The path

Zero to certified, in order.

Every provider walks roughly this sequence. The order matters more than the speed — work done out of order is the single most common reason an application stalls or a survey goes badly.

01
Foundation
Before anything touches the state, the business underneath has to be sound.
- Entity formation, EIN, and registered agent
- Ownership, governance, and corporate records
- Business banking and accounting structure
- Insurance and bonding requirements
02
Readiness review
An honest assessment of whether you are ready to apply, and what is missing if you are not.
- Eligibility and background screening considerations
- Financial capacity and startup budget
- Service area and population decisions
- A realistic timeline to first admission
03
Application package
Assembled once, completely, so it is not returned for corrections.
- HHSC provider application and required attachments
- Supporting documentation and disclosures
- Tracking submissions and responding to requests
- Preparing for the pre-certification steps that follow
04
Policies and procedures
The written foundation the state will read and your staff will follow.
- A full policy and procedure manual built for your agency
- Person-centered planning and service delivery
- Rights, abuse and neglect reporting, and incident response
- Records, documentation, and retention practices
05
Homes and property
Finding and preparing residences that work for the people who will live in them.
- Property search with our real estate partners
- Accessibility, life safety, and layout review
- Renovation scope, budgets, and builder coordination
- Furnishing, equipping, and inspection readiness
06
Staff and training
The part that determines quality long after certification.
- Hiring, screening, and credential verification
- Orientation and required training
- Supervision structure and scheduling
- Documentation practices for direct support staff
07
Survey readiness
A rehearsal before the performance.
- Mock survey against current standards
- Record and documentation audit
- Written corrective action with deadlines
- Coaching for you and your staff on survey day
08
Certification and launch
The contract is the beginning, not the finish line.
- Initial certification survey support
- Responding to findings and plans of correction
- First admissions and intake process
- Transition into ongoing compliance support

Program requirements and timelines are set by HHSC and change from time to time. We track current requirements as part of every engagement, and we will always tell you to verify anything critical directly with the state.