You’ve finally found the perfect Director of Patient Care Services (DPCS) or Administrator for your home health or hospice agency. They have years of experience, impeccable credentials, and leadership skills that will take your agency to the next level.
But then, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) rejects their application.
The reason? A minor discrepancy on their resume. Maybe their work history wasn’t formatted exactly how CDPH wants it. Maybe a single phrase was missing from a job description. Or maybe a vague, unexplained gap in employment raised red flags for an analyst.
Whatever the case, your perfect hire is now stuck in limbo. As a result, your agency is left scrambling to fix it—wasting time, money, and energy on unnecessary resubmissions.
If this sounds frustrating, you’re not alone. CDPH’s resume requirements are rightfully strict, but often unclear. Rejections for resume formatting and verbiage are not uncommon. As a result, professionals can face confusion, delays, and costly denials.
In this article, we’ll break down:
- exactly what your resume needs to include
- highlight the most common mistakes that lead to denials
- how to submit a CDPH-compliant application the first time—without unnecessary stress or wasted time.
By the end, you’ll have the clarity you need to avoid costly errors, speed up the approval process, and feel confident in your next application.
Resume Requirements for Home Health & Hospice Agencies
CDPH analysts use resumes to determine whether a candidate is qualified to perform critical roles. This can include Administrators, Directors of Patient Care Services (DPCS), or their designees. This process ensures that agencies hire competent staff to maintain the highest standards of patient care.
However, the subjectivity in how these resumes are reviewed can create challenges. This makes it imperative to adhere to both written and unwritten rules.
Resume Rules for Home Health & Hospice Administrators & DPCSs
CDPH isn’t just throwing agencies and potential staff members into the deep end without floaties. There is a list of written requirements that your resume needs to include.
- 10-Year Work History: Resumes must include a complete work history spanning the last decade.
Insider Tip: Account for every period of employment, education, and even unemployment.
- Full Legal Names and Addresses: List the exact legal names of companies you worked for, along with their addresses.
Insider Tip: Abbreviations or informal names are not acceptable.
- Exact Dates of Employment: Specify exact start and end dates for each role.
Insider Tip: Simply stating "Month/Year" is insufficient. Make sure you include the exact days you started and ended each role.
- Titles and Job Descriptions: Include your job title and a clear, detailed description of your responsibilities for each position.
Insider Tip: CDPH wants to see clear examples of experience in ‘supervisory positions.’ More on this below.
- Employer Identification Numbers (EIN): If you’ve owned any of the agencies where you worked, include their EIN.
Insider Tip: This is only mandatory for owner roles.
Below, you’ll find an example of how to format your administrator or DPCS resume and what to include.
Hidden Resume Rules That Can Delay Your Application
Although CDPH provides a list of resume requirements for administrators and DPCSs, unwritten rules still exist. This isn’t because CDPH wants to send you on a wild goose chase (though it can definitely feel like that sometimes). It’s simply because its analysts are human, and some are stricter than others.
By following these unwritten rules, you can improve your chances of approval. Even the toughest reviewers will have less to scrutinize.
- Specific Wording: CDPH often requires verbatim phrasing for certain qualifications, such as "supervisory experience." Synonyms or related terms may lead to rejection.
- Detailing Supervisory Roles: Include specifics about who you supervised—e.g., “Supervised LVNs and CNAs”—to satisfy subjective reviews.
- Consistency Across Submissions: Keep your resume updated and consistent, as analysts can be strict on discrepancies, even for minor details.
- Periods of Unemployment: Account for all gaps with explanations like “medical leave” or “stay-at-home parent.” CDPH does not penalize gaps but does require transparency.
Top Resume Mistakes That Delay Home Health & Hospice Staff Approval
With experience helping agencies process hundreds of staff and staff change applications, we've seen the same resume mistakes repeatedly delay approvals. Avoiding these common pitfalls can save time, frustration, and unnecessary rejections.
- Inconsistent Work History: One of the most frequent issues is incomplete or inaccurate work histories. This can look like forgetting to add a few jobs you’ve held on your resume. The 10 year work history must be fully comprehensive.
- Generic Descriptions: Vague job descriptions often lead to denials. Be precise and detailed. For example, providing a job description with only one or two sentences (and very little detail) will likely result in a rejection.
- Neglecting Updates: Agencies and applicants must ensure that all changes in employment or roles are reflected in the resume. For example, if an applicant recently got a new position, this would have to be included on the resume.
Many of these issues stem from applicants trying to navigate the process on their own. While a DIY approach may seem cost-effective, missing even one critical detail can result in rejection and setbacks. That’s why many agencies turn to professional resume consultants for guidance. But is hiring a consultant the right choice for you?
Should You Hire an Applications Consultant for Home Health & Hospice
Navigating the complexities of resume requirements without expert help can be incredibly difficult. Of course, we’re biased. However, consultants have a unique perspective on applications and resumes. By processing hundreds of applications on a large scale, they can identify unwritten rules that delay approvals.
The same goes for the article you're reading now. Our application specialists have verified this information as of February 2025, but regulations are always evolving. With requirements constantly shifting, having a consultant who’s in the trenches every day—navigating challenges firsthand and adapting to changes—can make all the difference in getting your application approved.
How to Get Your Home Health & Hospice Resume Approved—Without Costly Delays
For many home health and hospice professionals, CDPH resume approval feels like a roadblock. One small mistake can mean frustrating delays or outright rejection.
By now, you understand the written and unwritten rules of CDPH applications, giving you the clarity you need to avoid unnecessary rejections. You’ve learned what CDPH analysts scrutinize most—and how even the most qualified professionals can get tripped up.
But knowledge alone isn’t always enough. Before submitting, ensure your resume is airtight. A missing detail or an unclear job description could still stall your approval.
You can have an expert review your resume to catch potential red flags before CDPH does. Our consultants have helped countless professionals secure faster approvals with less hassle. If you think an extra pair of eyes would help you, reach out to our sister company Smart Business Solutions.
If you’re not looking for a consultant but still want to learn more, check out our guides on Administrator and DPCS roles.
*This article was written in consultation with Mariam Treystman & Kelly McCarthy.
*Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as, legal, financial, or professional advice. No consultant-client relationship is established by engaging with this content. You should seek the advice of a qualified attorney, financial advisor, or other professional regarding any legal or business matters. The consultant assumes no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided.
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