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Home care staff requirements in Colorado

Colorado licenses home care agencies that provide skilled home health services or non-medical personal care, and requires home care placement agencies to register. Every agency must run a Colorado criminal history check within 90 days before hire and a CAPS adult protective services check before direct care, and non-medical homemakers and personal care workers must finish training and pass a hands-on competency check before working alone. Ongoing training is set by number of topics per year, and supervisors must check on non-medical workers every three months with an in-person visit each year.

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Licenses

A home care agency is any entity that offers skilled home health services or personal care services in a client's home (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 2.10).
Colorado's home care agency rule has separate requirements for skilled care agencies and non-medical personal care agencies (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Parts 6 and 7).
A home care placement agency must hold a separate home care placement agency registration from the Department (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 3.1(A)).
Home care agencies must also follow Colorado's general licensure standards in 6 CCR 1011-1 Chapter 2 (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 1.2).

Background checks

Every applicant for employment must submit to a criminal history record check that at minimum searches Colorado records and is done no more than 90 days before employment (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.9(C)).
When deciding whether to hire someone with a conviction, the agency must consider the history, seriousness and age of the crimes, any mitigating circumstances, and the job (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.9(C)(4)).
Before employing anyone to give direct care, the agency must comply with the Colorado Adult Protective Services (CAPS) data system check (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.9(D)).
Before employing anyone to give direct care, the agency must verify with DORA whether the person holds a license, registration or certification in good standing, and file a copy in the personnel file (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.9(E)).

Training and competency

Non-medical homemakers must complete interactive initial training and pass a competency evaluation with visual observation before giving care, covering topics such as duties, abuse reporting, client rights, home safety, infection control and communication (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 7.3).
Homemakers must complete at least four training topics every 12 months (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 7.3(C)(3)).
Personal care workers must complete the homemaker training plus personal care topics such as help with bathing, dressing, transfers, toileting and medication reminders, and pass a competency evaluation and skills validation before giving care (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 7.4).
Personal care workers and their supervisors must complete at least six training topics every 12 months, including abuse prevention, emergency procedures, infection control, and basic first aid and home safety (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 7.4(C)(4)).
In skilled care agencies, direct care staff must receive ongoing training on at least 12 topics every 12 months, including client rights and abuse prevention, behavior management, emergency procedures and infection control (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 6.6(D)).
Each nurse aide in a skilled agency must be certified by DORA within four months of starting work and must pass a competency assessment with direct observation before assignment (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 6.13(B)-(C)).
All staff must be trained on the agency's infection prevention and control policies at hire and at least once a year (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.13(A)).
All training records must show the date, length, instructor or source, content, and the worker's signature or proof of attendance (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 7.6).

Health screening

The agency must have written policies on pre-employment physical evaluations and staff health, including work restrictions for direct care staff with a communicable illness (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.13(C)).

Also in the personnel file

Personnel records must include references, dates of employment and separation, current qualifications and licenses, orientation, job descriptions, and an annual performance evaluation (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.9(B)).
Supervision of homemakers and personal care workers must happen at least every three months, in person or by telehealth, and in person at least once a year with observation of tasks (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Parts 7.8 and 7.9).
In skilled agencies, nurse aides caring for clients who also get professional care must have a supervisory visit at least every two weeks, with direct observation in the home at least every 60 days (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 6.13(D)(1)(e)).
Nurse aides caring for clients who do not get professional care must have a supervisory visit in the home with the aide present at least every 60 days (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 6.13(D)(1)(f)).

Common questions

What background checks do home care aides need in Colorado?

Every applicant for employment must submit to a criminal history record check that at minimum searches Colorado records and is done no more than 90 days before employment (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.9(C)).

How much training do home care aides need in Colorado?

Non-medical homemakers must complete interactive initial training and pass a competency evaluation with visual observation before giving care, covering topics such as duties, abuse reporting, client rights, home safety, infection control and communication (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 7.3).

What health screening do home care workers in Colorado need?

The agency must have written policies on pre-employment physical evaluations and staff health, including work restrictions for direct care staff with a communicable illness (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 5.13(C)).

Which license does a home care agency need in Colorado?

A home care agency is any entity that offers skilled home health services or personal care services in a client's home (6 CCR 1011-1 Ch. 26, Part 2.10).

Some rules for Colorado weren't confirmed from an official source. Check with the state before relying on this page.

Sources

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.

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