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Childcare Provider — CC
Total cost: $49-$72 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Governing Authority
California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division
Official website →Some details on this page are not yet confirmed against an official source. See sources below or contact the licensing board to verify.
Yes
License Required
15 hours (Title 22)
Pre-Service Training
1:4 (one teacher per 4 infants) for infants (0–17 months) in child care centers per Title 22 §101416.5
Infant Ratio
Required
Fingerprinting
Annual
Renewal Period
$49-$72 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Initial Fees
California offers Family Child Care Home, Large Family Child Care Home, Child Care Center. Family home: Up to 8 children (small); 9-14 (large). Center-based: No statutory maximum enrollment cap for licensed Child Care Centers; capacity is determined by physical space and staff-to-child ratios per Title 22. Your facility must meet state health, safety, and zoning standards before applying.
California requires staff-to-child ratios of infants 1:4 (one teacher per 4 infants) for infants (0–17 months) in child care centers per Title 22 §101416.5, toddlers 1:6 for toddlers (18–35 months) in child care centers per Title 22, preschoolers 1:12 for preschool-age children (3–5 years) in child care centers per Title 22 §101416.5. Staff must be at least 18 years. Director qualifications: Site Supervisor permit: 60 college semester units including 24 in ECE; or CDA plus experience
All staff must pass state criminal, federal criminal, child abuse registry, sex offender registry background checks. Fingerprinting is required. Consistent with CDSS Care Provider Management Branch requirements; all adults 18+ in a family child care home and all employees/volunteers in child care centers must be cleared via LiveScan (DOJ/FBI fingerprinting) before unsupervised contact with children
Complete 15 hours (Title 22) pre-service training hours. 15 hours of annual health and safety training required for licensed child care center staff under Title 22 of annual continuing education required. CPR and First Aid certification required. Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required prior to or within 90 days of employment; must be maintained current 12 units in ECE required for teachers; site supervisor permit requires 60 units including 24 ECE
Submit your completed application to the California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division. Total initial licensing fees: $49-$72 (family home); center fees vary by capacity. Include all required documentation, training certificates, and background check results.
A pre-licensing inspection of your facility is required before approval. Unannounced inspections may occur after licensing. Pre-licensing inspection; annual unannounced visits; complaint investigations by regional offices
Renew your license annual. Complete 15 hours of annual health and safety training required for child care center staff; applies as ongoing in-service training under Title 22 of continuing education. Renewal inspections are required.
Family Home License
$0 (no state licensing fee)
California family child care home initial license fee
Center License
$0-$100 (varies by county)
California child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity)
Background Check
$49-$72
Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee
Renewal Fee
$0-$50
California license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks
California childcare license types and capacity limits
VerifiedLicense Types
Family Home Capacity
Up to 8 children (small); 9-14 (large)
Center-Based Capacity
No statutory maximum enrollment cap for licensed Child Care Centers; capacity is determined by physical space and staff-to-child ratios per Title 22
Exemptions from Licensing
California Health & Safety Code §1596.792 exempts: care for children of one other family, relatives, recreational/educational programs, parent cooperatives, and certain school programs
All states require licensing for childcare centers and most require licensing or registration for family childcare homes above certain capacity thresholds. Exemptions typically apply to relatives, small-scale care arrangements, and certain religious programs. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.
Not sure if you need a childcare license? Check whether your state requires one.
Pre-service, annual training, and certifications
VerifiedPre-Service Training
15 hours (Title 22)
Annual Training Hours
15 hours of annual health and safety training required for licensed child care center staff under Title 22
CPR / First Aid
Required
Health & Safety Training
Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification required prior to or within 90 days of employment; must be maintained current
CDA / Education Requirements
12 units in ECE required for teachers; site supervisor permit requires 60 units including 24 ECE
Training requirements vary by state and license type. Pre-service training must typically be completed before a provider begins caring for children. Annual training (continuing education) must be maintained throughout licensure. CPR and First Aid certification (pediatric) is universally required. The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is nationally recognized and accepted in all states.
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Required background checks for childcare providers and staff
VerifiedState Criminal Check
Required
Federal Criminal Check (FBI)
Required
Fingerprinting
Required
Child Abuse Registry
Required
Sex Offender Registry
Required
Details
Consistent with CDSS Care Provider Management Branch requirements; all adults 18+ in a family child care home and all employees/volunteers in child care centers must be cleared via LiveScan (DOJ/FBI fingerprinting) before unsupervised contact with children
The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act requires all states to conduct comprehensive background checks on childcare providers. This includes FBI fingerprint checks, state criminal history checks, national and state sex offender registry checks, and child abuse and neglect registry checks. Background checks must be completed before a provider has unsupervised access to children.
Required staff-to-child ratios by age group
Verified1:4 (one teacher per 4 infants) for infants (0–17 months) in child care centers per Title 22 §101416.5
Infant (0-12 mo)
1:6 for toddlers (18–35 months) in child care centers per Title 22
Toddler (12-24 mo)
1:12 for preschool-age children (3–5 years) in child care centers per Title 22 §101416.5
Preschool (3-5 yr)
1:14 for school-age children (6 years and older) in child care centers per Title 22
School-Age (6+ yr)
Minimum Staff Age
18 years
Director Qualifications
Site Supervisor permit: 60 college semester units including 24 in ECE; or CDA plus experience
Staff-to-child ratios represent the maximum number of children that can be supervised by one qualified adult. Lower ratios (e.g., 1:3) indicate more intensive supervision. Ratios are typically stricter for younger children. These ratios apply to child care centers; family child care homes may have different overall capacity limits.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
Family Home License Fee California family child care home initial license fee | $0 (no state licensing fee) |
Center License Fee California child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity) | $0-$100 (varies by county) |
Background Check Fee Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee | $49-$72 |
Total Initial Fees Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks | $49-$72 (family home); center fees vary by capacity |
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Renewal Requirements & Continuing Education
VerifiedAnnual
Renewal Period
15 hours of annual health and safety training required for child care center staff; applies as ongoing in-service training under Title 22
Annual CE Hours
Required
Inspection at Renewal
Renewal Fee
$0-$50
California license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Childcare licenses must be renewed on the schedule set by your state. Renewal typically requires completion of continuing education hours, updated background checks for new staff, maintained CPR/First Aid certifications, and passing a renewal inspection. Failure to renew on time may result in license lapse and inability to operate legally.
California's Community Care Licensing Division oversees the largest childcare system in the nation. The state distinguishes between small family child care homes (up to 8 children) and large family child care homes (9-14 children), each with different licensing requirements.
All childcare providers in California must comply with state licensing requirements administered by California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division.
All states participate in the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a federal block grant that helps low-income families access childcare.
NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accreditation is voluntary and recognized nationally as a mark of high quality.
The Child Development Associate (CDA) credential is nationally recognized and accepted in all states for qualified childcare positions.
California requires 15 hours (Title 22) of pre-service training before providers can begin caring for children.
Background checks including child abuse registry checks, sex offender registry checks, and criminal history checks are required for all childcare staff.
Childcare requirements in nearby states
See how California compares: Childcare License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Compare childcare requirements across all states →
Childcare licensing requirements nationwide →
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Childcare Schools in California
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Training materials and study guides for childcare licensing and CDA credential preparation.
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Childcare Provider requirements in California verified against California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division, March 2026.
Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2026-03-21
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California requires 15 hours (Title 22) of initial training and maintains staff-to-child ratios of 1:4 (one teacher per 4 infants) for infants (0–17 months) in child care centers per Title 22 §101416.5 for infants. Fingerprinting and comprehensive background checks are required for all providers. Licensing is managed through the California Department of Social Services — Community Care Licensing Division.
Requirements vary by license type and facility size. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.