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Childcare Provider — CC
Total cost: $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Governing Authority
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — 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
12 hours
Pre-Service Training
1:4 (1 staff per 4 infants, age 6 weeks to 18 months)
Infant Ratio
Required
Fingerprinting
Annual
Renewal Period
$50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Initial Fees
Nebraska offers Family Child Care Home I, Family Child Care Home II, Child Care Center. Family home: Type I: up to 8; Type II: up to 12. Center-based: 13 or more children. Your facility must meet state health, safety, and zoning standards before applying.
Nebraska requires staff-to-child ratios of infants 1:4 (1 staff per 4 infants, age 6 weeks to 18 months), toddlers 1:6 (1 staff per 6 toddlers, age 18 months to 3 years), preschoolers 1:10. Staff must be at least 19 years (lead); 16 years (aide). Director qualifications: 19+ years old; high school diploma; director certification through Step Up to Quality
All staff must pass state criminal, federal criminal, child abuse registry, sex offender registry background checks. Fingerprinting is required. Nebraska 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 hours 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 Step Up to Quality director certification; staff need DHHS-approved training
Submit your completed application to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — Child Care Licensing. 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 monitoring visits; unannounced inspections; complaint investigations
Renew your license annual. Complete 12 hours of continuing education. Renewal inspections are required.
Family Home License
$25 (for programs with licensed capacity less than 30, covers both provisional and yearly license)
Nebraska family child care home initial license fee
Center License
$75-$200
Nebraska child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity)
Background Check
$25-$50
Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee
Renewal Fee
$25-$100
Nebraska license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks
Nebraska childcare license types and capacity limits
VerifiedLicense Types
Family Home Capacity
Type I: up to 8; Type II: up to 12
Center-Based Capacity
13 or more children
Exemptions from Licensing
Care for 3 or fewer unrelated children; relative care; 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
12 hours
Annual Training Hours
12 hours
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 Step Up to Quality director certification; staff need DHHS-approved training
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
Nebraska 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 (1 staff per 4 infants, age 6 weeks to 18 months)
Infant (0-12 mo)
1:6 (1 staff per 6 toddlers, age 18 months to 3 years)
Toddler (12-24 mo)
1:10
Preschool (3-5 yr)
1:15 (school-age children = kindergarten and above)
School-Age (6+ yr)
Minimum Staff Age
19 years (lead); 16 years (aide)
Director Qualifications
19+ years old; high school diploma; director certification through Step Up to Quality
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 Nebraska family child care home initial license fee | $25 (for programs with licensed capacity less than 30, covers both provisional and yearly license) |
Center License Fee Nebraska child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity) | $75-$200 |
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 |
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Renewal Requirements & Continuing Education
VerifiedAnnual
Renewal Period
12 hours
Annual CE Hours
Required
Inspection at Renewal
Renewal Fee
$25-$100
Nebraska 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.
Nebraska has two tiers of family child care homes: Type I (up to 8 children) and Type II (up to 12 children). The state's Step Up to Quality program is the QRIS. Staff minimum age for lead teachers is 19 — slightly higher than most states.
All childcare providers in Nebraska must comply with state licensing requirements administered by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — 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.
Nebraska 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 Nebraska compares: Childcare License Fees by State — Cheapest to Most Expensive →
Compare childcare requirements across all states →
Childcare licensing requirements nationwide →
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How does Nebraska compare to other states for childcare? See the full comparison →
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Childcare Schools in Nebraska
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Training materials and study guides for childcare licensing and CDA credential preparation.
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Childcare Provider requirements in Nebraska verified against Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — Child Care Licensing, March 2026.
Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2026-03-21
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Nebraska requires 12 hours of initial training and maintains staff-to-child ratios of 1:4 (1 staff per 4 infants, age 6 weeks to 18 months) for infants. Fingerprinting and comprehensive background checks are required for all providers. Licensing is managed through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services — Child Care Licensing.
Requirements vary by license type and facility size. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.