CCRC’s expert staff is happy to help you through the process of becoming a licensed child care provider.  For additional information, please feel free to contact us or by phone at (818) 717-1000. 

Getting Your Child Care Provider License
The first step to becoming a licensed child care provider is attending an orientation offered by Community Care Licensing (CCL).  The orientation costs $25.00, and there are no refunds. 

The orientation will discuss the following requirements of child care licensure:

• You must live in the home where you want to offer child care.
• You may have to make some modifications to your home (particularly if you have a pool or hot tub).
• You and any adult living or working in your home must submit your fingerprints to a criminal record check and a Child Abuse Index Check.
• You and any adult living or working in your home must have a current tuberculosis test.
• You will have to take 15 hours of preventative health & safety training.
• You will have to keep records on the children you care for, and you will have periodic visits from Community Care Licensing to review your home and records.

After you have attended the CCL orientation, you will be ready to proceed with becoming a licensed child care provider.  The orientation tells you everything you need to know about the licensing process. 

Please contact CCRC for dates and times of upcoming licensing orientations.  For a more detailed explanation of licensing requirements, please contact the Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services. 

Becoming a Family Child Care Home Provider
A family child care home is run in the licensee's own home and provides care and supervision to children in a homelike environment.

To become a Licensed Family Child Care Home Provider you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Attend a licensing orientation.
• Obtain fingerprint cards and a Child Abuse Index Check for yourself, anyone over age 18 in your home, and any assistants. Everyone who must be fingerprinted must also sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, that s/he has never been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation.
• Have a current tuberculosis clearance.  All persons over age 18 residing in the home or present in the home during the time that children will be in care must also have a current tuberculosis test.
• Complete 15 hours of training in Preventative Health Practices, which includes CPR and first aid. Contact your local R&R to get more information about trainings conducted in your area.
• Have a smoke detector and fire extinguisher in the home where child care will take place.
• Submit a licensing application with all of the required materials.

Starting a Child Care Center
A child care center is normally operated outside the licensee's home and provides care and supervision to infants, toddlers, preschoolers and/or school-age children.  These centers are usually in commercial buildings.

To start a licensed child care center, an applicant must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Attend a licensing orientation.
• Verify that the directors and teachers have at least 12 units in early childhood education.  Directors must also have at least three units in administration or staff relations.
• Obtain fingerprint cards and a Child Abuse Index Check for yourself and any staff. Everyone who must be fingerprinted must also sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, that s/he has never been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation.
• Obtain a fire clearance.
• Submit a licensing application with all of the required materials.

Your local R&R agency can provide you with more information about how to become a licensed child care provider.