Become a Foster Parent

You Can Too

Licensing Requirements

Take our questionnaire about becoming a foster care provider.

Foster parents are people who enjoy parenting and are willing to share their homes, time, energy, and love with children who need temporary care.

In Washington State, you can become a foster parent if you:

Are 21 years of age or older.
Do not have a disqualifying criminal history or a history of founded child abuse and neglect.
Have a regular source of income to meet your own family's needs.
Complete the Application for Foster Family Home Care License and supplemental forms.
Complete the Foster Care & Adoptive Parent Pre-service Training.
Complete CPR/First Aid, HIV/AIDS and Blood Borne Pathogens training.
Have a home that meets minimum licensing requirements.
Participate in a home study of your entire family.
All family members 18 and older must take a Tuberculosis (TB) test. If you have a positive TB test, you must have documentation from your doctor that you do not have TB.

Application for Foster Family Home Care License
Complete the application and mail it to your nearest Division of Licensed Resources. Find your local office. Supplemental forms, including requests for your written discipline practice and autobiographical information, will be sent to you from your local office.

Foster Family Home Care License Application - Word | PDF

Training Requirements:

Orientation - You must attend an orientation session in person or online. If you take the online orientation class, you have to take an orientation quiz. View Current Orientation Courses
Pre-service Training - You are required to take 30 hours of Pre-service Training and a First Aid/CPR and Blood Borne Pathogens course. Training courses are offered regularly in all regions of Washington State. View Pre-service Training Courses
Ongoing Training - All licensed family foster homes (including those licensed by private agencies and the Office of Foster Care Licensing) are required to complete 36 hours of ongoing training during each three year licensing period.

Read frequently asked questions
Read complete policy

Washington State laws about foster home licensing are covered by the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). You can review the foster parenting WACs online :