It is better to have your license and not need it, than need it and not have it.

When adopting from the state foster care system, even for legally free children the state prefers families have their foster car licensee. Having your license as part of your adoption means your can be eligible for an adoption subsidy contract and services for the child you’re adopting. It also opens you up to children that are heading towards adoption but many not yet be legally free. Without your license you cannot be placed with a non-legally free child. However, each state has different rules. Your state may require you to have a license regardless, where as another state may not require an adoptive family to have a license.

If you are at all considering a placement from outside of your state, in almost all case you will be asked by the sending state (the state that the child is from) to have a license.

For adoptive families having a foster license can be confusing since their goal is adoption. Think of it as a process or tool for your adoption.