From application to approval, we handle your HHSC 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 Texas? You need a Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA) from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Plan on 120–180 days for provisional approval plus an on-site survey. State filing fees total $2,625 and are paid directly to HHSC.
Non-medical home care agencies do not require a CON in Texas.
Medicaid Program
STAR+PLUS
Plus the Community First Choice (CFC) for qualifying providers.
Home Care License Type in Texas
Texas regulates home-based care under several license categories. Most new founders start with a HCSSA License for non-medical care, then add skilled services later if they choose.
NON-MEDICAL
Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA)
Texas manages all home-based care under the HCSSA umbrella.
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:
$2,625 application fee
Timeline:
4-6 Months for provisional approval
Regulator:
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
How to Get Licensed in Texas
Texas licensing follows a structured 8-step process through HHSC. Our specialists handle all 8 steps in the Launch and Signature packages; in the Licensing Kit, you handle the submission yourself with our expert guidance.
120–180 days from start to provisional approval
1
FOUNDATION
2
POLICIES
3
SURVEY
4
APPLICATION
5
PROCESS
1
Entity Formation & NPI
FOUNDATION
File LLC with Texas Secretary of State and secure your National Provider Identifier (NPI) for billing.
2
Administrator Training (8 Hours Pre-Application)
POLICIES
Administrator and Alternate must complete 8 hours of initial educational training before applying. Providers like TBOSC offer this for ~$179. An additional 16 hours must be completed within the first 12 months of licensure (24 hours total).
3
HHSC Presurvey CBT
SURVEY
Administrator and Alternate must complete the mandatory computer-based training: Module 1 (Introduction), Module 2 (General HCSSA Requirements), and Module 3 (PAS-specific). Pass quizzes and save certificates for the TULIP portal.
4
Office Setup & Compliance
APPLICATION
Lease a commercial space with a dedicated, private, lockable office. Shared office facilities (e.g., Regus) are permitted if you have a private suite — open coworking or virtual mailboxes will not pass survey. Ensure trash disposal and sanitation meet HHSC health standards. Set up locked file cabinets for HIPAA-compliant record storage.
5
TULIP Application Submission
APPLICATION
Submit HCSSA application through the TULIP online portal (the exclusive application system). Include comprehensive Policy & Procedure Manual and proof of insurance.
6
Background & Review Phase
SURVEY
HHSC conducts fingerprinting and character reviews for all controlling interests.
7
License Issuance & Soft Launch
PROCESS
License is issued. You can now legally market and recruit caregivers.
8
The First-Client Survey
SURVEY
Admit your first client, notify the state via Form 2020, and prepare for an unannounced inspection.
Why Texas 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 Texas Agency Licensed
Pick the level of support that matches how hands-on you want to be. Texas state fees ($2,625 to HHSC) are passed through at cost.
Atlas Licensing Kit
Get licensed without mistakes
$1,495+ state fees
For self-directed founders who want expert guidance and will file the application themselves.
Licensing
Texas 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
$3,995+ 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
$7,995+ 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
Texas 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 Texas consultancies don't offer.
Texas Licensing Workspace
Track your application, documents, and deadlines in one dashboard. Your Atlas specialist works in the same view you do.
Custom Texas 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
Can I use a virtual office address for my HCSSA license?
No. You must have a physical commercial location where files are stored. Shared office facilities like Regus are allowed only if you have a dedicated, private, lockable office within them. Open coworking desks and virtual mailbox memberships will not pass survey.
How much administrator training is needed before I can apply?
8 hours of initial educational training are required before application/designation. An additional 16 hours must be completed within the first 12 months of licensure (24 hours total). Both the Administrator and Alternate Administrator must complete this training. Providers like TBOSC offer the initial 8-hour course for approximately $179.
What is the TULIP portal?
TULIP is the exclusive online portal for submitting HCSSA license applications to HHSC. All applications, supporting documents, and CBT certificates are submitted through TULIP. No mailed or emailed submissions are accepted.
How long does the NPI number take to get?
Average is 1-2 weeks, but with professional assistance, it can be secured in as little as 5 days.
What happens during the initial survey?
An inspector visits your office unannounced after you admit your first client. They will audit your personnel files, policy manual, and client records for state compliance.
Is a surety bond required for HCSSA licensure?
A surety bond is not a standard HCSSA licensing requirement. However, specific Medicaid MCO contracts may require bonding as a condition of participation. Confirm with individual MCOs if you plan to serve Medicaid clients.
Texas Home Care Licensing: What You Need to Know
Texas manages all home-based care under the HCSSA umbrella. For non-medical agencies, you will apply for the Personal Assistance Services (PAS) category. All applications are submitted exclusively through the TULIP online portal. Texas sets a high bar for initial education with mandatory computer-based training (CBT) and requires a physical, commercial office that meets specific sanitary and security standards before a license is granted.
The Home and Community Support Services Agency (HCSSA)
All HCSSA applications must be submitted through the TULIP online portal. This is the only accepted method — no mailed or emailed submissions. Administrators must complete 3 modules (Module 1: Introduction, Module 2: General HCSSA Requirements, Module 3: PAS-specific) and pass quizzes on state regulations before the application is deemed complete. You must admit your first client within 6 months of licensure or the HHSC will shut down the agency for non-activity. Texas also requires 8-hour administrator certification (typical cost $150 - $800).
Certificate of Need (CON) in Texas
Texas 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 — STAR+PLUS
Managed care program for seniors. Requires MCO contracting (United, Amerigroup, etc.).
The HHSC On-Site Survey
Commercial Office Mandate. Must be a physical commercial address with a locked door and locked file cabinets for HIPAA-compliant record storage. Shared office facilities (e.g., Regus) are permitted only if you have a dedicated, private, lockable office — open coworking desks or virtual mailbox memberships will not pass survey.
Common Reasons Texas 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 Texas Strategy Call
30 minutes with a home care specialist. We'll map out Texas licensing for your specific situation, your timeline, and your best path forward — even if you don't hire us.
Which Texas license type fits your business model (Home and Community Support Services Agency)
Your realistic timeline and budget
Whether STAR+PLUS enrollment makes sense for your plan
Common Texas-specific mistakes to avoid
If you'd like, which Atlas package is right for you
No pressure. No obligation. Texas-specific guidance either way.
Your Future Texas Clients Are Already Looking for Care.
Every week you spend piecing this together alone is a week you're not serving your first Texas client. Let's get your agency licensed, launched, and visible — with people on your side who know HHSC.
