From application to approval, we handle your OHFLC 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, Office of Health Facilities Licensing and Certification. Plan on 90–120 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $500 and are paid directly to OHFLC.
Delaware DHSS, Office of Health Facilities Licensing and Certification
License Types
1 Categories
Personal Assistance Services Agency
Certificate of Need
Not Required
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Delaware.
Medicaid Program
Medicaid and Additional Compliance
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 non-medical home care agencies to obtain a Personal Assistance Services Agency (PASA) license.
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:
$500 Initial PASA License Fee
Timeline:
3-4 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Delaware DHSS, Office of Health Facilities Licensing and Certification
How to Get Licensed in Delaware
Delaware licensing follows a structured 7-step process through OHFLC. 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.
90–120 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
INSURANCE
3
POLICIES
4
APPLICATION
5
OPERATIONS
6
PROCESS
1
Form Your Business Entity
FOUNDATION
Register your LLC or corporation, obtain an EIN, open a business bank account, and secure any required local business licenses.
2
Hire a Qualified Director
INSURANCE
Appoint a full-time director who meets Delaware's educational and supervisory experience requirements.
3
Prepare Screening and Hiring Systems
POLICIES
Set up criminal background checks, abuse registry checks, fingerprinting, and drug testing for employees and contractors.
4
Assemble Policies, Insurance, and Core Documents
INSURANCE
Prepare proof of insurance, disaster preparedness materials, organizational documents, service lists, and director credentials.
5
Submit PASA Application
APPLICATION
Apply to OHFLC with the required forms, fees, exhibits, and ownership disclosures.
6
Receive Probationary License
OPERATIONS
Delaware issues an initial probationary license for 90 days to agencies that complete the application process and meet the requirements.
7
Complete Required On-Site Review
PROCESS
Plan for the required survey and operational review during the probationary period.
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 ($500 to OHFLC) 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 initial PASA application fee is commonly cited as $500. Renewal figures should be verified carefully before publishing, because publicly available Delaware materials show at least one renewal form listing a $100 annual licensure fee.
How long does Delaware licensing take?
A practical planning estimate is 3 to 4 months, and the initial license period includes a 90-day probationary phase.
What qualifications does the director need in Delaware?
The director must be a full-time employee with at least an associate degree and two years of healthcare or homecare supervisory experience.
Can a Delaware PASA provide skilled nursing services?
No. PASA is a non-medical model and does not authorize skilled nursing services.
Is Delaware a good market for home care agencies?
Delaware can be attractive because of its high senior share and compact geography, though the market is smaller than larger East Coast states.
Delaware Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Delaware requires non-medical home care agencies to obtain a Personal Assistance Services Agency (PASA) license. PASA is the non-medical model for agencies providing assistance with activities of daily living, companionship, homemaker services, transportation, medication reminders, and related support that does not require skilled nursing services.
The Personal Assistance Services Agency (PASA)
Initial applicants receive a probationary license period before moving into standard operations. The director must be a full-time employee and must have at least an associate degree plus two years of healthcare or homecare supervisory experience. Delaware requires criminal background checks, abuse checks, and drug testing for employees and contractors. Delaware also requires required administrator certification (typical cost Varies).
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 — Medicaid and Additional Compliance
If the agency plans to serve Medicaid-funded populations, expect requirements beyond the base PASA licensure process.
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 Medicaid and Additional Compliance 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 OHFLC.
