From application to approval, we handle your ADH Health Facility Services licensing — then hand you the platform to run your agency from day one. Most consultancies disappear when your license arrives. We keep going.
Want to open a non-medical home care agency in Arkansas? You need a Private Care Agency License from the Arkansas Department of Health. Our estimate: 60–120 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $0 and are paid directly to ADH Health Facility Services.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Arkansas.
Medicaid Program
ARChoices in Homecare
Plus the Personal Care Program for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Arkansas
Arkansas regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a Private Care Agency License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Private Care Agency License
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) licenses Private Care Agencies.
Personal care and daily living assistance
Companionship and homemaker services
Medication reminders (not administration)
Transportation and errand assistance
Respite care for family caregivers
State fee:
License Fee (none listed in ADH rule)
Timeline:
2-4 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Arkansas Department of Health
How to Get Licensed in Arkansas
Arkansas licensing follows a structured 6-step process through ADH Health Facility Services. Our specialists handle all 6 steps in the Launch and Signature packages; in the Licensing Kit, you handle the submission yourself with our expert guidance.
60–120 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
INSURANCE
3
POLICIES
4
SURVEY
5
OPERATIONS
1
Entity & EIN Formation
FOUNDATION
Register your LLC or corporation with the AR Secretary of State. Obtain an EIN from the IRS. Establish a physical office location in Arkansas (required by ADH). Act 853 simplified this — you only need one primary location, not multiple regional offices.
2
Confirm Which License You Need
INSURANCE
Call ADH Health Facility Services. Ask if you need a Private Care Agency license, a Class B home health license, or neither. The ADH rule says a home health license needs a Permit of Approval (POA) from HSPA first, but state law may exempt Class B. The Private Care Agency license has no POA step. Ask HSPA before you budget for a POA.
3
Administrator Appointment
POLICIES
Appoint a qualified administrator: must be a physician, registered nurse, or have at least one year of supervisory or administrative experience in home health care or related health provider programs.
4
Policy & Training Setup
POLICIES
Develop the 40-hour aide training curriculum for ADH approval. The ADH rule requires at least 40 hours of classroom and clinical training, supervised by an RN, covering every topic in Table 1. Arkansas Medicaid splits it as 24 hours classroom and 16 hours supervised practical. Build policies covering client intake, care plans, incident reporting, infection control, TB prevention, and complaint resolution.
5
ADH Licensing Submission
SURVEY
Submit the Private Care Agency application packet to Health Facility Services for review. Include administrator credentials, training curriculum, policies, proof of $1 million liability insurance, and background check documentation. The license runs on a calendar year and expires every December 31.
6
Medicaid Enrollment (If Applicable)
OPERATIONS
If you want Medicaid clients (ARChoices, personal care), enroll as a Medicaid provider. This is a separate step. Act 853 removed the old DHS/DPSQA certification. DHS sets the Medicaid provider rules.
Why Arkansas Founders Choose HomeCareAtlas
The biggest difference between us and traditional consultancies isn't the license — it's what happens after the license arrives.
Traditional Consultant
HomeCareAtlas
Pricing
A mystery sales process and hard upsells
Clear packages built for your goals
Policies & Procedures
Generic templates
Built around your state and your service model
Application Filing
You assemble the packet
Done-for-you in Launch and Signature
Survey Day
You're on your own
On-call phone support during your state visit
After License Arrives
Relationship ends
Platform, dashboard, and directory listing go live
Caregiver Onboarding
Not included
Digital onboarding ready for hire #1
Compliance Tracking
You build a spreadsheet
Live compliance dashboard included
Directory Presence
None
Listed on Carezano the day you open
Three Ways to Get Your Arkansas Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Arkansas state fees ($0 to ADH Health Facility Services) are passed through at cost.
Arkansas charges a state application fee, paid directly to the state licensing body. We don't mark it up.
Want to see pricing? We share it on your free 15-minute call. Pick a time →
The Platform That Comes With Your License
Every tier includes free time on Home Care Atlas — the operating system for your new agency. This is the part other Arkansas consultancies don't offer.
Arkansas Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Arkansas P&P Manual
Written around your state's rules, your service model, and your agency — not a generic national template. Survey-ready before you file.
Business Formation
LLC, EIN, NPI, surety bond, and insurance — all tracked and handled in Launch and Signature packages.
Compliance Dashboard
From caregiver #1 onward, every certification, background check, and required document is tracked with automatic expiration alerts.
Caregiver Onboarding
I-9, W-4, direct deposit, and required background-check verifications — all collected digitally.
Carezano Directory Listing
Listed on our public directory the day you open. Local families find you, referral partners find you, you're visible from day one.
Common Questions Before You Book
Does Arkansas require a Permit of Approval for non-medical agencies?
Not for the Private Care Agency license. That rule has no POA step. The ADH home health rule says home health agencies need a POA before they apply. But state law (Ark. Code § 20-8-106) may exempt Class B. We could not confirm this. If ADH tells you to get a Class B license, ask HSPA.
What changed with Act 853 of 2025?
Act 853 (HB1439) was signed April 17, 2025. A private care agency is now one licensed by ADH that seeks Medicaid pay. The old DHS/DPSQA certification step is gone. You no longer need regional offices, just a primary office in Arkansas. Agencies must still carry at least $1 million in liability insurance.
Can I use an online PCA training course?
Only if it is specifically approved by ADH and includes hands-on clinical training directed by an RN. Arkansas Medicaid requires at least 16 hours of supervised practical training. You cannot do the hands-on part online.
How long is the license valid?
One year. Licenses run on a calendar year and expire every December 31. You renew each year. The ADH rule does not list a license fee.
What qualifications does the administrator need?
The administrator must be a physician, registered nurse, or have at least one year of supervisory or administrative experience in home health care or related health provider programs. There is no standardized hour-based certification course.
Arkansas Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) licenses Private Care Agencies. The ADH rule says this license is for agencies that give Medicaid personal care. If you will only serve private-pay clients, call ADH Health Facility Services first. Ask if you need this license, a Class B home health license, or neither. Why ask? The ADH home health rule says a license is needed for "Personal Care Aide Services." A Class B home health license covers agencies that are not in Medicare. Act 853 of 2025 (HB1439) was signed April 17, 2025. It says a private care agency is licensed by ADH and seeks Medicaid pay. It dropped the old DHS/DPSQA certification step. DHS now sets Medicaid provider rules on its own. It also dropped the need for regional offices. You only need a primary office in Arkansas. A private care agency must carry at least $1 million in liability insurance.
The Private Care Agency License
ADH licenses Private Care Agencies. Act 853 of 2025 removed the old DHS/DPSQA certification step. To bill Medicaid, you meet DHS's Medicaid provider rules and enroll separately. The ADH home health rule says an agency must get a Permit of Approval (POA) before it applies for a home health license (Class A or B). The Private Care Agency rule has no POA step. But state law (Ark. Code § 20-8-106) may exempt Class B applicants from the POA. We could not confirm this. If ADH says you need a Class B license, ask the Health Services Permit Agency (HSPA) if you need a POA and what it costs. Act 853 removed the requirement for multiple regional offices. Private care agencies now only need to maintain a primary office physically located in Arkansas. Note: the 2024 ADH rule (Section 5(B)) still mentions licensed regional offices. Act 853 struck them from the law, and the law wins.
Certificate of Need (CON) in Arkansas
Arkansas does not require a Certificate of Need (CON) for non-medical home care. You can move directly into the licensing process without a separate market-need review.
Medicaid Participation — ARChoices in Homecare
The main Medicaid waiver for adults who need nursing-home-level care but want to stay home.
Common Reasons Arkansas Applications Are Rejected or Delayed
Generic P&P manuals that don't reflect state-specific regulations
Incomplete administrator documentation
Insurance or surety bond policies that don't meet state minimums
Missing or inadequate quality assurance program documentation
Physical office that doesn't meet site-review standards
Caregiver background checks that miss required state databases
Every one of these is preventable with proper preparation. It's the biggest reason founders choose done-for-you packages over DIY — the cost of a rejection in lost time is almost always higher than the cost of doing it right the first time.
Book a Free Arkansas Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Arkansas licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which Arkansas license type fits your business model (Private Care Agency License)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether ARChoices in Homecare enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. Arkansas-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Arkansas Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Arkansas client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know ADH Health Facility Services.
