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Childcare Provider — CC
Total cost: $80-$110 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Governing Authority
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Licensing
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
6 hours (DCFS-approved orientation)
Pre-Service Training
1:4 (infants defined as 6 weeks through 14 months; maximum group size 12)
Infant Ratio
Required
Fingerprinting
Biennial (2 years)
Renewal Period
$80-$110 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Initial Fees
Illinois offers Family Child Care Home, Group Child Care Home, Child Care Center, Day Care Center. Family home: Up to 8 children; group: 9-16. Center-based: No maximum with proper staffing and space. Your facility must meet state health, safety, and zoning standards before applying.
Illinois requires staff-to-child ratios of infants 1:4 (infants defined as 6 weeks through 14 months; maximum group size 12), toddlers 1:5 (toddlers defined as 15 through 23 months; maximum group size 15). Note: 2-year-olds have a separate 1:8 ratio., preschoolers 1:10. Staff must be at least 18 years (lead); 16 years (aide). Director qualifications: 21+ years old; 60 semester hours with 18 in child development/ECE; 2 years experience
All staff must pass state criminal, federal criminal, child abuse registry, sex offender registry background checks. Fingerprinting is required. Background check definition in Rule 407.45 includes: fingerprint criminal history check (state police + FBI) for persons age 17 and over; SACWIS/child abuse neglect system check; Illinois Sex Offender Registry check. Section 407.110 requires fingerprinting for all subject persons. An employee may begin work while awaiting results but shall not be left alone with children until cleared (per Rule 404 provision; Rule 407 also requires initial background check cleared before unsupervised contact).
Complete 6 hours (DCFS-approved orientation) pre-service training hours. 15 clock hours of in-service training per year for director and each child care staff member (for day care centers, Section 407.100(c)(1)); same requirement per the Day Care Home summary (Section 9-2). 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 College coursework required for directors (60 semester hours with 18 in ECE); CDA acceptable in some settings
Submit your completed application to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Licensing. Total initial licensing fees: $80-$110 (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
Renew your license biennial (2 years). Complete 15 hours of continuing education. Renewal inspections are required.
Family Home License
$50
Illinois family child care home initial license fee
Center License
$100-$275
Illinois child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity)
Background Check
$30-$60
Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee
Renewal Fee
$50-$200
Illinois license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks
Illinois childcare license types and capacity limits
VerifiedLicense Types
Family Home Capacity
Up to 8 children; group: 9-16
Center-Based Capacity
No maximum with proper staffing and space
Group Home Capacity
Up to 8 children; group: 9-16
Exemptions from Licensing
Care for 3 or fewer children (not counting provider's own); relative care
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
6 hours (DCFS-approved orientation)
Annual Training Hours
15 clock hours of in-service training per year for director and each child care staff member (for day care centers, Section 407.100(c)(1)); same requirement per the Day Care Home summary (Section 9-2).
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
College coursework required for directors (60 semester hours with 18 in ECE); CDA acceptable in some settings
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
Background check definition in Rule 407.45 includes: fingerprint criminal history check (state police + FBI) for persons age 17 and over; SACWIS/child abuse neglect system check; Illinois Sex Offender Registry check. Section 407.110 requires fingerprinting for all subject persons. An employee may begin work while awaiting results but shall not be left alone with children until cleared (per Rule 404 provision; Rule 407 also requires initial background check cleared before unsupervised contact).
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 (infants defined as 6 weeks through 14 months; maximum group size 12)
Infant (0-12 mo)
1:5 (toddlers defined as 15 through 23 months; maximum group size 15). Note: 2-year-olds have a separate 1:8 ratio.
Toddler (12-24 mo)
1:10
Preschool (3-5 yr)
1:20 for school-age/kindergartners present (maximum group size 30).
School-Age (6+ yr)
Minimum Staff Age
18 years (lead); 16 years (aide)
Director Qualifications
21+ years old; 60 semester hours with 18 in child development/ECE; 2 years 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 Illinois family child care home initial license fee | $50 |
Center License Fee Illinois child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity) | $100-$275 |
Background Check Fee Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee | $30-$60 |
Total Initial Fees Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks | $80-$110 (family home); center fees vary by capacity |
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Renewal Requirements & Continuing Education
VerifiedBiennial (2 years)
Renewal Period
15 hours
Annual CE Hours
Required
Inspection at Renewal
Renewal Fee
$50-$200
Illinois license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Regulatory Board
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.
Illinois has separate licensing systems: DCFS licenses family and group homes, while the Illinois State Board of Education oversees certain preschool programs. The initial training requirement is low (6 hours) but 15 annual hours are required.
All childcare providers in Illinois must comply with state licensing requirements administered by Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Licensing.
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.
Illinois requires 6 hours (DCFS-approved orientation) 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 Illinois compares: Childcare License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
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Childcare Schools in Illinois
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Training materials and study guides for childcare licensing and CDA credential preparation.
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Childcare Provider requirements in Illinois verified against Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Licensing, March 2026.
Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2026-03-21
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Illinois requires 6 hours (DCFS-approved orientation) of initial training and maintains staff-to-child ratios of 1:4 (infants defined as 6 weeks through 14 months; maximum group size 12) for infants. Fingerprinting and comprehensive background checks are required for all providers. Licensing is managed through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Licensing.
Requirements vary by license type and facility size. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.