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Childcare Provider — CC
Total cost: $50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Governing Authority
South Carolina Department of Social Services — Division of Early Care and Education (managed via scchildcare.org)
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 of health and safety training required for new hires; must be completed while under 30-day direct supervision
Pre-Service Training
1:5 (birth to one year)
Infant Ratio
Required
Fingerprinting
Annual
Renewal Period
$50-$75 (family home); center fees vary by capacity
Initial Fees
South Carolina offers Family Child Care Home, Group Child Care Home, Child Care Center. Family home: 1-6 children; group: 7-12. Center-based: 13 or more children; can be commercial, faith-based, or school-based. Your facility must meet state health, safety, and zoning standards before applying.
South Carolina requires staff-to-child ratios of infants 1:5 (birth to one year), toddlers 1:5, preschoolers 1:13. Staff must be at least 18 years. Director qualifications: 21+ years old; Early Childhood Diploma or CDA; 1 year experience; director training
All staff must pass state criminal, federal criminal, child abuse registry, sex offender registry background checks. Fingerprinting is required. South Carolina 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 15 hours of health and safety training required for new hires; must be completed while under 30-day direct supervision pre-service training hours. 15 hours annual training (documented within calendar year Jan 1–Dec 31) 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 Early Childhood Diploma or CDA for directors; staff need DSS-approved training pathway
Submit your completed application to the South Carolina Department of Social Services — Division of Early Care and Education (managed via scchildcare.org). 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 inspections; unannounced monitoring; complaint investigations
Renew your license annual. Complete 15 hours annual training (documented per calendar year) of continuing education. Renewal inspections are required.
Family Home License
$25
South Carolina family child care home initial license fee
Center License
$100-$200
South Carolina child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity)
Background Check
$25-$50
Per-person fingerprinting and background check fee
Renewal Fee
$25-$100
South Carolina license renewal fee range (varies by license type and capacity)
Total varies significantly by license type, capacity, and number of staff requiring background checks
South Carolina childcare license types and capacity limits
VerifiedLicense Types
Family Home Capacity
1-6 children; group: 7-12
Center-Based Capacity
13 or more children; can be commercial, faith-based, or school-based
Group Home Capacity
1-6 children; group: 7-12
Exemptions from Licensing
Relatives; care for 1 unrelated child; certain religious 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 of health and safety training required for new hires; must be completed while under 30-day direct supervision
Annual Training Hours
15 hours annual training (documented within calendar year Jan 1–Dec 31)
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
Early Childhood Diploma or CDA for directors; staff need DSS-approved training pathway
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
South Carolina 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
Verified1:5 (birth to one year)
Infant (0-12 mo)
1:5
Toddler (12-24 mo)
1:13
Preschool (3-5 yr)
Six to twelve years: 1:23
School-Age (6+ yr)
Minimum Staff Age
18 years
Director Qualifications
21+ years old; Early Childhood Diploma or CDA; 1 year experience; director 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 South Carolina family child care home initial license fee | $25 |
Center License Fee South Carolina child care center initial license fee (varies by capacity) | $100-$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
15 hours annual training (documented per calendar year)
Annual CE Hours
Required
Inspection at Renewal
Renewal Fee
$25-$100
South Carolina 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.
South Carolina's Department of Social Services oversees childcare through the Division of Early Care and Education. The state's ABC Quality QRIS provides quality ratings. SC allows higher preschool ratios (1:13) compared to most states.
All childcare providers in South Carolina must comply with state licensing requirements administered by South Carolina Department of Social Services — Division of Early Care and Education.
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.
South Carolina 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.
Childcare requirements in nearby states
| State | Total Cost | Timeline | |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina (you) | $75–$350 | 6–16 wks | |
| Georgia | $70–$350 | 6–16 wks | → |
| North Carolina | $50–$325 | 6–16 wks | → |
See how South Carolina 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 South Carolina compare to other states for childcare? See the full comparison →
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Explore requirements for other professional licenses in South Carolina.
Childcare Schools in South Carolina
Compare approved training programs, costs, and requirements.
Training materials and study guides for childcare licensing and CDA credential preparation.
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Childcare Provider requirements in South Carolina verified against South Carolina Department of Social Services — Division of Early Care and Education (managed via scchildcare.org), March 2026.
Accessed 2025-01-15
Accessed 2026-03-21
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South Carolina requires 15 hours of health and safety training required for new hires; must be completed while under 30-day direct supervision of initial training and maintains staff-to-child ratios of 1:5 (birth to one year) for infants. Fingerprinting and comprehensive background checks are required for all providers. Licensing is managed through the South Carolina Department of Social Services — Division of Early Care and Education (managed via scchildcare.org).
Requirements vary by license type and facility size. Always verify current requirements with your state licensing authority.