How to Start a Home Daycare in Pensacola
If you love children, and want a career that allows you to work with children while setting your own hours and wages, opening a daycare in your home may be a good option for you. According to Florida law, family daycare homes in Pensacola only need to be registered, not licensed, although many providers choose to become licensed to certify that they offer high-quality daycare. The primary difference between a registered and licensed daycare is the inspection requirement, which is waived for registered daycare homes. Otherwise, the standards for family daycare homes are the same.
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Instructions
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Meet the age and residency requirements. Operators of Pensacola family home daycares must be at least 18 years old and live in the home that will be used as a daycare.
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Contact the licensing office for the Northwest Region to confirm registration requirements. The office is located at 160 Governmental Center in Pensacola, and can be reached at 850-595-8142.
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Complete 30 hours of training in child development, safety and nutrition, identifying child abuse, behavioral observation and child development, and pass a competency exam at the end of the course. You must also complete five hours of training in early literacy and language development. Call the Child Care Training Center at 1-888-352-2842 to register for the necessary courses.
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Complete first aid and CPR training. Applicants for a family daycare home registration or license must maintain certification in infant first aid and CPR.
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Document the details concerning the operation of your home daycare. When you submit your application, you need to submit a document detailing the number of children you plan to care for, your plan for the operation of the daycare in your absence, and proof that the children in your care have current immunizations.
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Submit your application for a home daycare registration to the Northwest Region licensing office in Pensacola. The application is available on the Florida DCFS website.
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Undergo screening and background checks. When you complete your application for a registered or licensed family-home daycare, you grant Florida DCFS authorization to run a background check on you, your staff and anyone over the age of 18 living in your home.
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Complete the home safety and health inspection checklist, available on the DCFS website. A copy of this checklist must be submitted to DCFS annually and given to the parents of all children in your care.
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Tips & Warnings
If you decide to have your family-home daycare licensed, you must arrange for an inspection by the Escambia County Department of Health. The licensing office of the DCFS will provide information about how to complete the licensing process.
Part or all of the training requirements can be waived if you meet certain education or credentialing requirements. A DCFS representative will help you determine your exact training requirements.
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