How to apply for a home care position

Starting a career in home care is easy. Each job has its own application, but the steps are similar.

  • Choose one or more roles that fit you. If you’re unsure, take our Role Finder Quiz to learn more about each role.
  • You may find that you want to apply for multiple roles, which is encouraged.
  • Follow the steps to complete the application, background check and required training.

Step 1. Confirm your role and check eligibility

1

Learn about home care jobs to find the ones that match your skills and interests — whether it’s help with daily tasks or supporting people as they build skills and independence.

2

Eligibility reminder:

  • Must be 18+ and live in Oregon or nearby state.
  • Ability to pass a background check.
  • Legal authorization to work in the U.S.

3

Not sure? Take our Role Finder Quiz.

4

Yes, I’ve chosen my role.


Which group of people are you most interested in supporting?
Are you 18 years old or older, able to pass a background check and legally authorized to work in the United States?
Which type of support are you most excited to provide?
Are you willing to assist people with hands-on personal care needs such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting?

Please select an answer before proceeding

At this time, eligibility for home care roles requires individuals to be at least 18 years old, legally authorized to work in the U.S., and able to pass a background check. Based on your response, it looks like you may not meet these requirements right now. If your situation changes in the future, we encourage you to explore opportunities with us again.


Homecare Worker (HCW)
Homecare Worker (HCW)

Provide in-home care for older adults and people with physical disabilities. Help with daily tasks, personal care and mobility to help people live more independently.

Personal Support Worker (PSW)
Personal Support Worker (PSW)

Support children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). Help with daily living, personal care and life skills at home and in their community.

Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
Personal Care Attendant (PCA)

Help people with behavioral or mental health needs. Assist with daily living activities, medication reminders and coping strategies.

Personal Support Worker Job Coach (PSWJC)
Personal Support Worker Job Coach (PSWJC)

Help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to get, learn and keep the jobs of their choice in the workplace. Provide on-the-job coaching, training and accommodations. They help individuals build confidence and stay employed.

Who do I work with? 
  • Older adults and people with disabilities who get services through the state
Which state agency do I apply with? 
  • The Oregon Department of Human Services
What do I do?
  • You may help older people on a more regular basis. That may include helping more often with movement and self-care tasks like walking, dressing, and hygiene and health-related needs. There may be more lifting needed as you support mobility.

Apply to become a Homecare Worker

Who do I work with? 
  • Children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who get services through the state
Which state agency do I apply with? 
  • The Oregon Department of Human Services
What do I do?
  • You may help with self care and health-related tasks as well as day-to-day living. This can include eating and cooking, grocery shopping and managing medicine. You may also work with children more often. There may be more lifting needed as you support mobility.
  • You support a range of people and needs. There are free trainings so you have the skills you need. You agree with them on the tasks you do before you start working.

Apply to become a Personal Support Worker

Who do I work with? 
  • People experiencing behavioral or mental health needs who get services through the state
Which state agency do I apply with?  What do I do?
  • You may help people more often with organizing their day-to-day living. That can be things like meal prep, housekeeping, grocery shopping and managing medication.
  • You support a range of people and needs. There are free trainings so you have the skills you need. You agree with them on the tasks you do before you start working.

Apply to become a Personal Care Attendant

Who do I work with? 
  • People with intellectual or developmental disabilities who work and get services through the state
Which state agency do I apply with?
  • The Oregon Department of Human Services
What do I do?
  • You help people meet their career goals at work. You may help to grow job skills, interact with coworkers and provide transportation. You may be in public settings more often and engage with other people on a more regular basis, compared to other home care roles.

As a Personal Support Worker Job Coach, you also enroll as a Personal Support Worker. You have extra trainings and requirements beyond core training.

Apply to become a PSW Job Coach

  • Feel free to adjust your answers to try to find a position that fits with your interests.

Step 2.
Understand the general application process

Before you start working, there are a few important steps to complete. Each home care role follows a similar application process, but some details will vary.

Learn more about role-specific application steps.

Here’s what to expect:

  • Submit your application. The process is slightly different for each home care role: Be sure to follow all steps. Missing a step could delay your enrollment.
  • Complete a background check. Oregon requires all people who work in home care to pass a background check. You’ll receive an email with instructions once a request form is submitted. You must complete the online background check within a certain amount of time. Learn more about background checks.
  • Attend orientation. New workers must go to the orientation in person. This session is free. It helps you understand your role, responsibilities and the needs of people who use home care services. Learn more about orientation.
  • Receive your provider number. This unique number allows you to work and get paid. Watch your email for it.
  • Complete any other forms. This will vary by role but may include payroll or provider enrollment.
  • Complete your new worker training. You must finish this required training within 120 days of getting your provider number. You can start working while completing training, but it must be done on time, or your provider number will be deactivated and you cannot work. Learn more about new worker training.
Home Care Worker

Homecare Worker

As a Homecare Worker (HCW), you support older adults and people with disabilities through the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD).

HCW application steps

Sign Language Hot Coffee

Personal Support Worker

As a Personal Support Worker (PSW), you provide support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) through the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS).

PSW application steps

Friends Walk To A Local Mexican Restaurant In Chicago

Personal Care Attendant

As a Personal Care Attendant (PCA), you support people with behavioral or mental health needs through the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

PCA application steps

Young Man With Down Syndrome Working At Cafe, Preparing Coffee

Personal Support Worker Job Coach

As a Personal Support Worker Job Coach (PSWJC), you support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) succeed in the workplace. To apply for this role, you must complete the Personal Support Worker (PSW) application process.

PSWJC application steps

Final step: Get ready to start working

Get your provider number

  • Once you’ve completed your application, background check and orientation, you get your provider number and can complete training.
  • Your provider number is your key to working and getting paid. If you haven’t received it yet, check your email for a welcome letter.

Get set up with your timekeeping program.

Find job opportunities

  • Create a provider profile on the home care job site, Carina.
  • Carina is a free online matching tool. It helps you find people who are set up to get home care services from the State of Oregon.
  • You can work for more than one person at a time.
  • In most cases, a family member or friend who receives state services and qualifies to receive home care can hire you. Parents or guardians who are personal support workers (PSWs) can’t be paid to care for their minor children. However, in many cases, they can be paid to care for their adult children.

Resources to help you get started

Provider Navigator Program:

  • Get free one-on-one help with any part of the enrollment process so you can join the home care workforce and find work.

ORCHARDS background check resources

Orientation and training

Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)

FAQs

Have questions? We have the answers you’re looking for.

A

How much money do people in home care roles make?

Category: Pay and benefits

Home care jobs pay more than minimum wage, starting at $20 per hour. Workers can earn extra through certifications, experience and hours worked.

Certifications that increase pay include:

  • CPR/1st Aid: Adds $0.25 per hour.
  • Professional Development Certification (PDC): Adds $0.75 per hour.
  • Ventilator-Dependent Quadriplegia (VDQ) Certification: Adds $3 per hour.
  • Enhanced Certification: Adds $1 per hour (stacks with PDC for a total of $1.75 per hour and stacks with VDQ for a total of $4 per hour).
  • Exceptional Certification: Adds $3 per hour.

Training for these certifications is free through the Oregon Home Care Commission, and some trainings even offer a stipend for attending. These jobs are unionized, which helps improve pay, benefits, and working conditions. Base pay can increase every two years through collective bargaining.

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