Read the license type in your state’s entry. North Carolina lists DHSR Home Care Agency license; Home Assistance Services Provider license (companion/sitter only); Virginia lists VDH Home Care Organization license (companion-only exempt); Oklahoma lists OSDH Home Care Agency license; Sitter/Companion agency license.

We could not confirm this item on an official state source during our review, so we did not estimate it. In the guide’s data this is the UNVERIFIED grade: The fact could not be confirmed on an official source during this review. No estimate has been put in its place. Any note shown explains what was (or was not) found. Approval timelines with no official figure show “No official timeline published — check with the agency”, and fees where official figures conflict show “Conflicting official figures — confirm current fee with the agency.”

CHANGED SINCE MARCH 2026: An enacted law, adopted rule, fee schedule, or process change took effect, or was adopted, after March 1, 2026. WATCH: A pending proposal, failed bill, or smaller program-level change that could affect agencies but is not a licensing change in force. See changes since March 2026.

The research was completed on October 15, 2026. Limits: fees and forms change often. Confirm the current fee with the agency before filing.

Skilled, Medicare-certified home health is covered only where it is the only state pathway.

No. This guide is a research reference, not legal advice.

Call (949) 873-3224 or use the contact page on the Home Care Agency Blueprint site. Tell us the state, the item and the official source. Confirmed errors are fixed and the page date is updated.

Home Care Agency Blueprint, the publisher of this site, sells licensing and startup help, so treat its offer as one option. You can book a free 15-minute clarity call to talk it through. You do not need a call to use anything on this site.