Oklahoma · OSDH, Medical Facilities Service Licensing
Start a Home Care Agency in Oklahoma
From application to approval, we handle your OSDH, Medical Facilities Service licensing — then hand you the platform to run your agency from day one. Most consultancies disappear when your license arrives. We keep going.
Home Care Agency License or Sitter/Companion Service Agency License
Timeline
45–120 days
State Fee
$1,000
Want to open a non-medical home care agency in Oklahoma? You need a Home Care Agency License or Sitter/Companion Service Agency License from the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Our estimate: 45–120 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $1,000 and are paid directly to OSDH, Medical Facilities Service.
Home Care Agency License or Sitter/Companion Service Agency License
Certificate of Need
Not Required
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Oklahoma.
Medicaid Program
ADvantage Waiver Program (SoonerCare)
Plus the Private-Pay + ADvantage Strategy for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Oklahoma
Oklahoma regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a Home Care Agency License or Sitter/Companion Service Agency License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Home Care Agency License or Sitter/Companion Service Agency License
Oklahoma has TWO license types 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:
$1,000 Initial Application Fee ($500 renewal)
Timeline:
45-120 Days for provisional approval
Regulator:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
How to Get Licensed in Oklahoma
Oklahoma licensing follows a structured 8-step process through OSDH, Medical Facilities Service. Our specialists handle all 8 steps in the Launch and Signature packages; in the Licensing Kit, you handle the submission yourself with our expert guidance.
45–120 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
INSURANCE
3
POLICIES
4
APPLICATION
5
SURVEY
1
Choose Your License Type
FOUNDATION
Decide between Home Care Agency License (hands-on personal care) and Sitter/Companion Service Agency License (no hands-on care). This sets your training rules, staffing, and services.
2
Register Your Business
INSURANCE
Register your LLC or corporation with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. Obtain an EIN from the IRS. Register for state tax accounts.
3
Get Your Administrator Certified (OHCAPA)
POLICIES
Finish a 160-hour OSDH-approved preparedness program. Or qualify by deeming, for example with a bachelor's degree plus 1 year of full-time home care work in the past 2 years. Pass the OHCAPA exam. Apply for your certificate within 6 months of passing. Pay $140 and send an OSBI check done in the past 60 days. You need a copy of this certificate for your license application.
4
Secure Insurance
INSURANCE
Get liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 aggregate (OAC 310:662-2-1). Many agencies carry more. Also get workers' compensation. You must send copies with your application.
5
Develop Policies and Procedures
POLICIES
Write a full manual for care, emergencies, staff, client rights, client agreements, privacy, and quality, per OAC Title 310 Chapter 662. You must not mislead clients about services or charges (OAC 310:662-3-3).
6
Complete Background Checks and Staff Training
POLICIES
Run background checks on all direct care staff through OKSCREEN, the OSDH fingerprint background check portal (OSBI and FBI). For a Home Care Agency license: aides must be OSDH-certified and listed on the Oklahoma Home Health Aide Registry. Screen client-contact staff for TB. Offer all staff a free flu shot each year (OAC 310:662-3-4).
7
Submit Application to OSDH
APPLICATION
Send ODH Form 757 (Home Care Agency) or ODH Form 1273 (Sitter/Companion) to OSDH with the $1,000 fee. For a home care agency, attach your LLC or corporation papers, proof of liability and workers' comp insurance, your administrator's certificate, and your supervising RN's and alternate RN's licenses. Add proof of money to operate (bank statement, letter of credit, or line of credit) and a six-month staffing and visit estimate. Complete applications are handled in the order received (OSDH guidance letter).
8
Pass Initial On-Site Survey
SURVEY
Once OSDH has all your documents, you wait in a queue for the initial on-site survey. Your agency must be ready for business when surveyors come. Fix any problems they find. OSDH issues the license after you pass. Home care agency licenses expire July 31 each year. A sitter/companion license expires one year after it is issued (OAC 310:662-8-3).
Why Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Oklahoma state fees ($1,000 to OSDH, Medical Facilities Service) are passed through at cost.
Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma consultancies don't offer.
Oklahoma Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Oklahoma 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 home care in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma has two license types under OAC 310:662. The Home Care Agency License is for personal care (help with bathing, dressing, walking). Its aides must be OSDH-certified and on the Home Health Aide Registry. The Sitter/Companion Service License is for companion or sitter help with no hands-on care. Choose based on what you will do. Both need an OSDH application, a $1,000 fee, and a survey.
How much does an Oklahoma home care license cost?
The application fee is $1,000 and is not refunded. Renewal is $500 a year. Each home care branch office is $25. Home care agency licenses expire July 31. Our estimate for total startup costs is $25,000 to $50,000.
How long does licensing take in Oklahoma?
OSDH does not publish a set timeframe. Our estimate is 45-120 days. OSDH handles complete applications in the order received, then puts you in a queue for the initial on-site survey. Your administrator must already be certified before your application is complete.
What is the OHCAPA exam?
OHCAPA is the Oklahoma Home Care Administrator Preparedness Assessment, the state exam. To be certified, you finish a 160-hour OSDH-approved program or qualify by deeming. One deeming path is a bachelor's degree plus 1 year of full-time home care work in the past 2 years. Then you pass the OHCAPA exam and apply within 6 months. The certificate costs $140 and needs an OSBI background check. It expires July 31 each year. Renewal is $55 plus 12 hours of continuing education.
What training do caregivers need in Oklahoma?
For Home Care Agency licensees: aides must be OSDH-certified (at least 75 hours of training plus a competency test) and listed on the Oklahoma Home Health Aide Registry, then do 12 hours of in-service a year. For Sitter/Companion agencies: the state sets no training hours, but background checks still apply.
Is Oklahoma a good market for home care?
It can be. About 741,000 Oklahomans are 65 or older (Census 2025 estimate). Startup costs can be lower than in bigger states. The ADvantage waiver adds a Medicaid option.
What's the difference between the two license types?
Home Care Agency License: allows hands-on personal care (bathing, dressing, walking). Aides must be OSDH-certified and on the HHA Registry, and you need a supervising RN or physician. Sitter/Companion Service License: companion or sitter help with no hands-on care. It does not allow home care services. It also needs a place of business in Oklahoma that is open to the public (OAC 310:662-8-4).
Oklahoma Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Oklahoma has TWO license types for non-medical home care. Choose based on what you will do. The Home Care Agency License covers personal care (help with dressing, bathing, walking). Its aides must be certified by OSDH and listed on the Home Health Aide Registry. The Sitter/Companion Service License is for companion or sitter help with no hands-on care (OSDH guidance letter). Both come from the Home Care Act (63 O.S. Section 1-1960 et seq.) and OAC Title 310, Chapter 662. Both cost $1,000 to apply and $500 a year to renew. Home care branch offices cost $25. For a home care agency, you send ODH Form 757 to OSDH. For a sitter/companion service, you send ODH Form 1273. Your agency must be ready for business at the initial on-site survey. Giving home care before you have a license can bring a penalty of up to $10,000 (OSDH guidance letter).
The Home Care Agency License or Sitter/Companion Service Agency License
Home Care Agency License (hands-on personal care) vs Sitter/Companion Service Agency License (no hands-on care). Pick the one that matches what you will do. A sitter/companion license does not allow home care services. Your administrator must be certified by OSDH (63 O.S. Section 1-1962a; OAC 310:664). That means a 160-hour OSDH-approved preparedness program, then passing the OHCAPA exam. Or you can use a deeming path. One example is a bachelor's degree plus 1 year of full-time home care work in the past 2 years (OAC 310:664-3-4). The initial certificate costs $140, needs an OSBI background check, and expires every July 31. Renewal is $55 plus 12 hours of continuing education a year. No CE is needed for the first renewal. Oklahoma also requires 160-hour administrator certification (typical cost $140 initial certificate ($80 deeming application, if used) + training and exam fees; $55 yearly renewal).
Certificate of Need (CON) in Oklahoma
Oklahoma 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 — ADvantage Waiver Program (SoonerCare)
A SoonerCare (Medicaid) waiver. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) has details. It serves adults 65 and older and adults with physical disabilities who need nursing home level care. It helps them stay at home with services like personal care. Ask OHCA how to become a provider.
The OSDH, Medical Facilities Service On-Site Survey
Initial Survey Before License Issuance. After OSDH gets all your documents, you go in a queue for an initial on-site survey. Your agency must be ready for business at the time of the survey. Have your policies, staff files, and office ready.
Common Reasons Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Oklahoma licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which Oklahoma license type fits your business model (Home Care Agency License or Sitter/Companion Service Agency License)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether ADvantage Waiver Program (SoonerCare) enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. Oklahoma-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Oklahoma Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Oklahoma client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know OSDH, Medical Facilities Service.
