Embarking on the journey of starting a daycare in Vermont presents an opportunity to transform your passion for caring for children into a rewarding business endeavor. However, before launching a childcare center, it’s imperative to grasp the licensing requirements specific to your locality.

In our comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into all the essential aspects of initiating a daycare in Vermont, encompassing various types of childcare licenses, the application procedures, and strategies to ensure ongoing compliance with the state’s regulations.

As always, use Daycare.com as a resource for any and all of your daycare needs.

Do I need a childcare license in Vermont?

In Vermont, childcare licensing is overseen by the Child Development Division of the Vermont Department for Children and Families. Operating an early childcare program requires a license, as mandated by the state’s childcare regulations. The department is responsible for regulating and licensing various types of programs:

• Center-based childcare and preschool programs: Offer childcare services to children away from their residences for under 24 hours each day.
• Family childcare homes: Offer childcare to a maximum of ten children in the year-round program and 12 children in the summer vacation program.
• After-school childcare programs: Provide childcare for school-age children (5 years or older) before, after, and during school vacations.

The subsequent childcare arrangements are legally exempt from mandatory licensing requirements:

• Family members providing care for children within their homes
• Providing care for children from one or two families
• Facilities such as hospitals or establishments licensed by the Department of Health, or programs primarily focused on recreational or therapeutic purposes
• Childcare facilities operated by religious organizations for the supervision of children during religious services or activities
• After-school programs, overseen by the Agency of Education, catering to children from kindergarten through secondary school grades.

Center-based childcare and preschool programs

Staff Qualifications:

The program director is required to meet specific criteria:

• Must be at least 21 years old.
• For programs licensed to serve up to 12 children, the director must hold a qualification as a teacher associate.
• For programs licensed to serve 13-59 children, in addition to a teacher associate qualification, the director must possess one of the following:
  • A Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Step One Certificate.
  • Successful completion of a three-college-credit course in program management for early care and education or school-age care and education, or in staff supervision related to early care and education of children.
  • A three-college-credit course in the curriculum.
• For programs licensed to serve 60 or more children, in addition to a teacher associate qualification, the director must have at least an additional 24 months of experience working with groups of children from grade three or younger.
• The director must also complete either of the following:
  • A Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Step Two Certificate or Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Credential, Step Three.
  • Successful completion of a three-college-credit course in the curriculum and an additional nine college credits in program management, staff supervision, administration, or human resource management.
• The program director licensed to care for 13 or more children must complete a three-college-credit course in managing early care and education program within one year of the employment start date.

A teacher is required to:

• Be at least 20 years old.
• Meet one of the following qualifications:
  • Hold at least a Vermont Early Childhood Career Ladder Level Four A or B Certificate.
  • Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with a major or concentration in Early Childhood, Child or Human Development, Elementary Education, Special Education with a focus on birth to eight years of age, or Child and Family Services, along with a minimum of 12 months of experience working with groups of children from grade three or younger.
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with successful completion of at least 30 college credits focused on early childhood or school-age education, coupled with a minimum of 12 months of experience working with groups of children from grade three or younger.
  • Maintain a current Vermont Agency of Education teaching license with an endorsement in Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, or Elementary Education.

A classroom aide is required to:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Fulfill one of the following qualifications:
  • Be a high school graduate or possess a GED and complete either the Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals’ course or the Vermont Afterschool Essentials Certificate within the initial 12 months of employment.
  • Be a high school graduate and successfully complete a three-college-credit course in child or human development, or school-age care and education within the first 12 months of employment.

A trainee is required to:

• Be at least 15 years old.
• Fulfill one of the following qualifications:
  • Be a high school graduate or possess a GED and complete either the Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals’ course or the Vermont Afterschool Essentials Certificate within the initial 12 months of employment.
  • Be a high school graduate or possess a GED and successfully complete a three-college-credit course in child or human development, or school-age care and education within the first 12 months of employment.
  • Be enrolled in or have received a State Board of Education approved Human Services Program Certificate emphasizing child development or early childhood education.

A substitute must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have graduated from high school or obtained a general educational development (GED) certificate.

Maximum capacity, group size, and staffing

Family child care homes

Staff qualifications

A family child care home provider must be:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have graduated from high school or obtained a general educational development (GED) certificate.
• Meet at least one of the following qualifications:
  • Possess a Vermont Early Childhood Career Ladder Level One Certificate or higher.
  • Successfully complete the Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals’ course.
  • Hold a current Child Development Associate credential (CDA) from the National Council for Professional Recognition.
  • Obtain a Child Care Certificate from the Community College of Vermont.
  • Successfully complete 12 college credits in content consistent with the core knowledge areas identified by the Northern Lights Career Development Center (NLCDC).

A family child care home assistant must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Meet or exceed one of the following qualifications within the initial 12 months of employment:
  • Be a high school graduate or have completed a GED and the Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals’ course.
  • Be a high school graduate or have completed a GED and have successfully completed at least three college credits in content consistent with the core knowledge areas identified by NLCDC.
  • Be enrolled in or be a high school graduate and graduate from a State Board of Education approved Human Services Certificate Program that emphasizes child development or early childhood education.

A classroom aide must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Fulfill one of the following qualifications within the initial 12 months of employment:
  • Be a high school graduate or have completed a GED and complete either the Fundamentals for Early Childhood Professionals’ course or the Vermont Afterschool Essentials Certificate.
  • Be a high school graduate or have completed a GED and successfully complete three college credits in content consistent with the core knowledge areas identified by NLCDC.

A trainee must satisfy one of the following requirements:

• Be 17 years old and currently enrolled in a State Board of Education approved Human Services Certificate Program with a focus on child development or early childhood education.
• Be 17 years old and have graduated from a State Board of Education approved Human Services Certificate Program emphasizing child development or early childhood education.
• Be 18 years old and currently enrolled in a State Board of Education-approved Human Services Certificate Program with a focus on child development or early childhood education.

A substitute must:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Have graduated from high school or obtained a GED.

Maximum capacity, group size, and staffing

The total number of children in care cannot exceed 10 for children in year-round care programs or 12 children for summer vacation programs. Here’s an overview of the staff-to-child ratios:

• At least one staff person to care for three children
• At least two staff members must be present when the number of children in care exceeds six
• One staff person can only care for two children under 24 months
• At least three staff persons must be present when eight or more children are in care

Childcare license application in Vermont

Vermont’s childcare license application process is divided into three phases. Here are the steps to take for every phase.

Phase I

Phase I is dedicated to establishing your daycare business entity. Comprehensive details are available in the Phase I resource guide. Below, we provide a concise overview of the steps involved:

Step 1: Establishing Business Entity

• Register your business with the Vermont Secretary of State unless you’re a Vermont municipality or school district.
• Complete IRS registration.
• If applying for a center-based daycare license, fulfill and submit the Governing Body Form.

Step 2: Financial Documentation

• Complete the IRS W-9 form.

Step 3: Application Request

• Obtain an application from the Vermont Bright Futures Child Care Information System (BFIS) website. Navigate to the “Become a Provider” tab for online application submission.
• Furnish the necessary information and submit the application.

Step 4: Background Clearance

• Submit a Record Check Authorization Form to the Child Development Division.

Step 5: Liaise with Your Town’s Childcare Business Technician

• Access contact information for your town’s childcare business technician.
• The technician will review your application and offer guidance.

Following application processing, the department will arrange a visit to your proposed childcare location within 3-4 business days.

Phase II

Phase II commences with a visit from the department. During this visit, the department-assigned licensor will assess your proposed childcare location and review your business plan. The second phase concludes with the submission of a completed license application. Detailed instructions can be found in the Phase II resource guide.

Step 1: Gather Required Information/Documentation

Ensure compliance with:

• Tax standing
• Child support obligations
• Insurance
• Interior and outdoor space requirements
• Zoning regulations
• Fire prevention measures
• Heating system inspection (for Family Child Care Homes only)
• Water and wastewater permits
• Drinking water system testing for lead, bacteria, and chemicals
• Lead regulations
• Staff qualifications
• Written policies and procedures for parents and staff
• Emergency response planbrigh

Step 2: Complete the License Application

Enter the information gathered in Step 1 into the Bright Futures Information System (BFIS).

Step 3: Contact the Child Care Business Technician

Email the assigned child care business technician for the town where you plan to establish your child care program. Attach all required documents, including your certificate of liability insurance, zoning approval, and occupancy permit.

The child care business technician will review your documentation and notify you of any missing items through your BFIS online account.

Phase III

This marks the final stage of the license application process. An assigned licensor from the department will conduct a site visit to confirm compliance with regulations and produce a site visit report. Subsequently, the visiting licensor will forward the report to the licensing supervisor for a final review and decision. You will be notified via email of the outcome, whether your application is approved or denied. The department issues two types of licenses based on regulatory compliance:

• Full license: Valid for three years and requires annual renewal.
• Provisional license: Issued under specific conditions and has a validity period of less than a year.

How to stay compliant with a daycare license in Vermont

The department will dispatch a notification regarding the annual license renewal requirement 60 days prior to the expiration of the current license via the Vermont Bright Futures Child Care Information System (BFIS). It is advisable to initiate the license renewal application at least 45 days before the current license’s expiration date.

Start your daycare in Vermont

Before commencing your daycare venture in Vermont, it’s crucial to acquaint yourself with the daycare regulations and the procedures entailed in the application process. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the licensing requirements, you can proceed to the subsequent phase of establishing your business.

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