Local Child Care: Licensing Requirements

Colorado law requires a child care license for anyone caring for more than one family of children on a regular basis. Providers in licensed child care homes have had 12 hours of pre-license training that includes child development, discipline, activities, safety, business matters, rules and regulations, health care practices, and child abuse/neglect. In addition, they have been trained in infant/child CPR and First Aid.

A child abuse registry check and background check (including fingerprinting), by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, have been completed on each person that is 18 years or older that works in the center or resides in the home.

Finally, each provider and member of the household has had a medical exam and each home has had a safety inspection. Smoking is not allowed in a home while children are present.

Day care centers and their personnel have additional requirements, including standards for group size, child to staff ratios, and staff qualifications. For more information about regulations see Colorado Division of Child Care Licensing and Colorado Rules for Child Care Facilities.