Skip to content
CareRulebook
MenuClose

Where are you starting?

United StatesTexas, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Washington
TexasManual
Build your Texas policy manualPreview free, then $199 founding price
North CarolinaManual
Build your North Carolina policy manualPreview free, then $199 founding price
GeorgiaManual
Build your Georgia policy manualPreview free, then $199 founding price
VirginiaManual
Build your Virginia policy manualPreview free, then $199 founding price
IndianaManual
Build your Indiana policy manualPreview free, then $199 founding price
OhioGuide
IllinoisManual
Build your Illinois policy manualPreview free, then $199 founding price
WashingtonGuideAll US states →
United KingdomEngland
EnglandPack
Build your CQC registration packPreview free, then £119 founding price
ScotlandSoonWalesSoonNorthern IrelandSoonAll UK nations →
Free toolsChecklists, calculators and templates
Rule-change trackerHow we verify rulesCorrections logTerms and refunds

Indiana · Personal services agency license · Free checklist

Indiana home care license checklist

Every step to an Indiana personal services agency license, from your business documents and owner background checks to the IDOH Gateway, your first hires and clients, and yearly renewal, each with the rule or IDOH document it comes from. Answer a few questions to tailor it, tick steps off as you go and email it to yourself.

Tailor my checklistIndiana guide
  • Rule-verified October 2, 2026
  • 43 steps, each cited
  • Free, no account
A founder in a green sweater ticks a handwritten list headed Before I apply, reading Gateway access, Owner background checks, 9 policies + 7 forms and $250 IDOH fee, beside a CareRulebook binder in a small office looking out on a parking lot

Quick answer

To provide non-medical home care in Indiana for pay, including companion and homemaker services, you need a personal services agency (PSA) license from the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) (IC 16-27-4-6(a)). You apply in the IDOH Gateway and pay $250 with each application, IDOH’s fee, not a CareRulebook price (IC 16-27-4-6(d)).

IDOH’s application form asks for nine policies and seven forms and says it approves the documents before it issues a license (State Form 53391), so they are written before you apply. The license lasts one year, and renewal opens in the Gateway 60 days before it expires (IDOH program page).

Rule-verified, checked against official sources on October 2, 2026

Steps that say "the law requires" come from the Indiana Code. Steps that say "IDOH’s form", "IDOH’s letter" or "IDOH asks" come from IDOH’s application forms (revised 2018), its instruction letter (2022) or its requirements document (2024). The statute says the application may not require information beyond IC 16-27-4 (IC 16-27-4-6(d)); IDOH’s form, letter and requirements document are what it has published about what it reviews. How the two fit together →

Tailor your checklist

Five quick questions

Your answers stay in this browser. The checklist below updates as you answer.

What will your agency do for clients?
Will your caregivers do either of these?

Tick any that apply. Leave blank if neither.

Who will pay for the care?
Does either of these apply?

Leave blank for one office in Indiana.

What have you already done?

Tick any that apply.

Your checklist

Showing the steps for a new private-pay agency giving attendant care, homemaker and companion services from one Indiana office. Answer the questions above to tailor it.

Before you apply

  1. IC 16-27-4-6(a)Which Indiana license do you need? →

  2. State Form 53391, Section II.D and Section VIIII

  3. Instruction letter, Agency's Name

  4. Instruction letter, Address of the Personal services agencyOffice and premises rules →

  5. IC 16-27-4-9(a)

  6. State Form 53391, Section III

  7. IC 16-27-4-14

  8. IC 16-27-2-3(a)Criminal history checks →

  9. State Form 53391, Section VIIII, Criminal History Check

  10. IC 20-26-2-1.5

  11. State Form 53391, Section VIII, items 1-9The nine policies and seven forms →

  12. Instruction letter, Policy and Procedure RequirementsHow IDOH wants them laid out →

Apply in the IDOH Gateway

  1. PSA Licensing Program page, Register for GatewayThe Gateway, step by step →

  2. PSA Licensing Program page, Initial Licensure steps 3-10

  3. PSA Licensing Program page, Contact (mailto:PSA@health.IN.gov)

  4. IC 16-27-4-6(d)

While IDOH reviews it

  1. Instruction letter, Checking the Status of your Submission

  2. IC 16-27-4-6(e)

  3. IC 16-27-4-23

Once you are licensed: your first staff and clients

  1. IC 16-27-4-6(h)

  2. IC 16-27-2-4(a)

  3. IC 16-27-2-5(c)

  4. 410 IAC 17-12-1(i)(1)-(2)

  5. IC 16-27-4-16(b)

  6. IC 16-27-4-16(d)

  7. IC 16-27-4-10

  8. IC 16-27-4-12

Every year, and when things change

  1. IC 16-27-4-11

  2. 410 IAC 17-12-1(i)(4)

  3. PSA Licensing Program page, License RenewalRenewal timing, in full →

  4. State Form 53591, page 2

  5. State Form 53591, page 1

  6. IDOH-HCBC/PSA-1 (2024), Agency Changes; IC 16-27-4-17(a)(3)

  7. IC 16-27-4-18

  8. IC 16-27-4-6(h)

Email me this checklist

We send the checklist with your answers and a link back to it. Nothing else unless you tick the box.

See our privacy notice. Reply to any email to stop them.

A laptop showing a preview of the Indiana Personal Services Agency Policy and Procedure Manual for a sample agency, open at policy 1.9, Client rights statement, citing IC 16-27-4-12.

CareRulebook

Tick off “write the policies” from your answers

Answer a few questions about your agency and CareRulebook writes the nine policies and seven forms IDOH’s form lists, in IDOH’s order, with your details filled in, then the policies you keep on file, with the rule quoted under each in the full manual. You also get a separate IDOH upload set: section 1’s policies and forms, each on its own page, without the rule text or Recommended practice.

  • 18 policies, 80 requirements mapped
  • Free preview before you pay
  • Editable Word and PDF, plus the IDOH upload set
  • 12 months of updates: download again after a rule change
Preview your manual

$199CareRulebook founding price for the first 50 Indiana agencies, then $249. Not an IDOH fee.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to get a home care license in Indiana?

A personal services agency (PSA) license from the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH). The law requires a manager and a 24-hour phone for clients. IDOH’s application form also asks for your Secretary of State and IRS documents, an alternate manager, lifetime criminal history reports for the owners, officers and managers, and nine policies with seven forms. You apply in the IDOH Gateway and pay IDOH’s $250 fee.

Do I need a license for companion care in Indiana?

Yes. Personal services include homemaker services (housekeeping, shopping, laundry, meals, cleaning) and companion services (fellowship, care and protection, transportation, letter writing, mail reading and escort), so a business that provides or offers them for pay needs the license. The exceptions are narrow, for example an individual serving only family, or no more than 3 people per home and 7 at a time.

How long does an Indiana PSA license take?

We found no processing time published by IDOH. Its 2022 instruction letter says applications are reviewed in the order received and that IDOH does not accept requests for immediate review. Our suggestion: have every document ready before you start the Gateway application.

Can Medicaid waiver clients be served under a new PSA license?

Not yet for a new provider. Since August 1, 2026, Indiana Medicaid is not certifying or enrolling new providers of Attendant Care, Home and Community Assistance and other waiver services, for an initial six months that it may extend. The bulletin does not mention the IDOH license or private-pay clients.

When can I start serving clients?

Not before IDOH issues your license: knowingly or intentionally operating or advertising an unlicensed personal services agency is a Class A misdemeanor. Once you are licensed, each caregiver needs a TB test and, for attendant care, a competency check for each task before doing it without direct agency supervision, and you apply for their criminal history check within 3 business days of their first home visit.

Is this checklist free?

Yes. It is free to use and to email to yourself. It is guidance, not legal advice, so check each step against the rule or IDOH document it links to.

Get Indiana rule-change alerts

We watch IC 16-27-4, IDOH’s forms and Gateway pages, the home health TB rule (410 IAC 17) that IDOH has proposed to readopt, and the Medicaid waiver moratorium. Leave your email and we will tell you when an Indiana change affects your checklist or your policies.

No spam. Only emails about Indiana personal services agency rule changes and the Medicaid waiver moratorium. How we use your email.

Keep reading

Indiana

How to start a home care agency in Indiana

The full guide behind this checklist.

Indiana

The Indiana license application

The IDOH Gateway step by step, the documents and renewal timing.

Product

Build your Indiana policy manual

The nine policies and seven forms IDOH asks for, preview free.

Indiana

Indiana caregiver background checks

The 3-day and 21-day rules and the reports for owners and managers.

Indiana

Home health vs home care in Indiana

When you need a home health agency license instead of a PSA license.

Indiana

Indiana license cost and timeline

IDOH’s fee, the costs the law requires without setting a price, and the timeline.

Illinois

Illinois license checklist

The same tool for an IDPH home services agency license.

North Carolina

North Carolina license checklist

The same tool for a DHSR home care license, also reviewed before licensing.

Georgia

Georgia license checklist

The same tool for a Georgia private home care license.

Virginia

Virginia license checklist

The same tool for a Virginia home care organization license.

Texas

Texas license checklist

The same tool for a Texas HCSSA license.

Sources

  1. IC 16-27-4, Licensure of Personal Services Agencies (Indiana Code 2026 edition) · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  2. IC 16-27-2, Criminal History of Home Health Care Operators and Workers (Indiana Code 2026 edition, as amended by P.L.171-2025 and P.L.85-2026) · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  3. IC 16-27-2 as printed in the Indiana Code 2024 edition (before P.L.171-2025) · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  4. House Enrolled Act 1457 (2025), P.L.171-2025 · Indiana General Assembly (iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  5. House Enrolled Act 1258 (2026), P.L.85-2026 · Indiana General Assembly (iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  6. IC 16-18-2, definitions for Title 16 ("attendant care services", "personal services", "state department") · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  7. IC 16-27-1, Licensure of Home Health Agencies · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  8. IC 12-10-3, Adult Protective Services · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  9. IC 35-46-1-13, failure to report battery, neglect or exploitation of an endangered adult · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  10. IC 35-31.5-2-79, "Crime of violence" (as amended by P.L.85-2026) · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  11. IC 31-33-5, Duty to Report Child Abuse or Neglect, and IC 31-33-22-1 · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  12. IC 20-26-2-1.5, "Expanded criminal history check" · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  13. IC 10-13-3-12 and IC 10-13-3-39, national criminal history background checks · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  14. IC 12-10-17.1, Individuals in Need of Self-Directed In-Home Care · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  15. IC 12-10-15, Filing Disclosure Documents for Housing With Services Establishments · Indiana General Assembly (Indiana Code, iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  16. 410 IAC 17, Home Health Agencies (2026 edition), including the tuberculosis rule at 410 IAC 17-12-1(i) · Indiana Department of Health (Indiana Administrative Code, iar.iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  17. 455 IAC 2, Home and Community Based Services (2026 edition) · Family and Social Services Administration (Indiana Administrative Code, iar.iga.in.gov) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  18. LSA Document #25-758, readoption of IDOH rules including 410 IAC 17 (notice of December 3, 2025; readoption review and public comment notice of September 9, 2026) · Indiana Department of Health (Indiana Register) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  19. Personal Care Services Agency (PSA) Licensing Program (page last updated September 1, 2026) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  20. Personal Care Services Agency (PSA) Licensing Program (archived copy of May 18, 2026) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  21. Personal Service Agency License Requirements, policy IDOH-HCBC/PSA-1 (effective March 26, 2024) · Indiana Department of Health, Division of Home and Community Based Care · retrieved October 2, 2026
  22. Application for License to Operate a Personal Services Agency, State Form 53391 (R4 / 9-18) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  23. Renewal Application for License to Operate a Personal Services Agency, State Form 53591 (R3 / 9-18) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  24. Initial Application for License to Operate a Personal Services Agency: instruction letter (last updated August 2022) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  25. Criminal History Checks: State Statutes IC 16-27-2 and IC 20-26-2-1.5 (letter to PSA applicants, last updated August 2022) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  26. Personal Care Services Agency (PSA) Facility Directory, statewide (posted September 24, 2026) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  27. Home and Community-Based Care (division page, last updated April 16, 2026) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  28. Report a Complaint (last updated June 29, 2026) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  29. Facility-Reported Incidents · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  30. Program Advisory Letter AC-2019-01-HHA, Tuberculosis Prevention Requirement for Home Health Agencies (effective December 1, 2019) · Indiana State Department of Health, Acute Care Division · retrieved October 2, 2026
  31. Home Health Agency (HHA) Licensing and Certification Program (last updated September 28, 2026) · Indiana Department of Health · retrieved October 2, 2026
  32. Adult Protective Services · Indiana Family and Social Services Administration · retrieved October 2, 2026
  33. Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline · Indiana Department of Child Services · retrieved October 2, 2026
  34. IHCP Bulletin BT2026124: IHCP receives approval for an HCBS provider certification and enrollment moratorium (July 23, 2026) · Indiana Health Coverage Programs (Indiana Medicaid) · retrieved October 2, 2026
  35. Medicaid HCBS Certification · Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning · retrieved October 2, 2026
  36. OMPP HCBS Certification: Required Document Definitions (last updated August 25, 2025) · Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning · retrieved October 2, 2026
  37. Attendant Care (ATTC) service definition (last updated August 25, 2025) · Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning · retrieved October 2, 2026
  38. QSO-26-11-HHA & Hospice: Six-Month National Moratoria on Hospice and Home Health Agency Enrollment (May 20, 2026) · Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · retrieved October 2, 2026
Build your Indiana manualfrom $199