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Care business licensing, state by state

Try a license (“assisted living”), an agency (“AHCA”) or a topic (“background screening”).

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Licensing guides, page 6

Step-by-step guides to licensing a care business, each checked against the state agency’s own rules and dated with its last review.

Guides 101–120 of 301

  1. Hawaii home care agency license: opening a personal care or homemaker agency

    How Hawaii licenses non-medical home care agencies under HAR 11-700: who needs the license, aide and supervisor rules, the OHCA application, the $1,500 fee and renewal.

    Hawaii · Non-medical home care agencyReviewed

  2. Hawaii home health agency license: SHPDA first, then an OHCA survey

    How to license a home health agency in Hawaii: the SHPDA certificate of need or no-CON letter, HAR 11-97.1 standards, the $2,750 fee, OHCA survey and Medicare.

    Hawaii · Home health agencyReviewed

  3. Idaho Basic Daycare License: opening a daycare center or group facility

    How Idaho licenses daycare centers and group daycare facilities: the 7-child trigger, the 12-point ratio system, fire and health inspections, fees and renewal.

    Idaho · Child care centerReviewed

  4. Idaho certified family home: certification to care for up to four adults in your own home

    Idaho certified family homes: who must be certified, the two-resident limit and variance, the $150 fee and $25 monthly fee, training, home standards and steps.

    Idaho · Small residential care homeReviewed

  5. Idaho residential assisted living facility (RALF) license: rules, steps and fees

    How Idaho licenses residential assisted living facilities: the three-resident threshold, FLARES application, licensed administrator, staffing and 2026 rule changes.

    Idaho · Assisted living facilityReviewed

  6. Illinois assisted living establishment license: IDPH rules, fees and steps

    How IDPH licenses Illinois assisted living: the 3-resident, 80%-age-55 test, director rules, life safety survey, $2,000 + $20/unit fee, 120-day probationary license.

    Illinois · Assisted living facilityReviewed

  7. Illinois day care center license: permit, staffing and building rules

    How an Illinois child care center gets licensed by the Department of Early Childhood: who needs it, the six-month permit, director and teacher rules, ratios and space.

    Illinois · Child care centerReviewed

  8. Licensing a day care home in Illinois: the IDEC home and group home licenses

    How to get an Illinois day care home or group day care home license from IDEC: the 3-child exemption, capacity by staffing, 15 training hours, radon and lead tests.

    Illinois · Family child care homeReviewed

  9. Illinois home health agency license: IDPH rules, staffing and the Medicare step

    How IDPH licenses Illinois home health agencies: the skilled nursing test, administrator and RN supervisor rules, the $1,500 two-year fee, 240-day provisional license.

    Illinois · Home health agencyReviewed

  10. Illinois home services agency license: opening a non-medical home care agency

    How IDPH licenses non-medical home care in Illinois: who needs a home services agency license, the $1,500 fee, the 240-day provisional license, insurance and training.

    Illinois · Non-medical home care agencyReviewed

  11. Illinois shared housing establishment license: the 16-resident senior home under IDPH

    How to license a shared housing establishment in Illinois: the 16-person and 80%-over-55 tests, the $1,000 IDPH fee, staffing, bathroom ratios and the steps.

    Illinois · Small residential care homeReviewed

  12. Indiana home health agency license: IDOH steps, surveys and the Medicare squeeze

    How IDOH licenses Indiana home health agencies: State Form 4008, the $250 fee, the 90-day provisional license, survey patient counts and Medicaid's Medicare rule.

    Indiana · Home health agencyReviewed

  13. Indiana child care center license: OECOSL rules, ratios and steps

    How to license a child care center in Indiana: the ministry alternative, the ratio chart in force since December 2025, plan review, director rules and inspections.

    Indiana · Child care centerReviewed

  14. Indiana licensed child care home: Class I and Class II licensing

    When Indiana requires a child care home license: Class I vs Class II capacity, CDA and background checks, fire and water standards, I-LEAD steps and the 2027 rewrite.

    Indiana · Family child care homeReviewed

  15. Indiana personal services agency (PSA) license for non-medical home care

    How Indiana licenses non-medical home care under IC 16-27-4: who needs a PSA license, the $250 fee, the nine required policies, background checks and Medicaid waivers.

    Indiana · Non-medical home care agencyReviewed

  16. Indiana residential care facility license: the state route to assisted living

    How IDOH licenses Indiana residential care facilities, the license behind assisted living: when it applies, plans review, fees, staffing, administrators and Medicaid.

    Indiana · Assisted living facilityReviewed

  17. Iowa adult day services program certification: DIAL rules, fees and the CARF route

    How to certify an adult day services program in Iowa under Iowa Code 231D and 481 IAC 70: who needs it, fees, CARF accreditation, staffing, dementia rules and Medicaid.

    Iowa · Adult day careReviewed

  18. Iowa assisted living program certification: DIAL rules, fees and steps

    How DIAL certifies Iowa assisted living programs under chapter 231C: the three-tenant trigger, state plan review, unit sizes, dementia rules, fees and the CARF route.

    Iowa · Assisted living facilityReviewed

  19. Iowa child care center license: HHS rules, ratios and steps

    Licensing a child care center or preschool in Iowa: the 7-child threshold, building and fire approval, the 100-point director rule, ratios, fees and 120-day opening.

    Iowa · Child care centerReviewed

  20. Registering a child development home in Iowa: categories A, B and C

    When Iowa home child care must register, how Categories A, B and C differ in capacity, age, experience and space, plus record checks, training and inspections.

    Iowa · Family child care homeReviewed