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The cheapest state to get a childcare / daycare license is Kentucky at $20. The most expensive is Alaska at $125. The national average is $54.
Lowest
$20
Kentucky
Average
$54
across 51 states
Median
$50
36 states at or below
Range
$105
spread across states
| # | State | Total Initial Fees | Renewal Fee | CE Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kentucky | $20-$40 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$100 | 15 hrs |
| #2 | Arizona | $22-$67 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$100 | 18 hrs |
| #3 | Massachusetts | $25-$50 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$200 | 20 hrs |
| #3 | New York | $25-$100 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$200 | 15 hrs |
| #3 | North Carolina | $25-$50 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$100 | 20 hrs |
| #3 | North Dakota | $25-$50 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$50 | 12 hrs |
| #7 | Idaho | $30-$50 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$75 | 8 hrs |
| #7 | Minnesota | $30-$50 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$150 | 16 hrs |
| #9 | Iowa | $35-$50 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$100 | 12 hrs |
| #10 | Texas | $37-$85 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $35-$200 | 24 hrs |
| #11 | Florida | $45-$65 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$50 | 10 hrs |
| #11 | Georgia | $45-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 10 hrs |
| #13 | Ohio | $47-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 15 hrs |
| #13 | Pennsylvania | $47-$70 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$150 | 6 hrs |
| #15 | California | $49-$72 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$50 | 15 hrs |
| #16 | Alabama | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 12 hrs |
| #16 | Indiana | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$50 | 20 hrs |
| #16 | Kansas | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$50 | 12 hrs |
| #16 | Maryland | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$200 | 12 hrs |
| #16 | Mississippi | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$50 | 15 hrs |
| #16 | Missouri | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$75 | 12 hrs |
| #16 | Montana | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$50 | 8 hrs |
| #16 | Nebraska | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 12 hrs |
| #16 | Nevada | $50-$80 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$125 | 15 hrs |
| #16 | New Hampshire | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 18 hrs |
| #16 | New Mexico | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$75 | 25 hrs |
| #16 | Oklahoma | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 20 hrs |
| #16 | Oregon | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$125 | 15 hrs |
| #16 | Rhode Island | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$150 | 20 hrs |
| #16 | South Carolina | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 15 hrs |
| #16 | South Dakota | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$75 | 10 hrs |
| #16 | Utah | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 20 hrs |
| #16 | Vermont | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 15 hrs |
| #16 | Virginia | $50-$80 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$150 | 16 hrs |
| #16 | West Virginia | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 15 hrs |
| #16 | Wyoming | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$75 | 10 hrs |
| #37 | Arkansas | $55-$80 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $30-$50 | 15 hrs |
| #37 | Hawaii | $55-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$50 | 20 hrs |
| #37 | Michigan | $55-$89 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$100 | 16 hrs |
| #40 | Washington | $58-$80 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $30-$150 | 10 hrs |
| #41 | New Jersey | $60-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $0-$200 | 12 hrs |
| #42 | Colorado | $74 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $35-$200 | 15 hrs |
| #43 | Maine | $75-$100 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $50-$100 | 18 hrs |
| #43 | Wisconsin | $75-$100 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $50-$125 | 15 hrs |
| #45 | Illinois | $80-$110 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $50-$200 | 15 hrs |
| #46 | Tennessee | $85-$105 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $50-$150 | 18 hrs |
| #47 | Louisiana | $89-$120 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $50-$200 | 12 hrs |
| #48 | Connecticut | $100 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $25-$200 | 10 hrs |
| #48 | District of Columbia | $100-$125 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $50-$200 | 24 hrs |
| #50 | Delaware | $110-$140 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $50-$100 | 18 hrs |
| #51 | Alaska | $125-$150 (family home); center fees vary by capacity | $75-$200 | 12 hrs |
Total initial fees include application, exam, and license fees paid to the state (excludes education/training costs). Where fee ranges are listed, the lower bound is used for ranking. Click any state for full fee details.
Kentucky has the lowest total initial licensing fees at $20. The national average is $54.
Alaska has the highest total initial fees at $125, which is $105 more than the cheapest state.
The average total initial licensing cost across 51 states is $54. Costs range from $20 to $125.
There is significant variation across the 51 states with data. Values range from $20 to $125, with a median of $50.