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Submission & After You Apply ~180 min

CDSS Orientation for a California Home Care Organization License

California law says an applicant must finish a CDSS orientation (HSC §1796.37(a)(7)). It happens after you apply. It is a live online class with CDSS staff.

Here's how it works

1. You mail your packet. CDSS gets it and sends an introductory letter. The letter tells you how to sign up for orientation (Steps PDF, step 4).

2. CDSS mails you an orientation request form. Fill it out and send it back.

3. Pay the fee. It is $50 and you cannot get it back.

4. Attend on your date. It is a scheduled, virtual session with Home Care Services Branch staff. You cannot watch it any time you want.

5. Fill out the survey. Then you get a certificate.

(All from the CDSS Application Steps PDF, step 5.)

Good to know

  • There is no other administrator course. The law asks only for this orientation.
  • Save your certificate. Upload it here.

Did you see a "5-year residency" or "FBI check" rule?

An older version of this step listed those. They are not California HCO rules.

  • Your Live Scan check already searches FBI records (HSC §1796.23(c)).
  • A person living in another state may use that state's photo ID (HSC §1796.32(d)).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • 1Waiting for an on-demand video. The orientation is a scheduled live session.
  • 2Losing the orientation request form CDSS mails you. Watch your mail after you apply.
  • 3Paying for an outside "administrator course." California does not require one.

Tips

  • Watch your mailing address and email after you apply. CDSS uses both.
  • Write down your session date as soon as you get it.

What You Need to Do

  1. 1
    Find the orientation steps in your CDSS introductory letter
  2. 2
    Fill out and send the orientation request form CDSS mails you
  3. 3
    Pay the $50 orientation fee
  4. 4
    Attend your scheduled virtual orientation
  5. 5
    Finish the survey and upload your certificate

Information You Will Need

Have these details ready before you sit down to fill this out:

Date you sent the orientation request form
Your orientation session date
Did you get your orientation certificate?

Documents Needed

  • CDSS Orientation Certificate
    RequiredPDF, JPG, PNG · Max 10MB

Official Resources

Want us to handle this for you?

Our licensing team knows this form inside and out. We fill out every form, check every box, and submit the whole packet to CDSS on your behalf. You just answer a few simple questions.

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John Helmy

Researched and reviewed by

John Helmy, Founder of HomeCareAtlas

Building tools and resources to help home care agency owners navigate licensing, compliance, and growth.