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LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Licensed Child Care

Overview

Licensed Child Care Overview

Child care means the care and supervision of a child, on a regular basis, unaccompanied by their parent or guardian, in a place other than the child’s own home, with or without compensation. If a child care program is being operated by a provider that doesn’t match any of the descriptions of license exempt child care, it will need to be licensed with the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care.

Do I Need To Be Licensed?

Answer these questions to learn whether your program needs to be licensed.

  1. Are you caring for three or fewer children, not including your own children?
  2. Are you related to all of the children you are caring for?
  3. Are you providing care in the home of the children, not including your own?
  4. Are you only caring for the children on an occasional basis (70 or fewer days in a year)?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the questions above, you may be considered exempt from licensing requirements.

If you answered “No” to all of the questions above and you are providing child care, you may be subject to licensing requirements.

Child Care License Comparison

What are the types of child care license in Oregon? This is a quick side by side comparison of the different licensed child care types, broken down by home-based and center-based, offered by the Early Learning Division Office of Child Care.

Registered Family Child Care Home Certified Family Child Care Home Certified Child Care Center
Home-Based Child Care
Residential		 Center-Based Child Care
Commercial
Characteristics
  • Up to 10 children
  • A provider may have only two children under 24 months in care. This number includes the provider’s own children under 24 months.
  • No square footage requirement
  • Background checks for all applicable persons over the age of 18
  • 10 hours of training within 2 years
  • Minimum of 6 hours of training out of 10 hours must be in child development
  • Minimum of 1 unannounced visit annually
  • Biennial renewal
  • Up to 16 children
  • Ratio and ages of children is dependent on the number of qualified caregivers
  • Zoning approval is sometimes required
  • Square footage requirement per child
  • Qualifying experience needed
  • Background checks for all applicable persons over the age of 18
  • Annual training requirements varies based on position
  • Minimum of 1 unannounced visit annually
  • Annual environmental health inspection
  • Annual renewal
  • Center meets all applicable building codes and zoning requirements
  • Qualified staff
  • Maximum number of children dependent on:
  • Square footage
  • Number of qualified staff
  • Various other factors
  • Background checks for all applicable persons over the age of 18
  • Annual training requirements varies based on position
  • Minimum of 1 unannounced visit annually
  • Annual environmental health and fire safety inspections
  • Annual renewal
Prior To Application
  • Introduction to Registered Family Child Care (IRF) at a local Child Care Resource & Referral
  • Lead Testing for on-site plumbing fixtures used to obtain water for drinking, cooking, preparing infant formula, or preparing food
  • Certified Family Child Care Home introductory packet
  • Contact OCC or Licensing Specialist
  • Precertification visit – space approval and receive Certified Family Child Care Home application packet
  • Lead Testing for on-site plumbing fixtures used to obtain water for drinking, cooking, preparing infant formula, or preparing food
  • Certified Child Care Center introductory packet
  • Contact OCC or Licensing Specialist
  • Precertification visit – space approval and receive Certified Child Care Center application packet
  • Lead Testing for on-site plumbing fixtures used to obtain water for drinking, cooking, preparing infant formula, or preparing food
Prior To Visit
Required Training
  •  Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety
  • Safe Sleep
  • Food Handlers
  • First Aid and CPR for infants and toddlers
  • Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN)
  • Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety
  • Safe Sleep
  • Food Handlers
  • First Aid and CPR for infants and toddlers
  • Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN)
  • Introduction to Child Care Health & Safety
  • Safe Sleep
  • Food Handlers
  • First Aid and CPR for infants and toddlers
  • Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (RRCAN)
After Receiving License
  • 10 hours of training within 2 years
  • Minimum of 6 hours of training out of 10 hours must be in child development
  • Annual training requirements varies based on position
  • Annual training requirements varies based on position

Monitoring and Inspections

All licensed child care programs receive a combination of announced and unannounced visits. Certified Child Care Centers and Certified Family Child Care Homes have an announced licensing visit annually. Registered Family Child Care Homes have a licensing visit biennially. In addition the announced licensing visit, all programs receive no less than one unannounced monitoring visit annually. If compliance concerns exist, the program will receive additional unannounced monitoring. The Office of Child Care also responds to complaints alleging rule violations in a program and reports of injuries requiring medical attention. Complaint visits are conducted unannounced.

Background Checks

Licensed Child Care and Regulated Subsidy Providers

All child care staff and any individual who may have unsupervised access to child care children e.g. adults living in the home, volunteers, maintenance staff, the owner, office staff, and regular visitors must be enrolled in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry.  The background check process includes a criminal background check through the Oregon State Police, a record check through Department of Human Services Child Protective Services and the fingerprint based criminal background check through the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

For more information or to apply for enrollment in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry click the button below:

Open Central Background Registry Page

Registered Family Child Care

Registered Family Child Care Overview

Interested in becoming a registered family child care provider? See below for general characteristics:

  • The child care business is in the provider’s own home. A license is limited to one provider per household.
  • A maximum number of 10 children are allowed in care at any one time. Of those 10 children, six children may be preschool age or younger, two of the six preschool children may be under 24 months of age. The provider’s own children are included in the number of children in care.
  • Prior to a license being issued, changing to a new home address, reopening a license after a lapse in time, or renewing a license every two years, the provider must satisfactorily complete an on-site health and safety review conducted by the Office of Child Care.
  • The provider, all other residents of the home, substitute caregivers, and frequent visitors 18 years of age or older must be enrolled in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry.

Contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral agency to attend the Introduction to Registered Family Child Care (IRF) to receive more information and to start your application process.

Certified Family Child Care

Certified Family Child Care Overview

Interested in becoming a certified family child care provider? See below for general characteristics:

  • The child care business is in a single family home, usually the provider’s own home. License is limited to one provider per household. The provider may hire additional staff.
  • A maximum number of 12 children (16 children with prior approval by the Office of Child Care) are allowed in care at any one time. The provider’s own children are included in the determination of caregiver/child ratio and group size.
  • An environmental health specialist, as well as a licensing specialist from the Office of Child Care must inspect and approve the home prior to a license being issued. Both specialists must conduct an annual inspection before a license is renewed.
  • The, provider, all other residents of the home, substitute caregivers, staff, volunteers, and 18 years of age or older must be enrolled in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry.

Certified Child Care Center

Certified Child Care Center Overview

Interested in becoming a certified center? See below for general characteristics:

  • The child care business is in a facility that has met zoning, occupancy, and building code requirements; usually a commercial building.
  • The maximum number of children allowed in care depends on the square footage of the building, number of qualified staff, and various other factors. The license reflects maximum number of children allowed in care at any one time.
  • An environmental health specialist, the local fire department, as well as a licensing specialist from the Office of Child Care must inspect and approve the facility prior to a license being issued. All three inspections must be conducted annually before a license is renewed.
  • The director, child care staff, volunteers, or any individual who may have unsupervised contact with child care children during operation hours that are 18 years of age or older must be enrolled in the Office of Child Care’s Central Background Registry.

Forms & Resources

 Licensed Child Care Forms & Resources

Child Care
Registered Family Child Care
Certified Child Care
Child Care Rules