From application to approval, we handle your ADH 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 Arkansas? You need a Private Care Agency License from the Arkansas Department of Health. Plan on 60–120 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $0 and are paid directly to ADH.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Arkansas.
Medicaid Program
ARChoices in Homecare
Plus the Personal Care Program for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Arkansas
Arkansas regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a Private Care Agency License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Private Care Agency License
Arkansas requires non-medical personal care agencies to be licensed as Private Care Agencies through the Arkansas Department of Health.
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:
Private Care Agency License Fee
Timeline:
2-4 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Arkansas Department of Health
How to Get Licensed in Arkansas
Arkansas licensing follows a structured 6-step process through ADH. Our specialists handle all 6 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
SURVEY
5
OPERATIONS
1
Entity & EIN Formation
FOUNDATION
Register your LLC or corporation with the AR Secretary of State. Obtain an EIN from the IRS. Establish a physical office location in Arkansas (required by ADH). Act 853 simplified this — you only need one primary location, not multiple regional offices.
2
Confirm POA Requirement
INSURANCE
If your service model requires a Home Health (Class B) license, you must first obtain a Permit of Approval from the Health Services Permit Agency ($3,000 fee). Private Care Agencies operating strictly under the PCA framework should confirm directly with ADH/HSPA whether a POA applies to their specific model. Do not assume every non-medical startup needs a POA.
3
Administrator Appointment
POLICIES
Appoint a qualified administrator: must be a physician, registered nurse, or have at least one year of supervisory or administrative experience in home health care or related health provider programs.
4
Policy & Training Setup
POLICIES
Develop the 40-hour aide training curriculum (24 hours classroom, 16 hours supervised practical under RN supervision) for ADH approval. Build policies covering client intake, care plans, incident reporting, infection control, and complaint resolution.
5
ADH Licensing Submission
SURVEY
Submit the Private Care Agency application packet to Health Facility Services for review. Include administrator credentials, training curriculum, policies, insurance certificates, and background check documentation.
6
Medicaid Enrollment (If Applicable)
OPERATIONS
If pursuing Medicaid clients (ARChoices, PCA program), apply for Medicaid provider enrollment separately. Note: Act 853 eliminated the old DHS/DPSQA certification — Medicaid enrollment is now a separate process. Personal care providers are classified as high-risk providers by Arkansas Medicaid, which may affect enrollment timelines and requirements.
Why Arkansas 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
Gated, sales-call only
Published online, no surprises
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 Arkansas Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Arkansas state fees ($0 to ADH) are passed through at cost.
Atlas Licensing Kit
Get licensed without mistakes
$995+ state fees
For self-directed founders who want expert guidance and will file the application themselves.
Licensing
Arkansas licensing roadmap
Annotated application guide
Custom P&P manual (state-ready)
Prep tools
Office setup checklist
Bond & insurance sourcing
Admin interview prep
Survey prep guide
Expert support
2 × 60-min strategy calls
Application red-line review
60 days email support
Platform
3 months free Atlas SaaS
Free Carezano directory listing
Upgrade to Launch for
Done-for-you filing
Medicaid enrollment
Website & launch kit
Live survey prep
Most Popular
Atlas Launch
Licensed & ready for first client
$2,995+ state fees
For founders ready to be fully licensed, operational, and taking their first client on day one.
Everything in Licensing Kit, plus:
Application prepared & filed
P&P custom-built for your model
Background check coordination
Surety bond assistance
Site review prep
Live admin interview prep
Survey & enrollment
Live survey prep session
Survey-day on-call support
Medicaid enrollment guidance
Waiver enrollment guidance
50% off plan-of-correction support
Launch setup
Atlas Edge
Branded website landing page
Google Business Profile setup
Caregiver recruitment kit
HR / employee handbook
Intake + care plan templates
Scheduling templates
Support & platform
90 days Slack/email support
6 months free Atlas SaaS
Priority Carezano placement
Licensing approval guarantee
Upgrade to Signature for
Business formation (LLC, EIN)
Full brand + multi-page site
Go-to-market system
Founder-level attention
Atlas Signature
White-glove launch & full setup
$5,995+ state fees
For founders who want direct access, white-glove execution, and long-term support with minimal lift.
Everything in Launch, plus:
LLC formation + EIN
Registered agent (1st year)
Operating agreement
Full brand + web
Logo + branding kit
Business cards + marketing materials
Multi-page website
Domain + professional email
Go-to-market system
First-month marketing plan
Curated referral source list for your area
Discharge planner scripts
Private pay contracts
LTC insurance setup
Premium support
Signature Only
Weekly calls (first 60 days)
Direct phone/text access
Founder-level attention
Extended support
6 months compliance support
12 months free Atlas SaaS
Premium directory placement
First-year renewal included
1 free plan of correction
What are state fees?Hide state fee details
Arkansas charges a state application fee, paid directly to the state licensing body. We don't mark it up.
Every tier includes free time on Home Care Atlas — the operating system for your new agency. This is the part other Arkansas consultancies don't offer.
Arkansas Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Arkansas 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
Does Arkansas require a Permit of Approval for non-medical agencies?
The Permit of Approval (POA) process is clearly required for Home Health (Class B) licenses — those agencies must obtain a POA before applying for licensure. For Private Care Agencies (non-medical personal care), the POA requirement is less clear. Confirm directly with ADH/HSPA whether a POA applies to your specific model before budgeting the $3,000 fee.
What changed with Act 853 of 2025?
Act 853 (HB1439) made several key changes: private care agencies are now licensed by ADH instead of certified by DHS/DPSQA, the requirement for multiple regional offices was removed (only a primary Arkansas location is needed), and personal care providers are now classified as high-risk providers by Arkansas Medicaid.
Can I use an online PCA training course?
Only if it is specifically approved by ADH and includes the mandatory 16 hours of supervised hands-on practical experience directed by an RN.
How long is the license valid?
Applications for license renewal are on a calendar year basis and expire every December 31st.
What qualifications does the administrator need?
The administrator must be a physician, registered nurse, or have at least one year of supervisory or administrative experience in home health care or related health provider programs. There is no standardized hour-based certification course.
Arkansas Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Arkansas requires non-medical personal care agencies to be licensed as Private Care Agencies through the Arkansas Department of Health. This is distinct from the Class B Home Health Agency license (which covers skilled/medical services). Important update: Act 853 of 2025 (HB1439) changed the regulatory framework — private care agencies are now licensed by ADH, and the old DHS/DPSQA certification requirement has been eliminated. Medicaid participation now requires separate provider enrollment, not DHS certification. Act 853 also removed the requirement for private care agencies to maintain multiple regional offices — agencies now only need to maintain a primary office location in Arkansas.
The Private Care Agency License
ADH licenses Private Care Agencies. The old DHS/DPSQA certification requirement was eliminated by Act 853 of 2025. Medicaid participation now requires separate provider enrollment, not DHS certification. The Permit of Approval (POA) process is clearly required for Home Health (Class B) licenses. Private Care Agencies operating strictly under the PCA framework should confirm directly with ADH/HSPA whether a POA applies to their specific model. Do not assume every non-medical startup needs a POA. Act 853 removed the requirement for multiple regional offices. Private care agencies now only need to maintain a primary office physically located in Arkansas. Arkansas also requires required administrator certification (typical cost N/A).
Certificate of Need (CON) in Arkansas
Arkansas 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 — ARChoices in Homecare
The primary waiver for seniors 65+ needing nursing-level care at home.
Common Reasons Arkansas 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 Arkansas Strategy Call
30 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Arkansas licensing for your specific situation, your timeline, and your best path forward — even if you don't hire us.
Which Arkansas license type fits your business model (Private Care Agency License)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether ARChoices in Homecare enrollment makes sense for your plan
Common Arkansas-specific mistakes to avoid
If you'd like, which Atlas package is right for you
No pressure. No obligation. Arkansas-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Arkansas Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Arkansas client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know ADH.
