Daycare licensing in north carolina

After attending a pre-licensing workshop, the next step is to complete your child care license application and send it to the child care consultant that services your county. Over the course of several visits, your child care consultant will:. Once your child care consultant is satisfied that your center meets all regulatory requirements, you will be issued a temporary six-month license to operate your child care center.

You will be required to pay an annual license fee based on the capacity of your center. North Carolina offers a separate and distinct pre-licensing workshops for potential child care providers who want to operate an FCCH.

Before you apply for an FCCH license, you must complete this workshop. After submitting your application, you will be able to schedule a pre-licensing visit with your child care consultant. During this visit, the consultant will:. Once your pre-licensing visit is complete and you have met all requirements, you will contact the lead child care consultant in your area for an initial assessment of your child care operation. If your initial assessment shows that you have successfully complied with all requirements for your center, you will be awarded a temporary child care license, valid for six months.

You can upgrade your child care license by staying in compliance with North Carolina laws, hiring staff with strong educational backgrounds, and maintaining high quality standards in your child care program. Just received your child care license? Procare eases the burden of managing your child care operation with easy-to-use, innovative solutions that keep you connected and in control of your center.

We know the business of child care. Skip to content Business Employees Software. There are some exemption scenarios that apply to this rule, including: Public schools. Recreational programs that operate for three or fewer months per year. Drop-in or short-term child care providers that supervise kids while parents are on the premises at malls, fitness facilities, resort hotels, etc.

Vacation bible schools. Cooperative child care arrangements between parents. Specialized activity clubs or instructional programs dance, athletics, music lessons, etc. The number of children you can care for is based upon indoor and outdoor square footage, completed building fire and sanitation inspections and any local zoning ordinances.

You can call our toll-free number The booklet, available free of charge, describes the state requirements for operating a Child Care Center in North Carolina.

Check with your county or city governments to find out if there are additional local standards. A registration form to attend a Prelicensing Workshop is included with the Basic Information for Potential Providers booklet. Attendance at a Prelicensing Workshop is required for anyone interested in opening a Child Care Center. The workshop leader will discuss topics such as:. Issues to consider in selecting both a site and a building for a Child Care Center The role of building, fire, and sanitation inspectors, as well as the child care consultants Caregiving requirements for young children.

You will receive a copy of the Child Care Handbook, which describes North Carolina licensing requirements and includes resource materials. After attending the Prelicensing Workshop, you will receive the name and phone number of the Licensing supervisor in your area.

The licensing supervisor will assign a child care consultant to work with you. Your consultant will schedule several prelicensing visits with you to talk about the specific licensing requirements for your center and to assist you in completing the application forms. Once it is determined that all applicable requirements have been met, the license will be issued. If you have questions regarding the information in the application packet, contact the child care consultant that is listed on the cover of your packet.

Our consultants conduct announced and unannounced site visits to determine compliance with laws and regulations. Your consultant will assist you in maintaining a current license and investigate reports that your program is violating licensing standards or laws. Licensing consultants represent the Division of Social Services and are given authority under North Carolina laws to inspect child welfare agencies, interview children in care and interview staff employed by the agencies.

Review the site for the type of program you want to operate. Become familiar with the rules and regulations for the program. Review the Phases for Licensure and complete the Inquiry Form.

Licensing Services - Miscellaneous Information. Licensing The Division of Social Services licenses child-placing agencies for foster care, child-placing agencies for adoption, residential child-care facilities, residential maternity homes and foster homes. Is There a Need for Your Program? Location of Your Agency Child welfare agencies should be located near the families they expect to serve and are accessible to a variety of community-based services.

The Role of the Licensing Consultant The licensing consultant helps agencies become familiar with and comply with state laws and licensing regulations. How to Apply Review the site for the type of program you want to operate.