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 North Dakota?
Last verified October 17, 2026 · All North Dakota resources
No. North Dakota does not require a state license for non-medical home care agencies. North Dakota licenses home health agencies, whose services must include a registered nurse and at least one other therapeutic service. Agencies that provide only non-medical care need no state license. To be paid with public funds (Medicaid state plan personal care, waivers, SPED), an agency must enroll with the department as a Qualified Service Provider (QSP) and complete the QSP orientation.
What are the key facts?
| License required | No |
|---|---|
| Regulator | North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services |
| Rule | N.D. Cent. Code 23-17.3; N.D. Admin. Code 75-03-23-07 (QSP) |
What should you confirm with the state?
The background check and competency rules shown apply only to Medicaid or state-funded qualified service providers; no rule covers private-pay non-medical agencies. Confirm current requirements with the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services.
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.
Sources
More for North Dakota
Agency licensing by state: other states
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General
How to Start a Non-Medical Home Care Agency: Step by Step
Ten steps to open a non-medical home care agency, from services and state licensing to insurance, hiring, payers, systems and first clients, with real fees.
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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