Become a Licensed Provider
The Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services oversees the licensing of all child care facilities in California. These facilities provide non-medical care and supervision to children up to 18 years old for less than 24 hours a day. Your local R&R can provide you with more information.
Do you need a license to be a child care provider?
- You must be licensed if you care for children from more than one family and who are not related to you.
- You don't need a license if you care for your children (or those of a relative), and children from only one other family.
In California, there are two types of licensed child care facilities:
A child care center is normally operated outside the licensee's home and provides non-medical care and supervision to infants, toddlers, preschoolers and/or school-age children for periods of less than 24 hours. These centers are usually in commercial buildings.
Click here for Licensing Information for Child Care Centers
A family child care home is operated in the licensee's own home and provides non-medical care and supervision to 14 or fewer children in a homelike environment for less than 24 hours.
Click here for Licensing Information for Family Child Care Homes
For a more detailed explanation of licensing requirements, please contact the Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services or your local R&R agency.
More information:
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