Becoming a Licensed Provider

Thinking About Becoming a Licensed Child Care Provider?

Contact Child Care Connection to get started. We offer application assistance, guidance in preparing your home for a pre-licensing site visit, business and child development workshops, sample contracts, and referrals to your program once you are licensed.

What is Family Child Care?

Family child care is child care in your home for any part of a 24-hour day. It may be part-time or full-time for infants through school-age children. Care is given consistently by a provider who works with a small group to establish trusting relationships while parents/families have a need for child care.

Questions to Consider

Do you enjoy being with children?

Are you willing to allow children the freedom to explore and use your home?

Are you knowledgeable about child development or willing to learn more?

Are you ready to be a professional business owner?

Are you willing to meet all the licensing requirements?

How do I get Licensed?

A State licensing process is required for any provider caring for children of more than one other family. We recommend that you speak to or visit a provider to see if this is a career for you. If you want to start your own child care small business, keep the following in mind:

  • You must be 18 years of age or older to become licensed.

  • Complete an online licensing orientation, which can be found on the Community Care Licensing web site. Check the website for current orientation fees.

  • Submit a completed application to the Community Care Licensing Regional office with all the required forms, including LiveScan, TB test, and criminal record clearance for all persons 18 or over who live in the home. The regional office information is below:

Community Care Licensing Division

Child Care Licensing Division

Palmdale Regional Office

39115 Trade Center Drive, Ste. 201

Palmdale, CA 93550

(661) 202-3810 (main)

(661) 202-3810 (fax)

  • Prepare you home by creating a safe learning environment for children.

  • Prepare for a site visit by the Community Care Licensing analyst.

Licensing Application Documents

Once You Are Licensed

  • Call Child Care Connection to join our referral program and receive calls from families seeking child care.

  • Develop clear, specific contracts and parent agreements.

  • Maintain a simple, accurate record keeping system to help with bookkeeping.

  • Contact our office to accept subsidized child care program payments that assist low-income families and also provide a stable payment structure.

  • Enroll in the Child and Adult Care Food Program(CACFP) to receive up-to-date nutrition, health and safety education materials, as well as partial cash reimbursement for food expenses. For more information call (925) 676-6177.

  • Call our office to attend fun, monthly training to improve your business and interact with other local child care providers.

Get Help Today!

Don’t become overwhelmed by the process, Child Care Connection is here to assist you every step of the way. CCC offers a variety support services including:

  • Completing the child care licensing application

  • Preparing for your pre-licensing inspection

  • Required health and safety training course

  • Helping you find a CPR/First Aid training

  • Reimbursements for the costs associated with the licensing process including application fee, orientation fees, LiveScan fees, CPR/first aid course fees, etc.

  • Funding to purchase health and safety related items you may need to become licensed including fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, outlet covers, baby gates, first aid kit, etc.

  • Much more!

Contact CCC to receive assistance with the child care licensing process. Call (760) 873-5123 x. 0 or by email at childcareconnect@inyocoe.org.