Loading...
Loading...
Childcare Provider — CC
Total cost: $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Governing Authority
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — Child Care Licensing Unit
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
12 hours
Pre-Service Training
1:4 (for mixed-age groups birth through 2 years; max group size of 8)
Infant Ratio
Required
Fingerprinting
Annual (providers submit Annual Declaration for Licensed Facility form at least 30 days prior to anniversary date)
Renewal Period
$50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Initial Fees
Missouri offers Family Child Care Home, Group Child Care Home, Child Care Center. Family home: Up to 4 children; group: 5-10. Center-based: 11 or more children. Your facility must meet state health, safety, and zoning standards before applying.
Missouri requires staff-to-child ratios of infants 1:4 (for mixed-age groups birth through 2 years; max group size of 8), toddlers 1:4, preschoolers 1:10 for groups of 3- and 4-year-olds. Staff must be at least 18 years (lead); 16 years (aide). Director qualifications: 21+ years old; 60 college credit hours (including ECE courses) or CDA with experience
All staff must pass state criminal, federal criminal, child abuse registry, sex offender registry background checks. Fingerprinting is required. Missouri requires comprehensive background checks for all childcare providers, staff, and household members (for home-based care). This includes state and federal criminal history checks via fingerprinting, child abuse and neglect registry checks, and sex offender registry checks. Results must be obtained before unsupervised contact with children.
Complete 12 hours pre-service training hours. 12 clock hours per calendar year 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 CDA or 60 credit hours for directors; staff need DESE-approved professional development
Submit your completed application to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — Child Care Licensing Unit. Total initial licensing fees: $50-$75 (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 inspections; complaint investigations
Renew your license annual (providers submit annual declaration for licensed facility form at least 30 days prior to anniversary date). Complete 12 clock hours per calendar year (ongoing annual requirement, not a separate renewal CE requirement) of continuing education. Renewal inspections are required.
Family Home License
$25
Missouri family child care home initial license fee
Center License
$50-$150
Missouri child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity)
Background Check
$25-$50
Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee
Renewal Fee
$25-$75
Missouri license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks
Missouri childcare license types and capacity limits
VerifiedLicense Types
Family Home Capacity
Up to 4 children; group: 5-10
Center-Based Capacity
11 or more children
Group Home Capacity
Up to 4 children; group: 5-10
Exemptions from Licensing
Care for 3 or fewer unrelated children; relative care; certain religious organizations
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
12 hours
Annual Training Hours
12 clock hours per calendar year
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
CDA or 60 credit hours for directors; staff need DESE-approved professional development
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.
Browse Childcare / Daycare study materials on Amazon →(affiliate link)
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
Missouri requires comprehensive background checks for all childcare providers, staff, and household members (for home-based care). This includes state and federal criminal history checks via fingerprinting, child abuse and neglect registry checks, and sex offender registry checks. Results must be obtained 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 (for mixed-age groups birth through 2 years; max group size of 8)
Infant (0-12 mo)
1:4
Toddler (12-24 mo)
1:10 for groups of 3- and 4-year-olds
Preschool (3-5 yr)
1:16 for groups of children 5 years and older
School-Age (6+ yr)
Minimum Staff Age
18 years (lead); 16 years (aide)
Director Qualifications
21+ years old; 60 college credit hours (including ECE courses) or CDA with 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 Missouri family child care home initial license fee | $25 |
Center License Fee Missouri child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity) | $50-$150 |
Background Check Fee Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee | $25-$50 |
Total Initial Fees Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks | $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity |
Use our licensing cost calculator to estimate your total investment including education and exam fees.
Calculate your licensing ROI →
See how quickly your license investment pays for itself.
Renewal Requirements & Continuing Education
VerifiedAnnual (providers submit Annual Declaration for Licensed Facility form at least 30 days prior to anniversary date)
Renewal Period
12 clock hours per calendar year (ongoing annual requirement, not a separate renewal CE requirement)
Annual CE Hours
Required
Inspection at Renewal
Renewal Fee
$25-$75
Missouri 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.
Missouri licenses child care through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), not health or human services. The state allows only 4 children in unlicensed family care. The state's Quality Rating System is integrated with licensing.
All childcare providers in Missouri must comply with state licensing requirements administered by Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — Child Care Licensing Unit.
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.
Missouri requires 12 hours 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 Missouri compares: Childcare License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Compare childcare requirements across all states →
Childcare licensing requirements nationwide →
Not sure childcare is right for you? Find careers that match your situation →
How does Missouri compare to other states for childcare? See the full comparison →
Calculate the return on investment for your childcare license →
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Missouri.
Childcare Schools in Missouri
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Training materials and study guides for childcare licensing and CDA credential preparation.
Browse Study Guides on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Shop essential tools and supplies to get started in your career.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Not sure this is the right career? Take a 2-minute quiz →
Answer 6 quick questions and we'll match you with the best-fit licensed profession.
Childcare Provider requirements in Missouri verified against Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — Child Care Licensing Unit, March 2026.
Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2026-03-21
Moving to Missouri? Use our free Transfer Tool to see what you need →
Already licensed elsewhere? See how to transfer your Childcare license to Missouri →
Transfer your Childcare license from Missouri to: Arkansas → | Illinois → | Iowa → | Kansas → | Kentucky → | Nebraska → | Oklahoma → | Tennessee →
Missouri requires 12 hours of initial training and maintains staff-to-child ratios of 1:4 (for mixed-age groups birth through 2 years; max group size of 8) for infants. Fingerprinting and comprehensive background checks are required for all providers. Licensing is managed through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education — Child Care Licensing Unit.
Requirements vary by license type and facility size. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.