Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to your common questions about home care careers and applications. Have additional questions? Feel free to reach out.
Application process
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Application process
Help is available in many languages including:
- English
- Spanish
- Vietnamese
- Russian
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Chinese (Traditional)
- Korean
- Somolian
- Arabic
The website is available in eight languages. Use the drop-down menu on the far right of the home page to switch the language.
For additional help, go to your local office. Find the office nearest you.
Category:
Application process
Most people get certified in four to six weeks.
The step that takes the longest is the background check. If you have lived outside Oregon in the past five years, it may take the full six weeks.
While you wait:
- Sign up for the in-person orientation.
- Orientations are once a month in most counties.
Time limits:
- You must finish orientation 45 days after you turn in your application.
If you have questions, free help is available in most counties.
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Application process
No. Learn more about what might make you unable to work in home care.
- People applying to be a Personal Support Worker will have a wider background check because they may be working with children.
- You can find more information on background checks. Scroll down to the section in blue that says “Guidance and Tools” and click on “Background checks” underneath it. The information is available in multiple languages.
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Application process
Once you apply and are enrolled, you’ll be assigned a provider number. This unique identification number is given to people in home care roles after they complete the application and approval process. It allows you to work and get paid for providing home care services.
Once you receive your provider number, you can begin searching for job opportunities through the online matching tool, Carina. You may also be hired by someone you know who qualifies for home care services. Your provider number is needed to track your work hours, get paid and access training and benefits.
There are a few more steps after receiving your provider number. Check your email or mail daily for updates.
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Application process
The online matching system is called Carina. People looking for support can post a job on Carina, indicating the type and amount of care they are looking for. You can then apply for the job on the website.
Someone looking for support can also go on to Carina to search for a provider in their community. You can request free help or tips on what to include in your bio and resume before you post it on Carina.
Once you are matched with someone looking for support a case manager will help you learn about that person’s support needs. In some cases, a case manager is called a “services coordinator” or a “personal agent”.
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Application process
In most cases, yes. Often a person who needs home care prefers to hire someone they know. There are some restrictions for roles, such as Personal Support Workers cannot provide services to their own children until they are 18+.
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Application process
Once you get a provider number, you can begin to look for jobs. There is a free online matching tool called Carina to find people who are set up to get state services from the State of Oregon and need in-home help. You may also be hired by someone you know who qualifies to receive paid home care services. The person you support is your employer. They direct your work and create a schedule with you.