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The information that follows explains the GENERAL process for licensing. You must check with your local and state licensing agency for the laws and regulations that apply to you. To begin the daycare licensing process you will most likely need to attend an orientation. Next you will need to complete an application packet and send it in. Then, it is important to prepare your home daycare for inspection. You are usually given an inspection checklist and rules and regulations at the orientation.

Then you will have to schedule an inspection. The inspector will either approve or deny your child care application. If you are denied you will need to make modifications and then pass another inspection. Once you have passed inspection you will receive the license by mail. The license must be posted in your home.

The Daycare Orientation

At the orientation, participants are explained various guidelines for the physical environment, the physical environment, and qualifications required for giving care. In addition you will receive information about the adult to child ratio requirements, and guidelines for health and safety of the children in your care.

Daycare License Fees

• Application fee
• Initial license fee
• Annual fee
• Criminal history
• Background checks

Fees for your daycare license will vary from state to state. In general you may be responsible for a nonrefundable application fee for the initial license, an initial license fee, an annual fee, which is due before a license is issued and every year on the anniversary date of the license, and fees for criminal history and background checks

Physical Environment

•           Useable floor space

•           Outdoor play area

•           Fencing

•           Escape routes and stairway requirements

•           Gates and barriers

•           Operable doors

•           Toilet facilities

The guidelines for physical environments for daycares vary from state to state and will include regulations for such things as fire exits in your home and stairways. For example in Istani County in Minnesota, 35 square feet of useable floor space is required per child. The Outdoor play area must be at least 50 square feet per child. A fence may be required to protect children from trains, traffic, water, or machinery. Two means of escape from all rooms utilized by the children. Stairways of three of more steps must have handrails. gates or barriers must be used when children between 6 to 18 months are in care. All doors must be operable from within or out of the room. In addition, there must be Adequate toilet facilities. This is just a sampling of the types of regulations for licensing of in-home daycares.

Caregiver Qualifications

•           First aid

•           Infant CPR

•           Family child care training

•           Continuing education units

In order to receive a license in some states you many need to meet certain caregiver qualifications. Most likely you will need first aid and Infant and Child CPR certification. In some states you may need to complete family child care training, a certain number of continuing education units of in-service training annually during the registration year, or continuing education units of approved training in early literacy and language development.

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Preparing to start a home daycare business can be intimidating. Here are some daycare licensing tips to help you get prepared to get your business up and running.

Health and Safety

Requirements for daycare licensing in the area of health and safety general include everything from basic hygiene to administration of medication. For example, Idaho’s Health and safety requirements for all child care facilities include: CPR and first-aid certification, communicable disease guidelines, immunization requirements, emergency communication requirements, fire code, food safety, dishwashing and sanitizing, indoor child areas, outdoor child area, diapering and toilet facilities, safety equipment, supervision, fencing, storage of medicine, water supply, hand-washing facilities, facility maintenance, pets, and indoor and outdoor safety.

Background Clearance and Criminal Records Exemptions

In many cases, fingerprint clearances are required for all adults who reside in the home and all adults prior to working in the home. In addition, the licensee’s children may also be required to be fingerprinted when they turn 18 years of age. Exemption may be needed for all crimes except minor traffic violations. In many states, the licensing agency and the licensee are required to inform those who ask if someone in daycare has a criminal record exemption.

Brainstorm Solutions to Daycare Licensing Issues

In most cases you will be given a pre-inspection checklist. Study your pre-inspection checklist carefully. Then create a worksheet that will allow you to list possible issues associated with passing the inspection. On one side of a sheet of paper, list the possible issues. Brainstorm ways to work around or fix the issue. On the other, side of the sheet, create space for possible solutions. As you look through your pre-inspection checklist, jot down realistic solutions. For example, your issue may be that your front yard is on a busy street and you have no fencing, but you can’t afford fencing. The solution might be to prohibit use of the front yard as a play area and instead use the backyard as the play area. You may notice that your cleaning products are stored low, beneath the kitchen sink. Your solution may be to store cleaning products on high shelves and/or put child locks on all kitchen cupboards and drawers.

Maintaining the Daycare License

Realize that in order to keep your daycare license you are responsible for complying with state in home daycare standards and regulations. This will mostly likely include areas like the supervision of children, condition of equipment and materials, child discipline, child to staff ratios, Sanitation practices, and Staff education and training development. Regulations will vary from state to state, but in order to keep the license, in home daycares must maintain a certain level of compliance history for a certain length of time. For example, in North Carolina, programs must maintain a compliance history of 75% for the past 18 months or the length of time the facility has operated. In addition, most licensing agencies will follow up and record your compliance history and annual unannounced site visits are conducted to evaluate compliance.

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If you’re not sure whether or not you need a daycare license or why it is advantageous to have a daycare license, read on:

Do you need a Daycare License?

In some situations and in some states a daycare license may not be required. These might include recreational programs operated for less than four consecutive months in a year like summer camp, or specialized activities/programs or instruction such as athletics, dance, art, music lessons, horseback riding, gymnastics, or organized clubs for children, such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H groups, or boys and girls clubs. Drop-in or short-term care provided while parents participate in activities that are not employment relate may not require a license. Daycare situations where the parents are on the premises or otherwise easily accessible, such as drop-in or short-term care provided in shopping malls, resort hotels, or churches, may not require a license.

Can you just register your daycare business?

In some states, your daycare business does not require licensing. Instead your state laws may only require that you register your in-home family daycare. Some states have no regulations or licensing requirements for in-home daycare facilities. These include Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, South Dakota and Virginia. In some parts of Florida, licensing a daycare is optional but you are required to register your daycare business annually with the state. The exception is if the licensure is required under a specific county ordinance or resolution. Check with daycareforms.org for information and forms for getting your  daycare licensed.

The Benefits of having a Daycare license

Even if your situation does not require a daycare license there are many benefits of having your daycare business licensed:

• Increase and retain clients: Parents feel more secure knowing they are sending their child to a licensed daycare.
• Daycare grant benefits: many daycare grant opportunities are strictly for licensed daycare businesses.
• Insurance benefits: You may not be eligible for insurance coverage necessary to protect your daycare business if it is not licensed.
• Tax breaks: Some daycare owners don’t get license in order to avoid taxes but consider that the deductions may offset the taxes you will pay.

Retaining the Daycare License

In order to keep your daycare license you must comply with state in-home daycare standards and regulations. This include complying with standards for things like supervision of children, the condition of equipment and materials, child discipline, child to staff ratios, sanitation practices, etc. These regulations will vary from state to state, but in order to keep the license, in home daycares must maintain a certain level of compliance history for a certain length of time. Most licensing agencies will record your compliance history and perform annual unannounced site visits to evaluate compliance.

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If you are just new to the business of operating a home child care service, you may be trying to decide whether to have your home child care licensed or not. There a few things you need to know that might help your decision become easier.

If you are a new parent, it is often difficult to leave your child to go to work. There is a very strong attachment and big fear that if you leave your child something might happen though unlikely. What ever reason you may have for wanting to stay at home, you still want to be able to earn money to help out with the household expenses. A good way for you to earn while being at home is by opening your own home childcare service. This business will allow you to hit two birds with one stone. You are able to take care of your child and other people’s children at the same time get paid for it.

When you’re making plans to open your home child care, you should think about what be more beneficial to you. Decide if you want your business to be licensed of not. If you live in Canada, licensing your home daycare is not a prerequisite however in the United States it is not so clear cut, since 43 states require some form of certification. You will need to visit the National Child Care information Center to get the information you need regarding the guidelines given in your state. There are some states what would allow you to take care of a specific number of children without the need of getting a license. As mentioned each state would have their own set of rules and regulations regarding childcare. There are even instances that towns and counties would have stricter rules and regulations than what the United States Government has issues. It is best to check with your local government office what their regulations are.

Although having your business licensed can be time consuming and would cost you some money, a lot of people are finding more benefits of being licensed. Most of your customers who are seeking childcare services would want to see some form of licensing. This can be very beneficial to your marketing and advertising. People will be more likely to trust you if you have the government approval for your business.

Having a license ensures parents that you have passed all the necessary codes for providing home child care services. Not only have you passed these codes but you are in continuous compliance with them. Aside from the confidence of parents in your service you can also become qualified to get child care grants from government agencies and other organizations.

When you check with your local government about getting that license be sure to check the benefits of having them as well so that you can make an informed decision. There are a lot of benefits that you can get from your local government and some benefits are even not listed.

See: How to start a child care business

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The first thing one must have before opening for business is a license. One may overlook this as one is just babysitting for neighbors, but this is a dangerous misconception. By getting a license, one may stand to receive the following benefits.

1) State accreditation. This is a requirement regardless of what state one lives in. Each would have different set of criteria and requirements depending on the age of the children to be enlisted to their care. Thus, a license would make for more clients, as parents would want to know who they are leaving their child with. These licenses would be obtained after compliance to a battery of health and safety issues for a day care facility. This also establishes an effort to show that one is serious in the business of caring for kids. So by having a license, one is imbued with trust and confidence by the government that one is capable and able to run a day care facility which is safe and fun for a child.

2) Parental requirements. Parents are concerned about their child and as such it would be natural for them to inquire about one’s accreditations. Thus a license would surely embolden them to integrate one’s child into the facility. So by proudly displaying the license, a parent’s fears and worries are generally assuaged because as a certified service provider, one is duly capable to provide all the necessary care for the child while in day care.

3) Rule observation. By getting a license, one is approved to be compliant with current state and local requirements for the operation of a facility for children. This also shows that one is avoiding violations of the law. If one is violating a particular regulation, this would be cause for shutting down of the business and a license avoids that trouble. Also, as a licensed operator, one would be better protected under the law as to liabilities that may occur and have the proper personality to file claims in courts. The license grants the privilege to operate and identifies the person to operate the service. Without a license, a day care facility has no legal personality to speak of.

4) Tax coverage. Proper taxability is also one aspect why licenses are very important before operating a business. Deductions for home business use, and also operation of a day care are many tax benefits one can enjoy when one is duly accredited. Also, one can generally determine the taxes payable for the business and may even have proper breaks and rebates to be able to recoup some of the items paid for taxes.

The above are but few of the reasons why getting a license is important in a day care facility. This is the first line of certification that would be required by everyone dealing with one’s day care business. Thus the absence of a license may actually be a problem rather than a solution. So go to your local government offices to apply for a license as soon as possible.

See: How to start a daycare

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A day care is a business with many legal guidelines and requirements that need to be observed at all times. Many businesses sadly are unaware of these responsibilities in the ownership and management of a day care facility. As an owner and manager, one would have many duties to respond to avoid the many consequences laws were designed to prevent.

The real interest of the facility must be checked on at all times. One must be fully aware of all the responsibilities that need be met when running one’s own day care facility. All the responsibilities must be considered and in order to be successful, all responsibilities, both as a business and a legal entity must be observed. When one cuts corners and an accident occurs, the owner would be liable for the full cost of the injury. So keeping one’s nose clean by following all the rules would be likely result in great success for the business. This is gained by finding out the state, city and local legislation, including the child services administration for the operation of the business.

First off, one needs to get a business license and each state, county and locality have differing rules on its requirements. Find out from your local office’s small business administration department as to the requirements in obtaining a license. And the special needs of a day care needs to be addressed. With one’s compliance with the set guidelines under the law, one not only protects the business, but more importantly the children under one’s care and management. Failure to comply makes one liable administratively and criminally and be blacklisted for future operations.

Background checks are also imperative. All the personnel must have no criminal records and their qualifications must make them experts in the field of child care. Some other states require formal first aid training and CPR certification. The Red Cross can provide these for a minimal fee. In running a day care, one needs these specialized trainings to be better prepared against an accident if and when it occurs. Also, one needs to be certified by a nutritionist as to the food being prepared and the health safety inspector to determine that there are no hazards to the children while at the facility.

One needs to pass the inspection of the facilities. This is to ensure the safety, adequacy and environmental soundness of the facility. Medications need to be at arms reach, fire extinguishers that are ready, and the safe handling and storage of harmful chemicals need to be observed. The inspection will look at every nook and cranny of the facility in order to be assured that the day care center is a safe place where children can play and learn. Once all the minimum requirements have been met, a certificate for operation would be issued. This is the stamp of approval which allows the facility to receive children and operate as a business. So to make this happen, one needs to prepare to facilities to comply with the requirements of the laws on day care facilities.

See: How to start a daycare

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If one is in search of what laws govern day care centers, then one need not look further. The common progression is that one’s small time baby-sitting service would be expanded into the next level, which is running a day care. This involves a whole new host of responsibilities when taking care of children that is not one’s own. States have differing laws on the business but the best way to go about it is having the facility duly certified by local authorities. Inspections would be done to see if the facilities and the care givers are within the minimum requirements of the law.

The first question sought would be how many children would be in the daycare. The availability of activity and rest areas would need to be made. When one receives the certificate of operation, it means that the facility has passed the rigorous requirements of the law. Also, having the employees of the facility trained and certified to give first aid or life saving techniques is crucial to the health and well-being of all concerned.

By reaching out to the Better Business Bureau of one’s locality, one can be better appraised as to the different agencies which require certifications in order to be allowed to operate as a day care facility. The Board would also advise one would be day care facility operator as to the lacking requirements and provide noteworthy information as to how to complete the requirements. The local Board would also provide one with the requirements for operation to be allowed under state supervision. These include actual measurements and materials which are allowed to be used in the facility.

Employees of the day care facility should also be provided with background checks to ascertain their fitness to be part of the complement in operating the facility. Without criminal records for all employees would be able to gain the trust of the parents and keep the children safe and within an environment which helps them develop into better people. Nutritionists are also hired to ensure that the facility feeds the children healthy and nourishing food. There are even guidelines as to the recommended daily allowances for certain types of food allowed near children.

As one can plainly see, opening a day care is not an easy task. One needs to learn about all the laws and guidelines to operate a facility for children. Before operation, one needs to pass the inspection of the facility to be certified to operate. But this is not yet through; one also has to conduct background checks on personnel. Due registration of all the personnel may also become a requirement for the business. Even the food in the daycare needs to be monitored. One may also need insurance to cover risks for the children and for one’s personnel. Equipment and play areas need to be within the legal requirements. A lot of work and one has not yet been in operation. But when one complies with all these, one would be able to run a day care facility smoothly and efficiently for a better and learned experience for the child.

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