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 Oregon?
Last verified October 17, 2026 · All Oregon resources
Yes. Oregon requires a state license to run a non-medical home care agency: the In-home care agency license, issued by the Oregon Health Authority, Health Facility Licensing and Certification. No entity may provide in-home care services or call itself an in-home care agency without an OHA license. Licenses come in four classes by service level: limited (personal care with medication reminding), basic (adds medication assistance), intermediate (adds medication administration), and comprehensive (adds nursing services).
What are the key facts?
| License required | Yes |
|---|---|
| License | In-home care agency license |
| Regulator | Oregon Health Authority, Health Facility Licensing and Certification |
| Fee | Initial: $2,000 limited, $2,250 basic, $2,500 intermediate, $3,000 comprehensive. Renewal: $1,000 limited or basic, $1,250 intermediate, $1,500 comprehensive. |
| Renewal | Every year |
| Rule | ORS 443.305-443.355; OAR 333-536 |
What should you confirm with the state?
The 12 initial hours are a 4-hour orientation plus 8 hours of training, and only 2 of the 8 hours are due before work starts. Caregivers with a current Oregon health care license or certificate may be exempt from caregiver training. Fingerprinting is optional for the agency.
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 Oregon
Agency licensing by state: other states
Related guides
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.
These free tools are made by the team behind Caregiver Scheduling, caregiver scheduling software for home care agencies.
Simple pricing
From $199 /month
Up to 10 caregivers on Starter, 50 on Growth.
More than 50 caregivers? We'll put together a custom Scale plan for your agency.