Nevada Personal Care Agency License Requirements

Current as of October 20, 2026. Based only on official Nevada sources, cited throughout. Plain-English summary, not legal advice.

This page explains what Nevada’s rules require of a personal care agency, both to get licensed and to stay licensed. It covers who needs a license, the people you hire, training, background checks, money requirements, policies, client paperwork and renewal.

It is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Each rule links to the official text. If you are still at the planning stage, start with how to start a home care agency in Nevada.

A note on the rules themselves. The statutes are now in NRS 449B. The detailed regulations are still in NAC 449.396 to 449.3982, which “continue in effect until amended or repealed” under the 2025 law (AB 519, sec. 147). As of October 20, 2026, we found no new NAC 449B regulations. If new rules are adopted, some details below could change [VERIFY].

Who needs a license

You need a license to operate an “agency to provide personal care services in the home” in Nevada (NRS 449B.100). The law defines that as any person other than a natural person that provides personal care services to elderly people or people with disabilities in the home (NRS 449B.015).

Personal care services include help with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, meals, laundry, shopping, cleaning, transportation and other minor hygiene needs (NRS 449B.050).

The definition does not cover:

• an independent contractor who works without employees;
• certain groups of family and friends who arrange care for one person or family;
• intermediary service organizations; and
• certain respite contractors of the Aging and Disability Services Division (NRS 449B.015).

Operating without a license is a misdemeanor. A court may impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for a first offense and $10,000 to $25,000 for a later offense (NRS 449B.485).

What attendants may and may not do

Your caregivers (the rules call them “attendants”) give non-medical help with activities of daily living (NRS 449B.465). The regulations list services an attendant must not provide. Examples include (NAC 449.3978):

• inserting or irrigating a catheter;
• giving injections or medication, except as another rule allows (NAC 449.39775);
• doing physical assessments;
• trimming or cutting toenails;
• massage; and
• medical case management, such as relaying medical information to or from a doctor.

Your policies and client paperwork must spell these limits out.

The administrator

The administrator runs the agency day to day. The rule says the administrator must (NAC 449.3973):

• be at least 18;
• have a high school diploma or the equivalent;
• be responsible and mature;
• understand the personal care rules; and
• be able to read, write, speak and understand English.

The administrator must also appoint someone to exercise their authority when they are absent. Their listed duties include hiring and training qualified staff, making sure only trained attendants serve clients, keeping financial records, writing policies and preventing abuse, neglect and exploitation (NAC 449.3973).

Attendant (caregiver) requirements

Before working alone. Each attendant must receive a copy of the regulations and a working knowledge of them. They must also complete a training program that includes supervised on-the-job instruction (NAC 449.3977).

The required topics include documenting services and time records, client rights and confidentiality, the needs of older adults and people with disabilities, communication skills, first aid and CPR, and ten service topics. Those service topics include emergencies, nutrition, skin care, fall prevention, infection control and safe transfers. Each attendant must then be evaluated and found competent.

Personnel files. Keep a separate file for each attendant (NAC 449.3976). It should hold:

• contact information and start date;
• TB records;
• proof that you checked their references;
• background check records;
• the CPR/first aid certificate and proof of age;
• auto insurance, if they drive clients; and
• all training records and performance evaluations.

Each training record must show the course content, date, hours, the instructor’s name and signature, and a certificate of completion.

Who pays. The agency pays training costs. It also pays the employee’s wage for training time and travel (NAC 449.39735).

Required training at a glance

• Elder abuse prevention. The applicant completes it before a license is issued, then every year before renewal. The administrator and every caregiver complete it before providing care, then every year. The agency pays (NRS 449B.225).
• Cultural competency. Staff take an approved course within 90 days after hire, then at least 2 hours every two years (Initial Inspection Workbook, tag 0640; NRS 449B.280). Approved courses are listed on the state’s Training & Education page.
• Infection control.
  • Name a primary and a secondary person responsible for infection control. Each completes at least 15 hours of training within 3 months of being named, then every year (Initial Inspection Workbook, NAC 449.0109).
  • Unlicensed caregivers take infection control training every year.

Background checks

Owners. Each applicant submits fingerprints for a state and FBI check (NRS 449B.300). Every owner with 10% or more ownership must complete a background check (state licensing checklist).

Employees. Within 10 days after hiring an employee, accepting a temp worker or signing an independent contractor, you must (NRS 449B.310):

• get their written statement about criminal convictions, and confirm it orally and in writing;
• get proof of any license or certificate they need; and
• collect and submit their fingerprints.

Repeat the check at least every 5 years. You may recover no more than half of the fingerprint fee from the employee, and you must let them pay it over time.

The state says agencies must use the Nevada Automated Background Check System (NABS). You can open your Department of Public Safety fingerprint account only after you are licensed (background check page).

Surety bond and insurance

The surety bond is filed with your application and again at each renewal (NRS 449B.185):

The state checklist page says “7-24” for the middle range, which differs from the statute. Confirm with the Division if you are at 25 employees [VERIFY].

The bond protects clients 60 and older against property damage. If coverage lapses, the license is suspended by operation of law. In place of a bond, you may deposit approved financial obligations (NRS 449B.190).

You must also keep proof that you are adequately covered against liabilities (NAC 449.3972). We found no official minimum coverage amount, so ask your insurer and the Division [VERIFY].

Written policies

The regulation requires written policies covering 13 topics (NAC 449.3974):

1. Attendant duties.
2. Prohibited activities. This includes borrowing from or accepting gifts of money from clients, and becoming a client’s guardian or attorney-in-fact.
3. Client rights.
4. Ethics and confidentiality.
5. Infection control.
6. The services you offer.
7. How you assign and supervise attendants.
8. How you document client needs and services.
9. Emergency responses.
10. Coordination with other community agencies.
11. Performance evaluations.
12. Personnel records.
13. Any special populations you serve.

Other required items:

• An infection control plan, updated every year, with a copy given to every employee or contractor and every client (NRS 449B.220).
• At least a 30-day supply of PPE, plus a supplier contract (Initial Inspection Workbook, tags 0910–0915).
• An anti-discrimination policy, and the legally worded nondiscrimination statement posted on your marketing website (NRS 449B.260).

Client paperwork

Disclosure statement. When you accept a client, give them a written disclosure statement, have them or their representative sign it, and keep a copy (NAC 449.3979). It must cover:

• that managing unstable medical conditions is outside your license;
• caregiver qualifications;
• charges, billing and how you give notice of price increases;
• when services can end;
• how to reach the administrator during service hours, and your on-call policy; and
• client rights and your grievance process.

Client rights. Give each client a written list of rights and keep their signed, dated receipt. The list must include the right to receive the state’s complaint phone number. You also need a grievance and complaint procedure, and you must tell clients what action you took (NAC 449.398).

Screening and service plan. Before services start, the administrator or designee screens the client and develops (or accepts) a service plan, signed and dated. You then review the plan, the schedule, the no-show procedure and the prohibited services with the client (NAC 449.3981).

Supervisory visits or calls. These are documented, signed and dated. Each one checks five things, including whether safe techniques were used and whether the plan is meeting the client’s needs (NAC 449.3982).

Renewal

• A license expires on December 31 after it is issued. Each renewal must include statements that you comply with the background check and elder abuse training rules (NRS 449B.210).
• Renewal applications are due by November 15. Filing late costs an extra half of the renewal fee. If the license expires before you file, you start over with a new application (NAC 449.0116).
• The renewal fee is $687, plus a 6% fee (NAC 449.013). Confirm the current amount before paying [VERIFY].

Changing your agency’s name or administrator requires a new-license application and a $250 fee (NAC 449.0168).

Put it into practice

Our Nevada Starter Forms Pack ($29) includes editable intake, service agreement, timesheet, incident report and training log templates. Treat them as a starting point to review against these rules.

When you are ready to file, use the Nevada license application checklist. Questions about how a rule applies to you are best directed to the Division at (702) 486-6515 (official program page).