How to Apply for a Child Care License

Working with children can be enjoyable, yet stressful. If your passion is truly with children, there is a great recession-proof business opportunity in child care. After all, children will always need to be babysat or cared for at some point. Before you begin a children care business, review these steps to make sure this is something meant for you. Make sure you are able to obtain your child care license in your area.

Instructions

Becoming a Licensed Child Care Provider

1. Sign up and attend a licensing orientation (cost $25) by contacting your local Community Connection for Children Care. Find your local CCCC at the official Website listed in our Resources section. Alternatively, contact your local Department of Social Services office by calling your local or state courthouse.

2. Fill out the licensing application given to you at the orientation and include the fee (cost $60). Mail this signed licensing application affidavit--after attending orientation--with a self-addressed envelope with $3 for postage to the given address of your local Department of Social Services. They will mail you a letter later stating your application is being processed, and you will then have to get more information sent to them. The contents of this next package to be sent to the Department of Social Services includes requirements regarding your state regulations for childcare, I have listed the most standard contents in section 2.

3. Sign up and attend 4 hours of pediatric and child CPR, 4 hours of pediatric and child first aid training, and 7+ hours of safety and health practices training at your local college or medical center.

When You Receive a Letter Stating your Application is Being Processed

1. Get a LiveScan fingerprinting done for an approximately $55 charge; fingerprinting is done at your local Community Connection for Child Care office where you attended orientation.

2. Schedule an appointment with your doctor for a tuberculosis (TB) skin test. Get a copy of the results.

3. Go to your local courthouse and obtain a Department of Motor Vehicles clearance (a complete print-out of your driving record), a criminal record statement and a Child Abuse Index Check. The secretary will be able to point you toward the correct office to obtain all these documents as they may vary in each state.

4. Mail all this information back to your local Department of Social Services office.

5. Schedule a visit to the location of your childcare site with an evaluator from the Department of Social Services to check health and safety practices of your home or childcare office.

Tips & Warnings

• Before you pay all this money out in order to get your license, make sure you don't have or are carrying tuberculosis. You should have a clean criminal background and complete a child abuse check. Take all the required classes and training to become certified to work with children. These childcare licenses are only good in your state and for the childcare office or home that gets approved.

Resources

• Community Connection for Child Care