Becoming a Care Provider

Before You Apply

Generally, applicants must:

✓ Be at least 18 years old
✓ Be legally authorized to work in the United States
✓ Live in Oregon or a nearby state
✓ Complete the application and enrollment process
✓ Complete a background check
✓ Complete the orientation and training required for their provider role

Requirements and application procedures can change. Always review the current official application guide for your provider type.

Choose Your Provider Role

🏠 Homecare Worker (HCW)

Homecare Workers provide in-home support for older adults and people with physical disabilities who receive services through Oregon’s aging and disability programs.

This may be the right role if the person you want to support works with an ODHS or Area Agency on Aging office.

💜 Personal Support Worker (PSW)

A PSW supports children or adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The person is generally connected to a CDDP, Brokerage, or CIIS program. 

🤝 Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

A PCA provides in-home support for someone receiving eligible behavioral-health services. Comagine Health helps applicants begin this enrollment process.

💼 Personal Support Worker Job Coach

A PSW Job Coach provides workplace support to help a person with an intellectual or developmental disability learn their job and succeed at work.

Applicants generally complete PSW enrollment and the additional Job Coach requirements.

What Happens After You Apply?

1. Your application is reviewed.

2. Your background check is processed.

3. You complete the required orientation and training.

4. You receive a provider number after enrollment is approved.

5. Once you are fully enrolled and have your provider number, you may begin looking for authorized work or complete the hiring process with someone who wants to employ you. 

Processing times vary. Watch your email and mail carefully, and respond promptly when an office requests additional information. 

Keeping Your Provider Enrollment Active

Getting a provider number is not the final step. Providers must keep required enrollment information, credentials, background-check clearance, and contact information current.

How Do I Renew My Provider Number?

Renewal procedures depend on your provider type and program. Watch your email and regular mail for notices, and begin the requested steps promptly. Do not assume that renewing your background check completes every provider-enrollment requirement.

• HCWs: Contact the local ODHS or Area Agency on Aging office responsible for your enrollment.

• PSWs: Contact your CDDP, Brokerage, CIIS program, personal agent, service coordinator, or other case-management program. You may also use the official ODHS PSW resources for enrollment and renewal information.

• PCAs: Contact the PCA Program or Comagine Health for instructions specific to your enrollment.

If you are uncertain about a deadline or the documents you need, a Provider Navigator can help you identify the correct office and keep track of renewal requirements.

Important: Renewal dates and procedures can change. Follow the dates and instructions in your official enrollment, credential, and background-check notices.

Who Should I List as My Employer?

The person receiving services—or their authorized representative—is generally called your consumer-employer because they direct your day-to-day work. However, their name may not be the employer name required on tax, income-verification, housing, loan, or benefits paperwork.

Use the employer information shown on your official W-2, paystub, payroll record, or instructions from the responsible payroll or provider program. Do not list My Homecare Companion or SEIU 503 as your employer.

If the form is unclear, ask the organization requesting the information what type of employer information it needs before submitting it.

Working for Family Members or Multiple Consumers

Can I Get Paid to Support a Family Member or Friend?

In many cases, yes. A person who receives approved in-home services may be able to select a qualified family member or friend as their paid care provider.

The provider must still complete the application, background-check, enrollment, orientation, and training requirements for the appropriate provider type. The person receiving services must also have authorized services and hours before paid work can begin.

Some relationships or programs have additional restrictions. For example, a Personal Support Worker generally cannot provide paid services to their own child until the child is at least 18 years old. Confirm eligibility with the person’s case manager, personal agent, service coordinator, local ODHS or Area Agency on Aging office, or applicable program before beginning work.

Can I Work for More Than One Consumer?

Providers may be able to work for more than one consumer if they are active and approved to work for each person. A provider number or background-check approval may sometimes include restrictions that limit which consumers the provider may serve.

Each consumer’s authorized services, hours, schedule, service documentation, and time entries must be handled separately. Record only the time actually worked for each consumer, and never claim the same time for more than one consumer.

Before accepting additional work, confirm that you are approved for that consumer and that the schedule does not conflict with your other authorized work.

Still Not Sure Where to Begin?

You do not have to figure it out alone. The Provider Navigator Program offers new and current providers up to 20 hours of free, personalized assistance. 

Is something on this page outdated or incorrect?

Please let us know so we can keep My Homecare Companion accurate and up to date for Oregon care providers.