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Depends...
My husband and I started our home study process in June, and it will be finished before the end of October. The main portion of the homestudy was 10+ worksheets with questions. We each had to have a medical report done. We each had to write a brief autobiography, and we each had to answer a loooong questionnaire about our backgrounds. Together, we had to answer one worksheet about us as a couple, one about what type of parents we intended to be, one about the risks of adoption. I can't remember all of them. We had to get 6 character references from family members, friends, and co-workers. Different agencies ask for different references. We had to get our fingerprints done (LiveScan), and present a copy of our marriage license.
What took the longest was the references. Our friends and family dawdled for the longest time. I know it's a hard task to do -- write about why we would be good parents -- but still.
Our home study agency did not require classes. Many do. They did require a CPR/first aid course, but we were able to do that in one day (8 hours).
If you are looking to adopt independantly (private) or international, your agency may not require a massive home study. I was just reading that in state adoptions, you have to make sure your water heater is turned down, and that everything is child proof. Our social worker said not to bother, that the main thing he's looking for is that the house itself is safe, and that the child has his/her own room.
Going through the state seems to involve a looooong confirmation process, during which you must be certified as foster parents first. I think this is true, at least in CA. We looked into fost-adopt but found it didn't meet our needs.
The point is: Do the research on which type of adoption you want to do. Once you know that, you'll know what kind of agency you'll want to use, and can begin learning about the specific requirements for your situation.
Hope this helps!
-Rmc
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