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How to get a childcare license in New York. Pre-service training: 15 hours. Infant ratio: 1:4. Initial fees: $25-$100 (family home); center fees vary by capacity. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Childcare Provider — CC
Governing Authority
New York State Office of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Services
Official website →Some information on this page has not been fully verified.
78% of data points are verified against official sources. 8 fields based on preliminary research. We recommend confirming details with your state's licensing authority. See sources below · Report incorrect data
Yes
License Required
15 hours
Pre-Service Training
1:4
Infant Ratio
Required
Fingerprinting
Biennial (2 years)
Renewal Period
$25-$100 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Initial Fees
New York childcare license types and capacity limits
VerifiedLicense Types
Family Home Capacity
Up to 6 children; group: 7-12
Center-Based Capacity
7 or more children
Group Home Capacity
Up to 6 children; group: 7-12
Exemptions from Licensing
Care for 1-2 unrelated children; relative care; recreation 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.
Pre-service, annual training, and certifications
VerifiedPre-Service Training
15 hours
Annual Training Hours
15 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 college education for directors; staff need OCFS-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.
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
New York 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
Infant (0-12 mo)
1:5
Toddler (12-24 mo)
1:8
Preschool (3-5 yr)
1:10
School-Age (6+ yr)
Minimum Staff Age
18 years
Director Qualifications
21+ years old; college education or CDA; 2 years experience in childcare; Health and Safety training
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 New York family child care home initial license fee | $0 (no fee) |
Center License Fee New York child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity) | $100-$400 |
Background Check Fee Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee | $25-$100 |
Total Initial Fees Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks | $25-$100 (family home); center fees vary by capacity |
Renewal Requirements & Continuing Education
VerifiedBiennial (2 years)
Renewal Period
15 hours
Annual CE Hours
Required
Inspection at Renewal
Renewal Fee
$0-$200
New York 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.
New York has distinct licensing requirements that vary between New York City (overseen by DOHMH) and the rest of the state (overseen by OCFS). The state requires 15 pre-service training hours and 15 annual hours. Group family day care homes (7-12 children) require an assistant.
All childcare providers in New York must comply with state licensing requirements administered by New York State Office of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Services.
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.
New York requires 15 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.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in New York.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Salary
#5 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Childcare Workers (SOC 39-9011)
Entry Level
N/A
25th percentile
Median
$34,960
+15% vs. national avg ($30,370)Experienced
N/A
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
Source: BLS OEWS – Childcare Workers (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2022-2032
Projected Growth
+6%
High DemandNew Jobs
N/A
over 10 years
Annual Openings
N/A
per year (avg.)
N/A currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2022-2032 (September 2023)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: New York State Office of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Services
Estimated total: 6–16 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: New York State Office of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Services
6–16 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: New York State Office of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Services
Training materials and study guides for childcare licensing and CDA credential preparation.
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Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2026-03-21
New York requires 15 hours of initial training and maintains staff-to-child ratios of 1:4 for infants. Fingerprinting and comprehensive background checks are required for all providers. Licensing is managed through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services — Division of Child Care Services.
Requirements vary by license type and facility size. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.