Who's Regulated by the Child Development Division?

If you want to care for children from more than two families you must be licensed or registered.  

How do I get licensed?

 Determine the kind of child care program you want to offer. This is important because the application/forms vary based on size and type of program.

Providing care in your home for a small number of children:

If you want to provide care in your home for a maximum of six children under the age of six years old (only two of those six can be under the age of two years old), and four school age children; then you need to follow the Family Child Care Home application process.

Providing care outside your home or for more children then allowed by registered home regulations:

If you want to provide care for more than the number of children listed above, or you will be providing care outside of your home, then you need to follow the application process for:

• Early Childhood Programs (licensed child care centers)
• Afterschool Programs
• Licensed Family Child Care Homes
• Non-recurring child care programs

The number of children you can care for is based upon indoor and outdoor square footage, completed building Fire Safety inspections and any local zoning ordinances and the number of qualified staff present within a program.
 

 Family Child Care Home Application Process

1. Contact the licensing unit at 1-800-649-2642 or your local community agency for an application; or apply online at the Bright Futures Information System website.
2. Complete the self assessment, application and criminal record check forms for all people in your home and other caregivers or substitutes 16 years old or older and return to the Child Development Division
3. Your application will be entered into the data system and criminal record checks will be processed.
4. If this initial step is approved a resource development specialist and/or licensing field specialist will visit your home to discuss your self assessment.
5. Complete any additional steps identified during the above visit and notify the specialist who visited you.
6. Your application will then be processed.

This process may take 12 weeks or longer to complete.

Licensed Program Application Process

1. Contact the licensing unit at 1-800-649-2642; or request information online at the Bright Futures Information System website.
2. A licensing field specialist will deliver a licensing portfolio to you. At that time, the licensor will review the process and define each of the components of the portfolio and the timeframe necessary for its completion.
3. Once ALL information is completed, the applicant will contact the licensor and they will arrange an appointment to review the complete portfolio and conduct a final inspection of the space.
4. Once the portfolio is returned to the central office, the information will be entered in the data system and process for a license.