Compliance
Do You Need a License to Run a Non-Medical Home Care Agency?
In most states, yes. How the license depends on the services you offer, what six states actually require, what applications ask for, and how to check your state.
Do you need a license to run a home care agency in Illinois?
Last verified October 17, 2026 · All Illinois resources
Yes. Illinois requires a state license to run a non-medical home care agency: the Home Services Agency license, issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). IDPH licenses three kinds of agencies under the Home Health, Home Services, and Home Nursing Agency Licensing Act (210 ILCS 55): home health, home services, and home nursing. Non-medical in-home support is licensed as a home services agency. An agency that offers more than one type of service needs a separate application and fee for each license.
What are the key facts?
| License required | Yes |
|---|---|
| License | Home Services Agency license |
| Regulator | Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) |
| Fee | Up to $1,500 per year (non-refundable) |
| Rule | 210 ILCS 55; 77 Ill. Adm. Code 245 |
How do you get licensed in Illinois?
- Review 77 Ill. Adm. Code 245, 955, and 973 to pick the right license type
- Submit the initial licensing application and fee for each license
- Answer IDPH revision requests (initial review within 30 days; approval needed within 90 days)
- Operate under a provisional license valid for 240 days
- Pass the IDPH on-site survey
What should you confirm with the state?
The $1,500 figure is the legal maximum; the Illinois Department of Public Health sets the actual fee. Confirm the current fee and license renewal period with IDPH. Placement agencies hold a separate license and require at least 8 hours of training before a worker's first assignment.
What should you budget for?
The license fee is a small part of startup cost. Insurance, payroll for your first caregivers before clients pay, and office staff usually cost far more. Use the bill rate calculator to check your pricing covers it, and the intake form and care plan templates for the paperwork inspectors ask to see.
More for Illinois
Agency licensing by state: other states
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Compliance
How Long Does It Take to Get a Home Care License?
Plan on 2 to 6 months in most licensing states. Statutory review clocks are 60 to 90 days, but they start only when your application is complete.
General
Home Care Agency Startup Costs: A Line-by-Line Budget
What it costs to open a non-medical home care agency: real state license fees, insurance minimums, office, hiring, software and the working capital most owners underestimate.
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