Start Child Care

They will connect you to the Child Care Licensing Specialist, help you start the application process, and provide a list of specific state, country and local licensing requirements. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
- Does my community have additional ordinances that regulate child care?
- Where do I go to get fingerprinted? Is there a charge?
- Do other people living in my home need to get fingerprinted as well?
- Do I need a fire inspection?
- Where can I get pediatric CPR/AED/First Aid training?

Ask your licensing specialist if this inspection is required for your location. If so, contact your local fire department to arrange an inspection.

Other household members, child care helpers or volunteers may need to be fingerprinted. Contact your Child Care Licensing Specialist to verify requirements, learn where to go for fingerprinting and if there is a charge for this service.

Ask your county child care licenser if this inspection is required for your location. If so, contact the local health department to arrange an inspection.

Other household members, child care helpers or volunteers may need background checks. Contact your Child Care Licensing Specialist to verify requirements.

Read and Understand Licensing Requirements

This checklist includes all requirements. Note the following:
The child care provider must be
- Present in home at least 60% during child care hours
- Meet staffing requirements based on the number of children present
- CPR/First Aid Certified
PLUS meet at least ONE of the following
- One year of experience working in a child care with two parent references
- Certification from a Montessori teaching program
- Child Development Associate credential
- Director's Credential
- Associate degree with at least 8 semester hours or 12 quarter hours in early childhood education or child development or 120 of approved early childhood training.

Worker/volunteers must
- Be at least 12 years of age if an immediate family member
- Have written permission if between the ages of 14 and 16 years
- Be supervised by the provider at all times if under age 18
- Receive orientation within the first week of employment
- Have completed authorized background checks
- Staff with current CPR and first-aid certification on duty at all times. Substitute staff are exempt, but parents need to be notified if a substitute who is not CPR/first-aid certified is sole care provider on duty.

Prepare Required Paperwork
Have the following documents available for the licensing inspection.

Including but not limited to
- Guidance and discipline of children
- Accident and illness response procedures
- Reporting procedure if parents or staff wish to file a complaint, suspected licensing violation, or suspected child abuse or neglect
- Hiring practices
- Daily reports for their child upon request
- Accountability procedure if a child fails to arrive
- Transportation procedures, if applicable

Notifying them of fees and time of payment.

Prepare Individual Files
If a child is enrolled prior to licensing, each child must have an individual file that includes the following:

Prepare Your Child Care Environment
Verify that your child care environment has the following:

Providing adequate supply of safe materials and toys for indoor/outdoor play

One working detector in each sleeping area and one on each level

One working fire extinguisher on each level

Soap and towels (paper or individual) available at each sink

One flushable toilet per 15 children, excluding those not toilet trained.

Schedule an inspection after you have completed all items in steps one through three.