From application to approval, we handle your DOH 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 Washington? You need a In-Home Services Agency License from the Washington State Department of Health. Our estimate: 90–150 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $5,000 and are paid directly to DOH.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Washington.
Medicaid Program
Community First Choice (CFC)
Plus the COPES (Community Options Program Entry System) and Medicaid Personal Care (MPC) and Becoming a Medicaid Provider for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Washington
Washington regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a In-Home Services Agency License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
In-Home Services Agency License
Washington requires an In-Home Services Agency License from the DOH.
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:
$5,000 Initial 12-Month License Fee (per service category)
Timeline:
3-5 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Washington State Department of Health
How to Get Licensed in Washington
Washington licensing follows a structured 7-step process through DOH. 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.
90–150 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
POLICIES
3
SURVEY
4
INSURANCE
5
APPLICATION
6
PROCESS
1
Form Your Business Entity
FOUNDATION
File LLC with the Washington Secretary of State. Obtain an EIN from the IRS. Open a business bank account. Register with the Washington Department of Revenue. Obtain your Unified Business Identifier (UBI).
2
Develop Policies and Procedures
POLICIES
Create written policies covering client rights and responsibilities, personnel management, service delivery procedures, quality assurance, emergency protocols, and infection control per WAC 246-335.
3
Complete Background Checks (DSHS BCCU)
SURVEY
Get Washington State Patrol (WSP) criminal history checks and DOH-approved disclosure statements for your administrator and supervisor of direct care. You send these with your application. They must be less than three months old (WAC 246-335-320). Caregivers also need a DSHS fingerprint check (state and FBI) at hire. DSHS may not pass that fingerprint cost to you or the worker (RCW 74.39A.056).
4
Secure Insurance
INSURANCE
Get general liability insurance of at least $1 million per occurrence, or $2 million combined. DOH needs proof with your application (WAC 246-335-320). Get workers' comp through L&I. Many agencies add professional liability, and auto coverage if they drive clients. No surety bond is required.
5
Take the Orientation Class and Submit the DOH Application
APPLICATION
Finish the DOH In-Home Services Orientation Class first. Then send the DOH application (a PDF form) to the address in the packet. Include your orientation certificate, proof of liability insurance, WSP background checks for your administrator and supervisor, your policies, your business license, and the $5,000 initial fee. You have nine months to finish all steps, or DOH may close the application with no refund.
6
Pass Initial Survey/Inspection
SURVEY
DOH does an initial announced survey to confirm you meet WAC 246-335 (WAC 246-335-320). Fix any problems it finds.
7
Hire and Certify Caregivers
PROCESS
Recruit caregivers and run DSHS fingerprint checks. Enroll them in the 75-hour Home Care Aide training. They need 5 hours before giving care. They must finish training within 120 days of hire and hold DOH certification within 200 days of hire.
Why Washington 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 Washington Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Washington state fees ($5,000 to DOH) are passed through at cost.
Washington 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 Washington consultancies don't offer.
Washington Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Washington 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 Washington?
Washington requires an In-Home Services Agency License from the DOH under WAC 246-335 and RCW 70.127. This covers personal care, homemaker, and companion services. The initial 12-month fee is $5,000 per service category.
How much does a Washington home care license cost?
The initial 12-month license fee is $5,000. Renewal is every 24 months. It starts at $2,400 for home care agencies with 5 or fewer FTEs ($1,700 if you contract with DSHS or a AAA and meet DOH's equivalency rule). No surety bond is required. We estimate total startup costs at $45,000 to $90,000.
How long does Washington licensing take?
Our estimate is 3-5 months total. We did not find a published DOH processing time. The rules give you nine months from applying to finish every step.
What is the Home Care Aide certification?
It is a DOH credential for long-term care workers. Caregivers who give hands-on personal care must complete 75 hours of DSHS-approved training, pass the state exam, and get certified within 200 days of hire. They need 12 hours of continuing education each year. Nurses, CNAs, and some family caregivers are exempt.
What background checks are required?
Caregivers need a fingerprint check through Washington State Patrol and the FBI at hire. DSHS runs it and may not pass the cost to you. DOH also needs WSP checks and disclosure statements for your administrator and supervisor of direct care.
Is Washington a good market for home care?
It can be. Washington has about 1.46 million adults 65+ (Census 2025 estimate). Seattle and the Eastside have a strong private-pay market. Aide wages are high (BLS OEWS median $22.95/hr, May 2025). Spokane and eastern Washington have less competition.
Did the license fee change?
Yes. The initial 12-month license fee became $5,000 per service category on June 1, 2026 (WAC 246-335-990). One county is included. Each extra county adds $100 (rural) or $500 (urban).
Is a surety bond required?
No. DOH does not require a surety bond. You must show proof of general liability insurance with your application: $1 million per occurrence, or $2 million combined.
Washington Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Washington requires an In-Home Services Agency License from the DOH. The home care category covers personal care, homemaker, and companion services. The rules are WAC 246-335 and RCW 70.127. The initial 12-month license fee is $5,000 per service category (WAC 246-335-990, effective June 1, 2026). Before you apply, you must take the DOH In-Home Services Orientation Class. You must show proof of general liability insurance. No surety bond is required. Most caregivers who give hands-on care must earn a Home Care Aide certification from DOH. DSHS approves the training and runs fingerprint checks.
The In-Home Services Agency License
Caregivers who give hands-on personal care must finish 75 hours of DSHS-approved training within 120 days of hire. Five of those hours come before they give any care. They must pass the state exam and be certified by DOH within 200 days of hire. Then they need 12 hours of continuing education each year. Some workers are exempt, like nurses and CNAs (RCW 18.88B.041). You must take the DOH In-Home Services Orientation Class before you apply. No surety bond is required. Washington has no personal income tax. Businesses do pay the state B&O tax on gross receipts.
Certificate of Need (CON) in Washington
Washington 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 First Choice (CFC)
A Medicaid state plan program run by DSHS. It pays for personal care at home for people who qualify. Home care agencies can serve these clients through a DSHS contract.
The DOH On-Site Survey
In-Home Services Agency License Required. DOH licensure under WAC 246-335 and RCW 70.127 is required. The initial 12-month fee is $5,000 per service category. DOH does an initial announced survey to confirm you meet the rules (WAC 246-335-320).
Common Reasons Washington 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 Washington Strategy Call
15 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Washington licensing for you, your timeline, and your best next step — even if you don't hire us.
Which Washington license type fits your business model (In-Home Services Agency License)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether Community First Choice (CFC) enrollment makes sense for your plan
No pressure. No obligation. Washington-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Washington Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Washington client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know DOH.
Built exclusively for non-medical home care|Washington-specific guidance under WAC 246-335 / RCW 70.127 (In-Home Services Agencies)|Platform & HomeCareAtlas directory on day one
Washington licensing details verified by HomeCareAtlas on September 1, 2026.
Washington Home Care License — Done-for-You Licensing
