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 Virginia?
Last verified October 17, 2026 · All Virginia resources
Yes. Virginia requires a state license to run a non-medical home care agency: the Home Care Organization license, issued by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification. A public or private entity providing an organized program of home health, pharmaceutical, or personal care services (nonskilled help with activities of daily living) must be licensed as a home care organization. Operating without a license is a Class 6 felony. Family members, relatives, or friends providing care are not home care organizations.
What are the key facts?
| License required | Yes |
|---|---|
| License | Home Care Organization license |
| Regulator | Virginia Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification |
| Fee | $1,500 per initial or renewal application |
| Renewal | Every 3 years |
| Rule | 12VAC5-381 (authority: Code of Virginia §§ 32.1-12, 32.1-162.12) |
| Surety bond | Not required |
How do you get licensed in Virginia?
- Obtain the application from the Office of Licensure and Certification
- Optionally request a prelicensure consultation
- Submit the completed application and $1,500 fee at least 60 days before your planned opening
- Pass the OLC on-site inspection
What should you confirm with the state?
Training hours for the required DMAS curriculum aren't stated in the regulation; confirm the current requirement with the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification. Companion-only or homemaker-only programs that don't help with activities of daily living may be exempt from licensing. The rule requires a State Police criminal record report and doesn't mention fingerprints.
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 Virginia
Agency licensing by state: other states
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General
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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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