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Home care staff requirements by state
What each state's licensing rules ask of home care and home health agencies for their aides and caregivers: background checks, training hours, TB screening and the rest of the personnel file. Pick your state; every line links to the rule.
Federal rules set a floor only for Medicare-certified home health agencies and hospices: aide training and competency evaluation, 12 hours of in-service training a year and on-site supervision (42 CFR 484.80 and 418.76). Private-duty home care is licensed by each state, and the rules differ widely: some states want fingerprint checks and registry searches before the first shift, set entry-level training hours and yearly continuing education, or require TB screening at hire.
Each state page lists what that state's licensing rules ask for, with the rule cited for every line and a link to the official source, plus links to the state's background check and drug testing law pages. Your license type decides what applies, so check the source and your licensing agency.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
This page summarizes state licensing rules in plain words, with links to the rules themselves. It is not legal advice, rules change, and your license type decides what applies: check the linked source and your licensing agency. Medicare-certified home health agencies also follow 42 CFR 484.80. Checked October 2026.