How Do I Become a Certified Day Care Provider?
Although most states require day care providers to be licensed or certified, only 13 states require certification when you care for just one child, according to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. Depending on where you live, you may be able to care for four, five or six children without a license. However, it may be to your advantage to earn certification, even if it isn't required. Making the effort to complete the licensing process indicates to your clients and potential clients that you're a professional day care provider who is willing to meet or exceed state child care requirements.
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Instructions
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Contact your state's day care licensing agency. Request a copy of certification requirements, as well as a child care license or certification application. The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies provides an online interactive database of child care regulating offices by state. You can also call NACCRRA at 1-800-424-2246 for help identifying and contacting your state's licensing agency.
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Review your state's certification criteria. To fully understand the licensing process, you need to read the standards set by your regulating agency. Many require you to earn a certain number of child care training hours prior to certification, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid. You may also be required to submit to a background check, visit your doctor for a medical screening and buy required equipment to qualify for certification.
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Make a timeline for completing certification requirements. Some requirements may take longer to fulfill than others. For example, if you need 20 hours of training in child development or other areas, this could take several weeks or months to complete. Processing a background check can be time consuming as well, so you may want to put it near the top of the list.
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Follow your timeline and stay on track for earning certification within six months. If your state's licensing process seems overwhelming, it may be easier to focus on one requirement at a time. Certification requirements are designed to keep children safe and promote healthy child development, so the process is naturally complex. Check with your licensing agent if there are any processes or guidelines that you don't understand or that you have concerns about.
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Prepare your home for inspection. Most regulating agencies require a home inspection prior to certification. Read the standards for the day care home environment carefully to make sure you're ready for the initial visit. The inspecting agent will check to see that safety measures are in place and that you have appropriate toys and equipment for the ages of children you plan to serve. Make sure you have enough high chairs, cots, cribs, etc., for the number of children in your care.
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References
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