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Home care agency license requirements by state
Non-medical personal care, attendant and companion services. Whether each state requires a license, who issues it, what it costs, certificate of need, electronic visit verification and the Medicaid rate, with the official source for each.
- States compiled
- 51 of 51
- Require a state license
- 34
- No state license
- 17
- States with a CON program
- 37of states compiled
On this page
By state
Home care agency requirements in every state
States still being compiled are marked; we only publish a state once its details are confirmed against the official source.
| State | License | Issuing agency | Fee | Renewal | CON program | EVV model | Medicaid rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not required | Alabama Department of Public Health, Bureau of Health Provider Standards (licenses health facilities; no non-medical home care category) | — | — | Yes | open/provider choice | $4.06per 15 min |
| Alaska | Not required | Alaska Department of Health, Senior and Disabilities Services (SDS), Provider Certification and Compliance Unit | — | Renewal application due at least 60 days before the current certification period expires; no fee stated. | Yes | hybrid | $9.30per 15 min |
| Arizona | Not required | Arizona Department of Health Services licenses home health agencies only; AHCCCS sets standards for Medicaid direct care service agencies | — | — | No | hybrid | $6.88per 15 min |
| Arkansas | Private Care Agency license (Medicaid Personal Care) | Arkansas Department of Health, Health Facility Services | — | Every year · License runs on the calendar year and expires December 31; a new annual application is required. No private care agency fee is listed in the rule or the current application fee table. | Yes | hybrid | $1.68per 15 min |
| California | Home Care Organization license | California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, Home Care Services Branch (HCSB) | $5,603 | Every 2 years · License and fee cover a 2-year term; a separate renewal fee is not listed on the fee page. | No | hybrid | $36.35per hour |
| Colorado | Home Care Agency license — Class B (personal care only) | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Health Facilities and Emergency Medical Services Division | $2,720.30 | Class B renewal base fee $1,638.36, plus $247.30 per branch and $61.83 per workstation; volume add-on $123.65 (50–99 admissions/yr) or $247.30 (100+). $100 off the base if Medicare/Medicaid certified; 10% off the base if accreditation deeming applies. Renewal due 60 days before expiration; late fees of 10%/50%/75%, and the license is void at 90 days past expiration. | No | hybrid | $7.28per 15 min |
| Connecticut | Homemaker-Companion Agency certificate of registration | Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), License Services Division | $375 | Every year · Registrations expire every October 31; the renewal fee equals the original application fee ($375). An application approved within 90 days of the expiration date is moved to the next renewal cycle. | Yes | hybrid | $7.63per 15 min |
| Delaware | Personal Assistance Services Agency license | Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health Care Quality (DHCQ), Office of Health Facilities Licensing and Certification | $250 | Every year · $100 annual license renewal fee. | Yes | open/provider choice | $39.35per hour |
| District of Columbia | Home Care Agency license | DC Health (District of Columbia Department of Health), Health Regulation and Licensing Administration | $600 | Every year · Annual fee by yearly DC admissions: 1–150 patients $400; 151–750 $700; 751–1,250 $1,100; 1,251+ $1,300; late fee $100. | Yes | hybrid | $7.89per 15 min |
| Florida | Homemaker and Companion Services Provider registration (no hands-on personal care) | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), Bureau of Health Facility Regulation, Long Term Care Services Unit | $50.75 | Every 2 years · Registration is biennial; the same biennial fee applies. | Yes | hybrid | $6.85per 15 min |
| Georgia | Private Home Care Provider license (service levels: companion sitting, personal care services, nursing services) | Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD), Private Home Care Program | $300 application processing fee at submission, plus an in… | Every year · $250 per service level each year; late fee $150 at 60 days past due; follow-up inspection visit $250; permit replacement $50. 25% discount for agencies accredited by a department-approved body (ACHC, CARF, CHAP, CQL, The Joint Commission for PHCP). | Yes | hybrid | $6.89per 15 min |
| Hawaii | Home Care Agency license | Hawaii Department of Health, Office of Health Care Assurance (OHCA), State Licensing Section | $1,200 | A renewal fee applies under HAR Chapter 11-103.1; the amount was not found on the OHCA pages reviewed. | Yes | hybrid | $4.00per 15 min |
| Idaho | Not required | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Medicaid (provider agreements); Bureau of Facility Standards licenses health facilities | — | — | No | open/provider choice | $6.11per 15 min |
| Illinois | Home Services Agency license (Home Services Placement Agency is a separate license) | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Office of Health Care Regulation, Health Care Facilities and Programs | $1,500 | Every year · Annual renewal with the same fee. IDPH sends a reminder about 120 days ahead; the complete application and fee must be postmarked at least 60 days before expiration or a late fee applies. | Yes | hybrid | $30.80per hour |
| Indiana | Personal Services Agency license | Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), Consumer Services and Health Care Regulation, Home and Community Based Care | $250 | Every year · License expires 1 year after issue (an initial license may be shorter to stagger dates); renewal fee $250. A change of ownership needs a new license and $250 fee. | Yes | hybrid | $8.59per 15 min |
| Iowa | Not required | Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), Health Facilities — no non-medical home care category | — | — | Yes | MCO-chosen | $10.50per 15 min |
| Kansas | Home Health Agency license (supportive care services only) | Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), Survey, Certification and Credentialing Commission | Non-refundable initial fee for an agency providing only s… | Every year · Annual renewal (annual report plus fee) due at least 30 days before the renewal date: $100 (under 100 clients) or $350 (100+) for supportive-care-only agencies; $350 / $600 if providing home health or HCBS. The license is cancelled automatically if the report and fee are not filed within 30 days after the renewal date. | No | hybrid | $4.98per 15 min |
| Kentucky | Certificate to operate a Personal Services Agency | Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) | $500 | Every year · $350 annual recertification fee; the recertification application is due at least 60 days before the certificate expires. | Yes | hybrid | $9.00per 15 min |
| Louisiana | Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Provider license — Personal Care Attendant (PCA) module | Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Health Standards Section | $600 | Every year · $600 renewal, plus $200 for each branch or satellite; $100 delinquent renewal fee. Other fees: change of ownership $600, name change $25, address change $600, add a branch $200, delete a module $25. | Yes | hybrid | $4.77per 15 min |
| Maine | Personal Care Agency license | Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Certification (DLC) | $500 | Every 2 years · A full license runs up to two years. Renewal fee depends on staff count at renewal: 1–5 employees $200; 6–10 $500; 11–20 $1,000; 21–50 $1,500; 51+ $2,000. | Yes | hybrid | $9.87per 15 min |
| Maryland | Residential Service Agency (RSA) license | Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ) | The current OHCQ RSA application (rev. 04/22/2026) says t… | Every 3 years · A license is valid for 3 years; non-refundable $1,000 renewal fee for each 3-year term (COMAR 10.07.05.04, as amended in 2015–2016). | Yes | state-sponsored | $9.72per 15 min |
| Massachusetts | Home Care Agency license (M.G.L. c.6A, s.16II, added by Acts 2026, c.180) | Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), with the Executive Office of Aging and Independence and the Department of Public Health | Not yet set. Application and renewal fees will be set by … | Every 3 years · Licenses will be issued for 3-year terms, renewable for like terms; renewal fee not yet set. | Yes | hybrid | $56,676.00per month |
| Michigan | Not required | Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Bureau of Community and Health Systems — no home care agency license category | — | — | Yes | hybrid | $27.00per hour |
| Minnesota | Home care provider license — Basic (temporary license first) | Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Health Regulation Division | $2,100 | Every year · Annual renewal fee based on the prior year's home care revenue (schedule since July 1, 2020): $231 (up to $25,000) up to $7,651 (over $1.5 million), e.g. $957 for $100,001–$250,000 and $2,391 for $450,001–$550,000. A provider may pay the top fee for its category instead of reporting revenue. | No | hybrid | $5.25per 15 min |
| Mississippi | Not required | Mississippi State Department of Health, Division of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification — no non-medical in-home care category | — | — | Yes | hybrid | $136.50per day |
| Missouri | Not required | Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior and Disability Services (DSDS); MO HealthNet / Missouri Medicaid Audit and Compliance (MMAC) for contracts | — | — | Yes | open/provider choice | $9.75per 15 min |
| Montana | Not required | Montana DPHHS, Office of Inspector General, Licensure Bureau (licenses home health agencies only) | — | — | Yes | hybrid | $9.23per 15 min |
| Nebraska | Not required | Nebraska DHHS Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (licenses home health agencies; in-home personal services agencies are excluded) | — | — | Yes | hybrid | $28.00per hour |
| Nevada | License to operate an agency to provide personal care services in the home (personal care agency, PCA) | Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, health facilities licensing (Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance) | $1,374 | Every year · Annual renewal fee $687 (NAC 449.013(2)(n)); license expires 1 year after issue (NRS 449.089). | Yes | hybrid | $6.25per 15 min |
| New Hampshire | Home Care Service Provider Agency (HCSPA) license (home health care provider license limited to personal care or homemaker services) | New Hampshire DHHS, Health Facilities Administration | Annual license fee set by RSA 151:5: $25 for an agency se… | Every year · Same annual fee under RSA 151:5; renewal application due at least 120 days before the license expires. | No | hybrid | $8.00per 15 min |
| New Jersey | Health Care Service Firm registration | New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (Office of the Attorney General) | $500 | Every year · $500 per primary location each year; renewal requires a current $10,000 bond (unless perpetual or waived) and proof of accreditation. | Yes | hybrid | $26.68per hour |
| New Mexico | Not required | New Mexico Health Care Authority, Division of Health Improvement (licenses home health agencies only) | — | — | No | state-sponsored | $7.46per 15 min |
| New York | Licensed Home Care Services Agency (LHCSA) license | New York State Department of Health (Bureau of Home Care Licensure and Certification), with approval by the Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC) | $2,000 | Every year · No renewal fee stated; licensed agencies must complete annual LHCSA registration (PHL 3605-b). Late registration costs $500 per month in default, and missing two annual periods triggers revocation proceedings. | Yes | open/provider choice | $35.36per hour |
| North Carolina | Home Care Agency license (service categories include in-home aide services and in-home companion, sitter and respite services) | NC DHHS Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR), Acute and Home Care Licensure and Certification Section | $510 | Every year · $510 annual renewal; all licenses expire at midnight December 31 and must be renewed before then. | Yes | hybrid | $107.42per month |
| North Dakota | Not required | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (licenses home health agencies only; enrolls Qualified Service Providers for state-funded home services) | — | — | No | hybrid | $9.59per 15 min |
| Ohio | Nonmedical Home Health Services license (a Skilled Home Health Services license also covers nonmedical services) | Ohio Department of Health | $250 | Every 3 years · Renewal requires the same application and $250 fee; file at least 90 days before the license expires. Licenses are valid for three years. | Yes | hybrid | $8.26per Fifteen minutes |
| Oklahoma | Home Care Agency license (for hands-on personal care); Companion or Sitter Service license (companion/sitter only) | Oklahoma State Department of Health | $1,000 | Every year · $500 annual renewal for either license type ($25 per home care branch). Home care agency licenses expire July 31 each year, with the first renewal prorated at $125 per quarter; companion/sitter licenses expire one year after issue. | Yes | hybrid | $5.50per 15 min |
| Oregon | In-Home Care Agency license (classified Limited, Basic, Intermediate or Comprehensive) | Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division (Health Care Regulation and Quality Improvement / health facility licensing) | Initial license fee by class: Limited $2,000; Basic $2,25… | Every year · Annual renewal: Limited or Basic $1,000; Intermediate $1,250; Comprehensive $1,500; plus $1,000 per subunit. | Yes | hybrid | $42.24per hour |
| Pennsylvania | Home Care Agency license (employer model) and/or Home Care Registry license (referral model) | Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Home Health | $100 | $100 with each renewal form, which must be filed at least 60 days before the license expiration date. | No | hybrid | $4.87per 15 min |
| Rhode Island | Home Care Provider license (covers RN-supervised paraprofessional care and homemaker services) | Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), Center for Health Facilities Regulation | $650 | Every year · $650 annual fee; licenses expire December 31 and renew yearly subject to inspection. | Yes | hybrid | $41.25per day |
| South Carolina | In-Home Care Provider license | South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), healthcare facility licensing | $1,000 | Every year · $800 annual renewal; $200 late fee if not renewed by the expiration date, and the license lapses if renewal, fee and late fee are not received within 30 days. | Yes | state-sponsored | $6.25per 15 min |
| South Dakota | Not required | South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification (licenses home health agencies only) | — | — | No | hybrid | $10.81per 15 min |
| Tennessee | Personal Support Services Agency (PSSA) license | Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Office of Licensure (agencies whose clients are mostly aged or have mental illness/SUD); Department of Disability and Aging (formerly DIDD) Office of Licensure for agencies serving mostly people with intellectual/developmental disabilities | $810 | Same per-site schedule applies to each renewal application. | Yes | MCO-chosen | $6.59per 15 min |
| Texas | Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA) license with the Personal Assistance Services (PAS) category | Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Long-term Care Regulation, Licensing and Certification Unit | $2,625 | Renewal for a 2-year license: $1,750 per parent or branch ($875 late fee if filed fewer than 45 days before expiry). Renewal for a 3-year license: $2,625 ($1,312.50 late fee). | No | hybrid | $4.57per 15 min |
| Utah | Personal Care Agency license | Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Licensing and Background Checks (DLBC), Office of Licensing | — | — | No | open/provider choice | $21.21per 15 min |
| Vermont | Not required | Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), Division of Licensing and Protection (oversees home health agencies only) | — | — | Yes | hybrid | $12.98per 15 min |
| Virginia | Home Care Organization license (for organizations providing personal care services) | Virginia Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) | $1,500 | Every 3 years · $1,500 per triennial renewal; $50 late fee if the renewal is not filed by the date specified. | Yes | open/provider choice | $17.97per hour |
| Washington | In-Home Services Agency license, home care service category | Washington State Department of Health | $5,000 | Every 2 years · 24-month renewal fee for home care scales with FTEs: $2,400 (5 or fewer) up to $3,700 (101+); reduced table ($1,700 to $2,600) for agencies under DSHS or Area Agency on Aging contract. Change of ownership $500. | Yes | open/provider choice | $8.18per OF |
| West Virginia | Not required | West Virginia Office of Inspector General, Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification (OHFLAC) licenses home health agencies; WV Health Care Authority runs certificate of need | — | — | Yes | hybrid | $6.75per 15 min |
| Wisconsin | Not required | Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) | DQA charges an application fee for PCA certification (vet… | — | Yes | hybrid | $5.25per 15-min. |
| Wyoming | Not required | Wyoming Department of Health, Healthcare Licensing and Surveys (licenses home health agencies) | — | — | No | hybrid | $8.25per 15 min |
Medicaid rate: the companion care fee-for-service rate, linked to the state's fee schedule. Fees as printed by the licensing agency; where it gives a range or formula, the page for that state has the wording.