From application to approval, we handle your DCH 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 Georgia? You need a Private Home Care Provider (PHCP) License from the Georgia Department of Community Health. Our estimate: 60–120 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $550 and are paid directly to DCH.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Georgia.
Medicaid Program
SOURCE and CCSP Waivers
Plus the Start Private-Pay, Add Medicaid Later for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Georgia
Georgia regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a PHCP License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Private Home Care Provider (PHCP) License
Georgia 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:
$550 PHCP Fees to Start (One Service)
Timeline:
2-4 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Georgia Department of Community Health
How to Get Licensed in Georgia
Georgia licensing follows a structured 7-step process through DCH. 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.
60–120 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
INSURANCE
3
POLICIES
4
APPLICATION
5
SURVEY
6
OPERATIONS
7
PROCESS
1
Form Your Business
FOUNDATION
Register your LLC or corporation. Get an EIN. Open a business bank account. Get a local business license from your city or county.
2
Complete Fingerprint Checks
INSURANCE
Owners, administrators, and managers get fingerprinted through the Georgia Criminal History Check System (GCHEXS). The DCH clearance letter must be dated within 12 months of when you apply.
3
Hire Your First Staff and Write Policies
POLICIES
DCH says you need an administrator and at least one other employee to open. Write your policies for client rights, complaints, emergencies, service plans, and staff training. Have them ready to show on request.
4
Submit the Online PHCP Application
APPLICATION
Apply through the GAMMIS web portal. Upload your notarized ID affidavit, local business license, incorporation papers, fingerprint letters, list of services, and staff files. Pay the fee online.
5
Wait for DCH Review
SURVEY
DCH says review usually takes about 60 days after it confirms it got your file. Missing documents make it longer.
6
Receive a Provisional or Regular License
OPERATIONS
DCH may give you a provisional license first. It is short-term and lets you show your operations follow the rules.
7
Move to a Regular License
PROCESS
After you show you follow the rules, DCH issues a regular license. It has no end date. You pay the fee each year to keep it.
Why Georgia 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 Georgia Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Georgia state fees ($550 to DCH) are passed through at cost.
Georgia 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 Georgia consultancies don't offer.
Georgia Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Georgia 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
What license do I need for non-medical home care in Georgia?
You need a Private Home Care Provider (PHCP) license from the Department of Community Health. You cannot operate without it.
How much does a Georgia home care license cost?
You pay a $300 application fee. Then you pay $250 for each service you offer. Services are companion sitting, personal care, and nursing. So one service costs $550 to start. Companion plus personal care costs $800. You pay $250 per service each year after that. DCH says fees are not refunded.
How long does Georgia licensing take?
DCH says review usually takes about 60 days after it confirms it got your file. Plan for 2 to 4 months in total. You may get a provisional license first.
Is a surety bond required in Georgia?
Not to get your license. But some workers must be bonded. That is anyone who can freely use a client's money to run the home, like paying bills. Many agencies carry employee theft coverage too.
Is Georgia a good market for home care agencies?
It can be. Metro Atlanta is large and growing. About 1.9 million Georgians are 65 or older. Licensing costs are lower than in many bigger states.
Georgia Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Georgia requires a license for non-medical home care. It is called a Private Home Care Provider (PHCP) license. The rules are in Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. Chapter 111-8-65. No one may operate without a license. You apply online through the Georgia Medicaid (GAMMIS) web portal and pay the fee there. DCH may give a new agency a provisional license first. That gives you a limited time to show you follow the rules. A Certificate of Need is not required for a PHCP.
The Private Home Care Provider (PHCP) License
DCH may issue a new agency a provisional license first. It is short-term. You use it to show your operations follow the rules. Then you move to a regular license. Owners, administrators, and managers must clear fingerprint checks through GCHEXS before you apply. Every worker who sees clients needs one too. Companion sitters, personal care aides, and nurses each have their own rules. All staff need 8 hours of training each year after year one.
Certificate of Need (CON) in Georgia
No Certificate of Need. A PHCP does not need a Certificate of Need. That changes only if you run as a licensed home health agency or personal care home (Rule 111-8-65-.07).
Medicaid Participation — SOURCE and CCSP Waivers
Georgia Medicaid pays for in-home care through the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program. It has two parts: the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and SOURCE. Both cover personal care and respite. To serve these clients, you must enroll as a Georgia Medicaid provider. That is a separate step from your PHCP license.
Common Reasons Georgia 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 Georgia Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Georgia licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which Georgia license type fits your business model (Private Home Care Provider)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether SOURCE and CCSP Waivers enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. Georgia-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Georgia Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Georgia client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know DCH.
Built exclusively for non-medical home care|Georgia-specific guidance under O.C.G.A. § 31-7-300 et seq.; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 111-8-65 (Private Home Care Providers)|Platform & HomeCareAtlas directory on day one
Georgia licensing details verified by HomeCareAtlas on November 1, 2026.
Georgia Home Care License — Done-for-You Licensing
