South Carolina · SC DPH, Bureau of Health Facilities Licensing Licensing
Start a Home Care Agency in South Carolina
From application to approval, we handle your SC DPH, Bureau of Health Facilities Licensing 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 South Carolina? You need a In-Home Care Provider License from the South Carolina Department of Public Health. Our estimate: 60–120 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $1,000 and are paid directly to SC DPH, Bureau of Health Facilities Licensing.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in South Carolina.
Medicaid Program
Community Choices Waiver
Program details available during your strategy call.
Home Care License Type in South Carolina
South Carolina regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a In-Home Care Provider License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
In-Home Care Provider License
South Carolina licenses non-medical home care under the In-Home Care Providers Act (S.C.
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 application fee
Timeline:
60-120 Days for provisional approval
Regulator:
South Carolina Department of Public Health
How to Get Licensed in South Carolina
South Carolina licensing follows a structured 7-step process through SC DPH, Bureau of Health Facilities Licensing. 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
OPERATIONS
6
PROCESS
1
Register your business & pick your services
FOUNDATION
Register your LLC or corporation with the South Carolina Secretary of State. Get your EIN from the IRS and set up state tax accounts. List the services you will offer. Your name cannot match or look like another licensed provider. Franchise locations must add their area to the name (Reg. 60-122 §103.E).
2
Find an office in the right zone
INSURANCE
Rent an office in South Carolina in a commercial or unzoned area. Get a county or city zoning permit. If the area has no zoning, get a letter from the county or city saying you can run a provider there (Reg. 60-122 §103.D).
3
Write policies & procedures
POLICIES
Write a full policy manual. Cover client rights, care plans, fees, emergencies, hiring, training, random drug tests, abuse and incident reports, and records. It must follow the In-Home Care Providers Act and Regulation 60-122. Review your policies at least every two years.
4
Get insurance, background checks & drug tests
INSURANCE
Get liability insurance (at least $100,000/$300,000) or a surety bond in its place. Add coverage that pays clients for losses, and workers' comp. Each owner who signs the application needs a SLED name-based check from the last 90 days. They also need a 5-panel drug test taken within 30 days before DPH gets the application.
5
Send your application to SC DPH
APPLICATION
Email your application to [email protected] (DPH's preferred way). Or mail it to the Bureau of Health Facilities Licensing, P.O. Box 2046, West Columbia, SC 29171. Pay the $1,000 fee through the DPH payment portal and include proof of payment. Attach insurance proof, owner checks, drug test results, and your random drug test policy. Questions: 803-545-4370 (DPH form 1307).
6
DPH review & license
OPERATIONS
DPH reviews your file against S.C. Code 44-70 and Regulation 60-122. DPH can inspect at any time without notice. Fix any problems fast. Once approved, you get your license. Renew every year for $800. A late renewal costs $200 more.
7
Hire staff, train, and open
PROCESS
Hire caregivers who are 18 or older. Finish background checks, drug tests, and health self-checks before any client contact. Give the required training first. Set up scheduling, billing, and records. Get to know hospitals, rehab centers, and senior communities.
Why South Carolina 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 South Carolina Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. South Carolina state fees ($1,000 to SC DPH, Bureau of Health Facilities Licensing) are passed through at cost.
South Carolina 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 South Carolina consultancies don't offer.
South Carolina Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom South Carolina 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
Do I need a license to start a home care agency in South Carolina?
Yes. Any business that gives or arranges in-home care for pay needs an In-Home Care Provider License from SC DPH. The law is the In-Home Care Providers Act (S.C. Code 44-70-10). The rule is Regulation 60-122. A few groups are left out, like house-cleaning-only services. Ask DPH at [email protected] if you are not sure.
How much does the license cost?
The first license costs $1,000. Renewal is $800 a year. A late renewal adds $200. Our estimate for total startup costs is $40,000 - $75,000. That covers insurance, background checks, policies, an office, and cash to run.
How long does licensing take?
Our estimate is 60-120 days from a complete application to license. DPH does not publish a set timeline. A complete file, done background checks, and drug test results help.
What background checks are required?
Caregivers need a criminal background check under S.C. Code 44-70-60(B) and 44-7-2910 before any client contact. Also check the Sex Offender Registry and Nurse Aide Registry. Owners who sign the application need a SLED name-based check from the last 90 days.
Are drug tests required?
Yes. Caregivers need a 5-panel drug test before hire. Owners who sign the application need one too. After that, both get random drug tests. Your policies must say how you run random tests.
What insurance is required? Is a bond required?
You need liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 total. A surety bond is not required. You may use one in place of the liability insurance (Reg. 60-122 §302.A). You also need coverage that pays clients for losses, and workers' comp.
Is South Carolina a good market for home care?
South Carolina has about 1.17 million adults 65 and older, about 21% of the state. That group grew about 20% from 2020 to 2025, the 5th fastest of any state (Census, July 2025). The coast and the Upstate have many retirees.
What are the biggest mistakes to avoid?
Skipping a caregiver check or drug test. Using old policy templates instead of the May 2026 rule. Renting an office in the wrong zone. And waiting too long to meet hospital discharge planners.
South Carolina Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
South Carolina licenses non-medical home care under the In-Home Care Providers Act (S.C. Code 44-70-10 and after) and Regulation 60-122. DPH took over this job from DHEC on July 1, 2024. The rule was renumbered from 61-122 to 60-122 in 2025. Its content was updated in May 2026. Any business that gives or arranges in-home care for pay needs this license. The first license costs $1,000. Renewal is $800 a year. Your main office must be in South Carolina, in a commercial or unzoned area.
The In-Home Care Provider License
Any business that gives or arranges in-home care for pay needs this license from SC DPH. The rule is 60-122 (the old number was 61-122). A few groups are left out, like house-cleaning-only services and home health agencies (S.C. Code 44-70-20). Ask DPH if you are not sure. Every caregiver needs a criminal background check under S.C. Code 44-70-60(B) and 44-7-2910 before they start. They also need a 5-panel drug test before hire. Random drug tests follow. Owners who sign the application need a SLED check and a drug test too. You need liability insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 total. A surety bond for the same amount can be used in place of that insurance (Reg. 60-122 §302.A). You also need coverage that pays clients for losses, and workers' comp (S.C. Code 42-5-10). Your main office must be in South Carolina. It must be in a commercial or unzoned area. Get a county or city zoning permit, or a letter if the area is unzoned (Reg. 60-122 §103.D). Extra locations must be registered with DPH first.
Certificate of Need (CON) in South Carolina
South Carolina 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 — Community Choices Waiver
South Carolina's Medicaid home and community waiver for seniors and adults with disabilities. It pays for personal care and companion care, among other services. The SC Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) runs it.
Common Reasons South Carolina 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 South Carolina Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out South Carolina licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which South Carolina license type fits your business model (In-Home Care Provider License)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether Community Choices Waiver enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. South Carolina-specific guidance either way.
Your Future South Carolina Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first South Carolina client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know SC DPH, Bureau of Health Facilities Licensing.
