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Home care licensing, state by state

Home care license requirements by state: fees, timelines, and the policies you must write

What the non-medical home care license is called in each state, who issues it, what the application costs, how long it takes, and the written policies the rules mandate, each figure tied to the regulation that sets it.

Informational summary of state regulations, not legal advice. We are not affiliated with any state agency. Verify current requirements with the licensing authority linked in each row.

Home care license requirements: state comparison

Compiled from each state’s current rule text and application materials. Click a state for its full licensing path, or a citation for the regulation itself. Last verified: July 15, 2026.

StateLicense type & nameIssuing agencyGoverning regulationApplication feeProcessing timeKey pre-license requirements
PennsylvaniaHome Care Agency licenseNot the Chapter 601 home health license, and distinct from the Home Care Registry variant.PA Department of Health, Division of Home Health28 Pa. Code Chapter 611$100Flat fee per §611.2; a separate application and fee per licensed location.No published timeline. Online-only applications since March 31, 2026; an on-site licensure survey precedes issuance.
  • PA State Police (or FBI) criminal background checks, §611.52
  • ChildLine clearance if serving anyone under 18, §611.53
  • Direct-care-worker competency verification, §611.55
  • TB health screening, §611.56
  • Written P&P manual: required, reviewed at the licensure survey
CaliforniaHome Care Organization (HCO) licenseNon-medical only; skilled home health is licensed separately by CDPH.California Department of Social Services (CDSS), Home Care Services BureauHealth & Safety Code §1796.10 et seq.$5,603Per 2-year license term, plus $35 per aide for 2-year HCA Registry registration; Live Scan billed separately.No published timeline. Review begins only when a complete packet is received; incomplete packets are returned in full.
  • DOJ/FBI Live Scan and HCA Registry listing before client contact, §1796.43
  • TB examination for each aide, §1796.45
  • 5 hours entry-level training before client presence, §1796.44
  • $10,000 dishonesty bond + $1M/$3M liability + workers’ comp, §1796.37, §1796.42
  • Written P&P manual: required, as the HCS 281 Section B documents
TexasHCSSA license, Personal Assistance Services (PAS) categoryTexas has no separate “home care license”; PAS is the non-medical HCSSA category.Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)26 TAC Chapter 558$2,625Initial fee for a parent agency, 3-year term, non-refundable; $1,500 more per alternate delivery site.About 45 days to issue or deny after a complete application, with a 30-day window to cure deficiencies; initial on-site survey within 6 months of the license effective date.
  • Entity in good standing with the Secretary of State and Comptroller
  • Administrator and alternate complete the HCSSA Pre-Survey CBT
  • 8 clock hours of administrator training before designation, §558.259
  • Full written policy set adopted before the initial survey
  • Written P&P manual: required, verified at the initial on-site survey
New JerseyHealth Care Service Firm (HCSF) registrationRegistered with the Division of Consumer Affairs, not the Department of Health.NJ Division of Consumer Affairs, Regulated Business SectionN.J.S.A. 34:8-45.1; N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13$500Per year, per primary location, plus a $10,000 surety bond and a $1M liability insurance certificate.No published deadline for the registration itself; the binding clock is mandatory accreditation within 12 months of registering.
  • Conviction-history certification for each officer, director, principal and 10%+ owner
  • Designated RN or physician health care practitioner supervisor
  • $10,000 surety bond (waivable at $100,000+ net worth) and $1M liability certificate
  • Accreditation (CAHC, ACHC, CHAP, Joint Commission, NIHCA or NAHC) within 12 months
  • Written P&P manual: required, surveyed by the accreditor
MarylandResidential Service Agency (RSA) licenseNo Certificate of Need; CON applies to home health agencies, not RSAs.Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ)COMAR 10.07.05$0 to applyNo application fee; the license fee is $1,000 per 3-year term, plus $250 per failed prelicensure re-visit.No statutory deadline; incomplete applications are closed after 180 days, and practical reports run roughly 4 to 6 months.
  • SDAT Letter of Good Standing and workers’ comp proof
  • Online RSA worker-classification certification, Health-General §19-4A-11
  • Criminal, TB, reference and skills screening for every caregiver, COMAR 10.07.05.10
  • One-year budget, marketing plan and service description in the application
  • Written P&P manual: required, indexed by page number on the application form
GeorgiaPrivate Home Care Provider (PHCP) licenseOne license covers nursing, personal care, and companion/sitter services; companion-only agencies are not exempt.Georgia Department of Community Health, Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD)Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 111-8-65Set by the Board of Community HealthAn application fee plus a license fee set by the Board (§111-8-65-.06); published in the current Private Home Care Application and paid on the HFRD Payment Portal. Separate license per location.No published processing timeline. Providers are inspected periodically (§111-8-65-.08); provisional licenses may be issued to new providers on a conditional basis (§111-8-65-.05).
  • Fingerprint GBI/FBI records checks via GCHEXS, O.C.G.A. §31-7-350 et seq.
  • Records-check application for the owner, §111-8-65-.06
  • Georgia-licensed RN to supervise nursing and personal-care services, §111-8-65-.10(2)
  • PCA training/competency before client assignment, §111-8-65-.09(5)
  • Written P&P set: required, inspected by HFRD

Fees and rules change; verify each figure with the linked agency before relying on it. Where a state publishes no figure, the cell says so rather than estimating.

Pennsylvania · Home Care Agency license

How much does a Pennsylvania home care license cost?

The Pennsylvania home care license application fee is a flat $100 under 28 Pa. Code §611.2, with a separate application and fee for each licensed location. Budget separately for entity formation, background checks, insurance, and the written policy and procedure manual the Department reviews at the on-site licensure survey.

How long does home care licensing take in Pennsylvania?

The Department of Health publishes no guaranteed processing time for Home Care Agency applications. Applications go through the Division of Home Health online portal only (mailed and emailed submissions ended March 31, 2026), and an on-site licensure survey precedes issuance, so timing depends on survey scheduling and how complete your application is.

What policies does Pennsylvania require?

Pennsylvania requires written policies covering the worker standards of 28 Pa. Code §§611.51 through 611.56 and the consumer protections of §611.57, plus the general health-facility provisions Chapter 51 incorporates. Surveyors review the manual on-site before the license issues. The specific mandated policies:

Hiring / rostering of direct care workers: documented interview, at least two verifiable references, and the criminal-history and ChildLine submission process, with a complete worker file

28 Pa. Code §611.51

Criminal background checks: PA State Police report (or FBI/federal report for workers not PA-resident the prior 2 years), screened against the prohibited convictions in 6 Pa. Code §15.143

28 Pa. Code §611.52 (OAPSA, 35 P.S. §10225.501 et seq.)

Child abuse clearance: ChildLine verification when the agency serves consumers under 18

28 Pa. Code §611.53

Provisional hiring: conditions, supervision, and the 30-day (resident) / 90-day (non-resident) clearance deadlines while checks are pending

28 Pa. Code §611.54

Competency: how each worker demonstrates competency (PA nurse license, agency exam, or approved training) across the mandated core topics, with at least annual review

28 Pa. Code §611.55

Health screening: tuberculosis screening per CDC guidance within 1 year of start date, updated every 12 months

28 Pa. Code §611.56

Consumer information packet: the written disclosures given before services begin (services & worker identity, hours, fees, DOH contact, complaint hotline, ombudsman, employee-vs-contractor status)

28 Pa. Code §611.57(c)

Service termination: at least 10 calendar days’ advance written notice (shorter only if 14+ days in arrears or worker safety is at risk)

28 Pa. Code §611.57(a)

Prohibited practices: no acting as the consumer’s power of attorney/guardian; no requiring checks endorsed over to the agency

28 Pa. Code §611.57(b)

General health-facility operating standards incorporated by reference

28 Pa. Code §611.4 (incorporating Chapter 51)

California · Home Care Organization (HCO) license

How much does a California home care license cost?

The California HCO license fee is $5,603 for a two-year term, and each affiliated home care aide pays $35 for two-year HCA Registry registration, with Live Scan fingerprinting billed separately. Ongoing costs include the $10,000 employee dishonesty bond, workers’ compensation, and $1M/$3M liability insurance. Confirm current fees with CDSS before relying on them.

How long does home care licensing take in California?

CDSS publishes no guaranteed processing time for HCO applications. Review only begins once the Home Care Services Bureau receives a complete packet: the fee, every Section A form, and every Section B document with original signatures. An incomplete packet is returned in full and resets the clock, so completeness is the main variable you control.

What policies does California require?

California requires the written “Section B” documents of application booklet HCS 281: personnel policies, job descriptions, a training plan, a program description, and insurance documentation. CDSS returns the entire application if any are missing, which makes the policy manual a filing prerequisite, not an afterthought. The specific mandated documents:

Abuse-reporting procedures: personnel policies documenting employees’ duty to report suspected elder/dependent-adult and child abuse to the proper agencies

HCS 281 §B3; H&S Code §1796.42

Hiring practices: informing employees that employment requires Live Scan clearance, a prior-conviction statement, TB clearance, and HCA Registry registration

HCS 281 §B3

Job descriptions for every classification (employees, volunteers, home care aides) with duties and lines of supervision

HCS 281 §B2

Training plan: 5 hrs entry-level (2 hrs orientation + 3 hrs health & safety incl. infection control and emergencies) and 5 hrs annual, plus a sample training verification log

HCS 281 §B4; H&S Code §1796.44

Program description: business hours, basic and optional services (incl. transportation if any), the abuse-reporting response procedure, and the counties/area served

HCS 281 §B5

Insurance documentation: general & professional liability ($1M/$3M), workers’ compensation, and the $10,000 employee dishonesty bond

HCS 281 §B6; H&S Code §1796.37, §1796.42

Texas · HCSSA license, Personal Assistance Services (PAS) category

How much does a Texas home care license cost?

The initial Texas HCSSA license fee is $2,625 for a parent agency, covers a three-year term, and is non-refundable; an alternate delivery site adds $1,500. Budget separately for entity formation, the 8-hour administrator training, and the pre-survey computer-based training. Verify current fees with HHSC before relying on them.

How long does home care licensing take in Texas?

After a complete application in the TULIP portal, HHSC issues or denies the license within about 45 days, with 30 days to cure any posted deficiencies. You then admit at least one client and obtain the initial on-site survey within 6 months of the license effective date, so a fully surveyed agency commonly takes several months.

What policies does Texas require?

Texas requires a full written policy set under 26 TAC Chapter 558 covering staffing, client rights, emergency preparedness, infection control, supervision, and service planning. HHSC supplies no manual or template, and the initial on-site surveyor verifies every required policy exists and is enforced. The specific mandated policies:

Staffing: orientation, job-specific training and competency, written job descriptions, criminal-history and registry checks for unlicensed personnel, annual evaluations, disciplinary procedures, and a signed staff statement of compliance

26 TAC §558.245

Client conduct/responsibilities and client rights: the written grievance mechanism a client can use without reprisal, with notice that complaints may go to HHSC Complaint and Incident Intake or the administrator

26 TAC §558.282

Emergency preparedness and response: disaster coordinator + alternate, continuity-of-operations plan, client triage/evacuation, staff roles and training, and annual drills

26 TAC §558.256

Infection control: written policies for standard precautions, surveillance of clients with infections, and safe disposal of medical waste

26 TAC §558.285

Supervision of personnel: PAS agencies must adopt a written supervision policy with client/family input on frequency

26 TAC §558.404(g)

Individualized service plan / scope of PAS: types, frequency, and duration of services for each client

26 TAC §558.404 (incl. (f))

RN delegation for health-related tasks performed by unlicensed personnel, consistent with Texas Board of Nursing rules

26 TAC §558.404(d) (22 TAC Ch. 225)

Abuse, neglect, and exploitation reporting: immediate (within 24 hours) reporting to DFPS (1-800-252-5400) and HHSC Complaint and Incident Intake (1-800-458-9858)

26 TAC §558.282; HSC Ch. 260A

Client records: content, retention, confidentiality, and release of client information

26 TAC §558.301

New Jersey · Health Care Service Firm (HCSF) registration

How much does a New Jersey home care license cost?

New Jersey HCSF registration costs $500 per year per primary location, plus a $10,000 surety bond (waivable with documented net worth above $100,000) and a $1 million liability insurance certificate, plus accreditation fees within the first year. Operating before registration carries a $500-per-day penalty under N.J.S.A. 34:8-45.1(e).

How long does home care licensing take in New Jersey?

The Division of Consumer Affairs publishes no processing deadline for HCSF registration; the binding clock starts after it. Every registered firm, including private-pay and companion-only firms, must obtain accreditation within 12 months, and the accreditor’s document review plus on-site survey commonly consumes a large share of that year. Start the policy manual before you register.

What policies does New Jersey require?

New Jersey’s written-policy requirement arrives through mandatory accreditation: the recognized accreditors survey against a three-part policy manual with roughly 35 named administrative, personnel, and clinical policies, alongside the specific consumer-disclosure rules of N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13. The state supplies no adoptable manual. The specific mandated policies:

The accreditation policy manual itself: administrative, personnel and clinical sections with roughly 35 named policies (intake, admission, plan of care, case monitoring, companion service, infection control, exposure control, performance improvement, grievance, discharge and more), each with implementation dates and annual review

N.J.S.A. 34:8-45.1(c) via the recognized accreditors’ standards (e.g. CAHC Standards I-V)

Uncertified/companion caregiver disclosure packet, given at least 24 hours before service: written non-certification notice, letterhead training statement, work-authorization certification, and employment-history verification or two character references, with signed waivers retained 2 years

N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13.8

Consumer Guide to Homemaker-Home Health Aides delivered to each client at least 24 hours pre-service, with any written waiver retained 2 years

N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13.7(b)-(d)

Photo ID tags for aides and licensed staff showing name and credential level while providing care

N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13.7(a)

RN delegation and direction of certified homemaker-home health aide tasks, including medication-administration delegation documentation and per-administration records

N.J.A.C. 13:37-14.3 (applied to HCSFs via N.J.S.A. 34:8-45.1(c))

Aide credentialing: CHHA certification through the Board of Nursing with the individual criminal-history record check that certification carries

N.J.A.C. 13:37-14.9

Prohibited-practices compliance: no operating before registration, no charging caregivers fees, no restraining a caregiver’s future employment, no strike-replacement staffing

N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13.6(a)

Ownership, management and conviction-history records: notice of material changes within 30 days, and certification of any new conviction within 30 days

N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13.3(b)-(d)

Accreditation maintenance: evidence at every renewal and 10-day written notice if accreditation is lost

N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13.5(b)-(d)

Annual financial statement filed with renewal (first due July 1, 2026); CPA audit or report tiers apply only above $250,000 in NJ Medicaid PCA revenue or $1M+ gross income

N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13.5A (57 N.J.R. 1160(a), eff. June 2, 2025)

RN in-home case-monitoring evaluations at least once every 60 days for personal-care clients (COVID-era waiver terminated effective February 16, 2026)

Division of Consumer Affairs HCSF notice; accreditor case-monitoring standards

Every policy above, written out to N.J.S.A. 34:8-45.1; N.J.A.C. 13:45B-13 with the citation beside it:

Maryland · Residential Service Agency (RSA) license

How much does a Maryland home care license cost?

Maryland charges nothing to apply for the RSA license; the license fee is $1,000, nonrefundable, per three-year term under COMAR 10.07.05.04, plus $250 per additional on-site visit if the agency fails its prelicensure compliance review. There is no Certificate of Need requirement for RSAs, unlike Maryland home health agencies.

How long does home care licensing take in Maryland?

OHCQ publishes no processing deadline for RSA applications. Incomplete applications are administratively closed after 180 days, and practical reports run roughly 4 to 6 months from filing to license. The controllable variable is filing complete: the finished policy manual, business plan, good-standing letter, and workers’ comp proof in one packet.

What policies does Maryland require?

Maryland enumerates the required policy set at COMAR 10.07.05.08B, and the RSA application makes you index each policy to a page number in your own manual, roughly 23 line items surveyors then check against the rules. Genuinely inapplicable items can be waived in writing. The specific mandated policies:

Administrative policy set: scope of services, care-coordination delineation and client notification, admission criteria, pre-acceptance assessment, billing and service records, and the quality assurance program

COMAR 10.07.05.08B(1)(a)

Clinical management: assessment, plans of care, delegation and supervision, the RN-oversight policy that anchors the staffing model

COMAR 10.07.05.08B(1)(a)(viii)

Personnel policies: job descriptions with educational qualifications, skill assessments, and health requirements for every employee and contractor

COMAR 10.07.05.08B(1)(b)

Patient-care policies: service provision with criteria for identifying the need for skilled services, drug administration, client-monitoring frequency, and client/family training

COMAR 10.07.05.08B(1)(c)

Informed-consent policies with signed forms: plan-of-care changes, and nonlicensed assistance with routine treatments or medication self-administration

COMAR 10.07.05.08B(1)(d)

Environment and safety: supply preparation and storage, infection control, biomedical-waste disposal (waivable if inapplicable), equipment maintenance, and emergency procedures

COMAR 10.07.05.08B(1)(e)

Employee and contractor screening: criminal history check, licensure/certification verification, TB and health screening, references, employment history, I-9 and identity verification, an in-person interview and a skills assessment before referral

COMAR 10.07.05.10A-B

Internal client complaint process with investigation protocols, non-disruption of services, and the state complaint-hotline notice

COMAR 10.07.05.09

Client rights and cost disclosures: itemized cost estimate, caregiver names and supervisor contact, 24/7 phone number, subcontract disclosure, plus the dignity, participation, refusal, privacy and complaint rights statement

COMAR 10.07.05.16C-D

Client representative recognition and documentation (guardians, powers of attorney, surrogates)

COMAR 10.07.05.13

Clinical records, with the simplified non-skilled record set (nursing assessment, plan of care, services provided, significant changes) and care notes at admission, weekly, and on significant change

COMAR 10.07.05.14

Record retention and confidentiality: 5 years after discharge (longer for minors), complete record within 30 days of discharge

COMAR 10.07.05.15

The 7-topic training program: personal-care instruction with supervised practice, RN-referral triggers, recordkeeping, ethics and confidentiality, CPR, standard precautions, and abuse/neglect prevention; outside trainers need OHCQ written approval

COMAR 10.07.05.11B-C

Governing authority that convenes at least annually to review policies, with minutes recording participants, agenda and actions

COMAR 10.07.05.08A

Advertising compliance: every ad carries the license number and the exact statement “Licensed as a residential service agency by the Maryland Department of Health, Office of Health Care Quality”

COMAR 10.07.05.06

Georgia · Private Home Care Provider (PHCP) license

How much does a Georgia home care license cost?

Georgia’s Private Home Care Provider application includes an application fee and a license fee set by the Board of Community Health, plus fingerprint records-check fees (§111-8-65-.06). The Department publishes the current amounts in the Private Home Care Application and collects them on the HFRD Payment Portal, so confirm the figure there rather than trusting a third-party number. Budget separately for a supervising nurse and the written policy manual.

How long does home care licensing take in Georgia?

The Healthcare Facility Regulation Division publishes no guaranteed processing time for Private Home Care Provider applications. Providers are inspected periodically under §111-8-65-.08, and Georgia may issue a provisional license to a new provider on a conditional basis under §111-8-65-.05, so timing depends on your application’s completeness and HFRD’s review and inspection scheduling.

What policies does Georgia require?

Georgia’s Chapter 111-8-65 makes the governing body responsible for all of the provider’s policies (§111-8-65-.04) and enumerates the specific ones across administration, personnel, services, supervision, quality improvement, and client rights. The state supplies no manual, and HFRD inspects the written set. The specific mandated policies:

Governing body that determines all of the provider’s policies and procedures and ensures compliance, and appoints an administrator with full authority and responsibility for operations

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.04; §111-8-65-.09(3)

Scope-of-services policy: written policies defining the private home care services offered and the types of clients served

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.09(1)

Service agreements: a written agreement with each client (or responsible party) by the second visit or within 7 calendar days, covering the services, frequency and duration, charges and billing, client rights, the provider’s and the state licensing authority’s contact information, and any authorization to access funds or a vehicle

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.09(2)

Recordkeeping: separate client records, personnel records, and complaint/incident files, all retained at least 5 years, with confidentiality limits on disclosure

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.09(4)

Personnel qualifications: Georgia-licensed nurses for nursing services; a qualified PCA (nurse-aide training, a recognized competency exam, an approved credentialing program, or a 40-hour PCA training program conducted under RN direction, 20 hours before serving clients and 20 more within 6 months) with demonstrated competency before assignment; and trained companions/sitters

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.09(5)

Staff orientation and training: orientation covering policies, client rights and complaints, duties, reporting and medical emergencies, and TB/hepatitis exposure reporting, plus a minimum of 8 clock hours of training annually

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.09(6)

Tuberculosis screening documented on employment and annually thereafter, kept in the personnel record

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.09(4)

Fingerprint-based criminal records checks for owners, applicants, and employees with direct access, run through GCHEXS with results posted to the Caregiver Registry

O.C.G.A. §31-7-350 et seq. (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.06 records check)

Daily service documentation: written policies for documenting the services actually performed for each client each day

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.10(3)

Supervision: an RN supervises nursing services and personal care for medically frail or compromised clients, with supervisory home visits at least every 92 days for personal care and at least every 122 days for companion/sitter services

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.10(2)

Service plans completed by the service supervisor within 7 working days of starting service, reviewed at least every 62 days for nursing plans and at each supervisory visit otherwise

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.11

Quality improvement program that monitors program performance and client outcomes and documents the receipt and resolution of client complaints and any corrective actions

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.10(4)

Client rights provided in writing (participation in the plan of service, notice of changes, accepting or refusing services, charges, the supervisor’s contact information, confidentiality, respect for property, and a copy of the most recent licensure inspection report on request) with a complaint procedure and written notice of the department’s address, phone, and licensing/complaint role

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. §111-8-65-.12

Home care agency vs. home health agency vs. home care registry

Three different licenses that new owners routinely mix up, and the fastest way to stall an application is to file for the wrong one.

What is a home care agency license?

A home care agency license covers non-medical personal care: bathing, dressing, meals, transfers, and companionship delivered by caregivers the agency employs. Every state names it differently: a Home Care Agency license in Pennsylvania, an HCO license in California, an HCSSA/PAS license in Texas, an HCSF registration in New Jersey, and an RSA license in Maryland.

How is a home health agency license different?

A home health agency provides physician-ordered medical care, skilled nursing and therapy, under a separate license that often pairs with Medicare certification. Pennsylvania licenses home health under 28 Pa. Code Chapter 601, California through CDPH rather than CDSS, and Maryland adds a Certificate of Need. A non-medical startup applies for the home care license instead.

What is a home care registry?

A home care registry refers self-employed, independent-contractor caregivers to consumers rather than employing them. Pennsylvania licenses registries under the same 28 Pa. Code Chapter 611 as agencies but as a distinct license type, and the classification changes taxes, supervision, insurance, and the worker-status disclosures consumers must receive before service begins.

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Last verified: July 15, 2026. Informational summary, not legal advice; not affiliated with any state agency. Regulations change, so confirm current requirements with each licensing authority before relying on them.

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