From application to approval, we handle your DHCQ 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 Delaware? You need a Personal Assistance Services Agency (PASA) from the Delaware DHSS, Division of Health Care Quality. Our estimate: 180–270 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $250 and are paid directly to DHCQ.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Delaware.
Medicaid Program
Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus)
Plus the Operational Readiness for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Delaware
Delaware regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a PASA License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Personal Assistance Services Agency (PASA)
Delaware requires a license for non-medical home care.
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:
$250 Initial PASA License Fee
Timeline:
6-9 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Delaware DHSS, Division of Health Care Quality
How to Get Licensed in Delaware
Delaware licensing follows a structured 7-step process through DHCQ. Our specialists handle all 7 steps in the Launch and Signature packages; in the Licensing Kit, you handle the submission yourself with our expert guidance.
180–270 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
INSURANCE
3
POLICIES
4
APPLICATION
5
OPERATIONS
6
SURVEY
1
Read the Rules and Plan Your Business
FOUNDATION
Read 16 Del. Admin. Code 3345. Pick your business name and type. The state says not to spend money on a business license, insurance, an office, or staff until it recommends you for a license.
2
Choose Your Director and Backup
INSURANCE
Pick a full-time director with an associate degree and two years as a health care or home care supervisor. Pick a backup director with the same skills. The state says you can hire them for real once you have a license.
3
Write Your Policies and Worker Test
POLICIES
Write your policy manual. Write the skills test every worker must pass. Both go in with your application.
4
Build Your Binder
APPLICATION
Follow the state checklist. Add your list of services, org chart, owners, and governing body. Do not use plastic page covers. The state keeps the binder, so make a copy.
5
Send the Application
APPLICATION
Type the Part 1 application. Send it with your binder and a $250 certified check or money order. Make it out to the State of Delaware. Send it to OHFLC, 263 Chapman Road, Suite 200, Newark, DE 19702.
6
Wait for Review
OPERATIONS
The state says review takes 6 to 9 months or more. Do not call to check. If it asks for changes, you have 30 days to send them. You cannot call yourself a PASA until you have a license.
7
Pass the 90-Day Survey
SURVEY
Once approved, you get a 90-day license. You can hire staff and take clients. The state visits without warning. You must be serving clients by then. Pass, and you get a 1-year license.
Why Delaware 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 Delaware Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Delaware state fees ($250 to DHCQ) are passed through at cost.
Delaware 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 Delaware consultancies don't offer.
Delaware Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Delaware 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
How much does a home care license cost in Delaware?
The first PASA license fee is $250. It is not refundable. Renewal is $100 each year. Pay by certified check or money order to the State of Delaware.
How long does Delaware licensing take?
Plan for 6 to 9 months or more. The state says that is how long review takes. Then you get a 90-day license. The state visits you in that time. Pass, and you get a 1-year license.
What qualifications does the director need in Delaware?
The director must be full-time. They need at least an associate degree. They also need two years as a supervisor in health care or home care. Ask OHFLC if your past work counts. Your backup director needs the same skills.
Can a Delaware PASA provide skilled nursing services?
No. PASA is a non-medical license. Skilled nursing needs a home health agency license.
Is Delaware a good market for home care agencies?
Delaware can be a good fit. It has a high share of seniors and short drive times. But the market is smaller than nearby states.
Delaware Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Delaware requires a license for non-medical home care. It is called a Personal Assistance Services Agency (PASA) license. The rules are in 16 Del. Admin. Code 3345 and 16 Del. C. Sec. 122(3)(x). A PASA helps with daily living tasks, companionship, homemaker work, and transportation. It cannot provide skilled nursing. The first fee is $250. Renewal is $100 each year. A new agency first gets a 90-day license. You must pass a surprise visit from the state in those 90 days.
The Personal Assistance Services Agency (PASA)
You need a full-time director. The director needs at least an associate degree. They also need two years as a supervisor in health care or home care. Ask OHFLC if your past work counts. Its own FAQ gives mixed answers on non-medical home care work. Delaware requires fingerprint criminal checks, drug tests, and adult and child abuse registry checks. These apply to employees and contractors.
Certificate of Need (CON) in Delaware
Delaware 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 — Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus)
This is Delaware Medicaid's long-term care program. It can pay for help at home. To serve these clients, you must become a Medicaid provider. Ask the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) how. That is a separate step from your PASA license.
The DHCQ On-Site Survey
Survey in Your First 90 Days. Your first license lasts only 90 days. The state visits without warning in that time. Pass the visit to get a 1-year license.
Common Reasons Delaware 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 Delaware Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Delaware licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which Delaware license type fits your business model (Personal Assistance Services Agency)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether Diamond State Health Plan Plus (DSHP-Plus) enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. Delaware-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Delaware Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Delaware client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know DHCQ.
