Start Child Care

Start a Licensed School Age Child Care Program

School-age programs are licensed for at least 19 children in a facility, with the actual license capacity determined by available space, staff to child ratio, and sometimes local ordinances. School-age programs offer services before and after school and sometimes on school holidays and through the summer months.


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Contact a Child Care Aware® Start-Up Consultant
800-997-8515; press option 3
✉ StartChildCare@ndchildcare.org

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Understand License Requirements
Contact Your Child Care Licensing Specialist ➜
• Director Qualifications and Staff Requirements
• Facility Requirements
• Policy, Procedure and Contract Requirements
• Business File Requirements


  • Additional Business Management Resources
  • Additional resources to help you manage budgets, staffing, marketing and run your business after you complete the licensing process.

  • Hiring and retaining staff is crucial to a child care business. We've gathered these resources to help you meet licensing requirements, fulfill legal requirements and develop a good working relationship with staff.

  • Resources to help you create healthy environments and offer programming that supports children's growth and development.