California
California Childcare
State Requirements



Worker Qualifications

Center Based Teacher: Must be 18 years of age. A teacher shall have completed with passing grades a least six postsecondary semester units of specified early childhood education classes, or have a valid Child Development Assistant permit issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. A teacher hired with six units must complete at least two additional units each semester until fully qualified. A fully qualified teacher shall have 12 postsecondary semester units in early childhood education from an accredited college and six months of work experience in a licensed Child Care Center or similar program. The units specified shall include courses covering child growth and development; child, family and community; and program/curriculum. A teacher shall complete 15 hours of health and safety training, if necessary.

Teacher Aide Qualifications: An aide in a Child Care Center must be 18 years of age, a high school graduate, or be currently participating in an occupational program at high school. An aide shall work only under the direct supervision of a teacher. An aide may escort or assist children in going to the bathroom and may supervise napping children without being under the direct supervision of a teacher.

Large Family Operator: When applying for a license as a large family child care home, substantiation that the provider has at least one year of experience as a regulated small family child care home operator; or one year of experience as an administrator or director of, or as a teacher at, a licensed child care center. 

Family Childcare Operator: You must live in the home where you want to do child care. You may have to make some modifications to your home, particularly if you have a pool or hot tub. You and any adult living or working in your home must submit your fingerprints for a criminal record check and a Child Abuse Index check and must have a TB test. You will have to take 15 hours of preventive health and safety training.

Large Family Operator: When applying for a license as a large family child care home, substantiation that the provider has at least one year of experience as a regulated small family child care home operator; or one year of experience as an administrator or director of, or as a teacher at, a licensed child care center. Director Qualifications: A current credential issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing authorizing teaching service in elementary school or a single subject credential in home economics, and six units in administration/supervision of early childhood education/child development (ECE/CD) and 12 units of ECE/CD or at least two years’ experience in an ECE/CD program.

How to Become Licensed
The Child Care Licensing Program licenses both Child Care Centers (CCCs) and Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs) in California. Child Care Centers are usually located in a commercial building and Family Child Care Homes are in a licensee’s home. Only non-medical care and supervision can be provided in child care facilities and care is limited to periods of less than 24 hours.

The Child Care Licensing Program ensures that child care facilities operate according to the California Health and Safety Code and Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations in a number of ways:

  • In-person and online orientations
  • Pre-licensing inspections
  • Unannounced facility inspections
  • Complaint investigations
  • Consultations
  • Education and technical support, and
  • Follow-up inspections

Provider /Child Ratio

Ratios For Daycare Centers in the State of California
Age of Children Child: Staff Ratio Max Group Size
6 weeks
4:1
Not Regulated (NR)
9 months
4:1
12
18 months
6:1
12
27 months
6:1
NR
3 years
12:1
NR
4 years
12:1
NR
5 years
14:1
NR
6 years
14:1
NR
7 years
14:1
NR
8-9 years
14:1
NR
10 years and older
14:1
NR

Age Range Ratio For California Small Family Child Care
Total Number of Children Allowed:
2-6; Plus 2 School-Age Children (SAC)
Maximum Number of Children to One Provider:
8
Provider's Own Children Counted:
Yes; If under age 10
Maximum Number of Infants/Toddlers to One Provider: *See note below

Age Range Ratio For California Large Family Child Care
Total Number of Children Allowed:
7-12; Plus 2 SAC
Ratio of Children to One Provider: 6:1; With no more than 4 infants
Provider's Own Children Counted: Yes; If under age 10

* California excludes child care that is provided for the children of only one family. For a small family child care home, the maximum number of children for whom care shall be provided, including children under age 10 who live in the licensee's home, is: four infants; or six children, no more than three of whom may be infants; or eight children if at least two of the children are at least 6 years of age; no more than two infants are cared for during any time when more than six children are cared for; and the licensee notifies each parent that there may be up to seven or eight children in the home at one time. During the time when there are more than 12 children in a large family child care home, no more than three infants may be present.
Contact Information
Child Care Licensing Agency
California Department of Social Services
Community Care Licensing Division
Child Care Licensing Program
744 P Street, Mail Stop 19-48
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 1-800-952-5253 or Phone: (916) 651-6040
Fax: (916)-229-4508
California Daycare Listings
Child Care Subsidy Agency
California Department of Education
Child Development Division
1430 N Street, Suite 3410
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
Phone: (916) 322-6233
Fax: (916) 323-6853
Head Start - State Collaboration Office
California Department of Education
Child Development Division
1430 N Street Suite 3410
Sacramento, CA, 95814
Phone: (916) 446-7349
Fax: (916) 323-6853
Child Care Food Program Agency
Nutrition Services Division
State Department of Education
1430 N Street Room 1500
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 323-7311 or (800) 952-5609
Fax: (916) 327-0503
State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
California Child Care Resource & Referral Network
111 New Montgomery Street, 7th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 882-0234
Fax: (415) 882-6233
Office of Child Support Enforcement
Dept.of Child Support Services
P.O. Box 419064 , Mail Station - 10
Rancho Cordova, California 95741-9064
Phone: (866) 249-0773
Child Abuse Reporting Hotline
To report suspected child abuse in California, call any state licensing office, any law enforcement office or any child protective office in any of the county social/health/welfare offices.
For national child abuse information, call Childhelp®, 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453), or your local CPS agency.
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