Last verified: October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm every figure with AHCCCS and the Arizona Department of Health Services before you file.
Arizona is one of the few states where a private-pay non-medical home care agency needs no state license. That does not mean no rules: Arizona law requires written disclosures to every client, and Medicaid work through AHCCCS has its own registration and caregiver training system. This guide covers both paths.
Quick facts: Arizona home care licensing
| State license | None for non-medical home care (ADHS licenses only home health agencies) |
| Client disclosure law | A.R.S. §36-144, given to every client every year |
| Medicaid registration | AHCCCS, Provider Type 40 (Attendant Care), via the APEP portal |
| Caregiver training (Medicaid) | Direct Care Worker (DCW) training and testing |
| Fingerprint card | DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card, $67, valid 6 years |
| Companion-only license? | No |
Do you need a license for home care in Arizona?
For private-pay personal care or companion care, no. The Arizona Department of Health Services licenses home health agencies (skilled, medical care), not non-medical agencies.
What every private-pay agency must do under A.R.S. §36-144 is give each client a yearly written disclosure covering whether caregivers are background-checked and your criminal-history policy, who supervises staff, what training caregivers get (including CPR and first aid), your services and prices, and how the agreement can be ended.
Step-by-step: how to open a home care agency in Arizona
- Form an LLC with the Arizona Corporation Commission and get an EIN.
- Get insurance: general and professional liability, workers’ comp, and a bond.
- Write your policies and your §36-144 client disclosure form.
- Hire caregivers with background checks (a DPS fingerprint card is best practice) and an APS Registry check.
- Start serving private-pay clients.
- For Medicaid: register with AHCCCS as an Attendant Care agency (Provider Type 40), set up DCW training and testing, set up EVV, then contract with the ALTCS health plans.
How much does it cost?
- No state license fee.
- LLC filing with the Corporation Commission.
- DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card: $67 per caregiver, valid 6 years.
- AHCCCS enrollment costs and DCW training program fees if you take Medicaid; confirm current amounts with AHCCCS.
Budget separately for insurance, payroll for your first caregivers before clients pay, software, and marketing. Licensing is rarely the biggest line. See what it really costs to start a home care agency.
Caregiver requirements in Arizona
- Private pay: no state-mandated training hours, but your §36-144 disclosure must tell clients what training caregivers have.
- AHCCCS: DCW Level I training plus Level II modules, passed within 90 days of hire; in-person CPR and first aid before giving care; 6 hours of continuing education a year.
- AHCCCS: nationwide background check at hire and every 3 years, plus a yearly APS Registry check. CNAs, RNs and LPNs are exempt from DCW testing.
How long does it take?
Private pay can start in a few weeks once you are insured and staffed. AHCCCS registration plus health plan contracts usually take 3 to 6 months.
Medicaid in Arizona
Arizona’s long-term care Medicaid program is ALTCS, run by AHCCCS through contracted health plans. You register in APEP as Provider Type 40 (Attendant Care is required; homemaker, respite and personal care are optional categories), meet DCW training rules and EVV, then credential with each plan. Developmental disability services through DES/DDD are a separate qualified-vendor track.
Comparing states? See the home care license requirements for every state.
Want the full playbook?
I built and run a licensed home care agency in California. The licensing steps differ state to state, but getting clients, hiring good caregivers and managing cash flow work the same way in Arizona. The Home Care Agency Blueprint covers that side in 49 lessons. You can see the syllabus, start with the $29.99 Startup Workbook, or book a free call to map out your Arizona launch.
FAQ
Do I need ADHS approval for private-pay personal care?
No. ADHS licensing applies only to home health agencies that provide medical care.
Do my caregivers need fingerprint cards?
Not by law for private pay, but it is expected in practice, and AHCCCS accepts the card in place of its own criminal check.
Can I bill ALTCS right away?
No. You need AHCCCS registration, DCW training and testing, EVV and contracts with the health plans first.
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