Providers: Good moral character based upon a Level 2 screening standards, as provided in Chapter 435.04, F.S.
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be the occupant and licensee of the home.
Must complete the 30-clock-hour family child care training (prior to caring for children), as evidenced by passage of a competency exam.
Must complete the 10-hour annual in-service training.
May not be employed outside of the home during hours of operation.
Must complete 0.5 continuing education unit or 5 clock hours of approved training in early literacy and language development birth to 5 years of age. - Training Overview -
Requirements for Substitutes:
Good moral character based upon a Level 2 screening standards, as provided in Chapter 435.04, F.S.
Substitutes for the operator must be 18 years of age.
Must be certified in first aid training and infant/child CPR.
Must meet additional training requirements.
| Ratio for Center-Based Care |
Ratio for Home-Based Care |
4 infants (less than one-year old) : 1 caregiver |
4 infants (less than one-year old): 1 caregiver |
6 one-year olds: 1 caregiver |
3 infants + 3 additional children (6 children maximum) : 1 caregiver |
11 two-year olds : 1 caregiver |
6 pre-school children (if all are older than 1 year) : 1 caregiver |
15 three-year olds : 1 caregiver |
10 children (if no more than 5 are preschool age and of those 5, no more than 2 are under 1 year) : 1 caregiver |
20 four-year olds : 1 caregiver |
|
25 five-year olds and older : 1 caregiver |
|
| Age Range |
Florida Ratios For Center-based Care |
| 6 weeks |
4:1 |
| 9 weeks |
4:1 |
| 18 weeks |
6:1 |
| 3 years |
11:1 |
| 4 years |
15:1 |
| 5 years |
20:1 |
| 6 years |
25:1 |
| 7 years |
25:1 |
| 8 - 9 years |
25:1 |
| 10 years and older |
25:1 |
| Age Range |
Florida Ratios For Small Family
Child Care |
| Total Number of Children Allowed: |
2-10 |
| Maximum Number of Children to One Provider: |
10, if no more than 5
are preschool-age,
with no more than 2 younger than 1 year;
6 preschool, if none younger than 1 year;
6, with 3 younger than 1 year;
4, if all younger than 1 year |
| Provider's Own Children Counted: |
Yes; If under age 13 |
| Maximum Number of Infants/Toddlers to
One Provider: |
4 younger than 1 year |
| Age Range |
Florida Ratios For Large Family
Child Care |
| Number of Children Allowed: |
Up to 12 |
| Ratio of Children to One Provider: |
8:2 If all children are birth to 24-mos
12:2 If no more than 4 are under 24-mos |
| Provider's Own Children Counted: |
Yes, if younger than age 13 |
| |
| Child
Care Arrangements |
The Department currently regulates
the following child care settings:
• Licensed Child Care Facilities
• Licensed Family Child Care Homes
• Licensed Large Family Child Care Homes
• Licensed Specialized Child Care Facilities for the Care
of Mildly Ill Children
• Registered Family Day Care Homes*
*As registered family day care homes are not licensed, they
are not subject to onsite inspections. |
| Registered Family Day Care Homes in Florida |
Though registered homes are not licenced or inspected by the Department, they are required to provide registration
information on an annual basis that includes, but is not limited to: proof of training, background screening, and completion of a self-evaluation checklist.
REGISTERED Family Daycare Home Standards |
| Child
Care Training |
Child care training is an important component and statutory requirement of the child care licensing program.
Educating child care personnel is an essential determinant of the quality of service that children receive while
in care.
The following is a brief summary of some of the training that is required of child care personnel:
Child Care Facility Personnel: Must complete 40 hours of department approved training and subsequently
pass a competency exam. Additionally, a minimum of 10 hours in-service training is required annually. (Note:
This requirement does not apply to volunteers who work less than 40 hours per week and are under constant and direct supervision.)
Family Day Care Home Operators: Must complete 30 hours of department approved training and subsequently pass a competency exam. Additionally, a minimum of 10 hours in-service training is required annually.
Large Family Child Care Operators: Must complete 40 hours of department approved training and subsequently pass a competency exam. Additionally, a minimum of 10 hours in-service training is required annually. |
 |
Child
Care Licensing Agency
Florida Department of Children & Families
1317 Winewood Boulevard
Building 1, Room 202
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0700
Phone: (850) 487-1111
Fax: (850) 922-2993
Florida
Daycare Listings |
Child Care Subsidy Agency
Agency for Workforce Innovation
Office of Early Learning
107 East Madison Street
MSC-140
Tallahassee, FL 32399-4120
Toll Free: (866) FL-READY (866-357-3239)
Fax: (850) 921-3188 |
Head Start -
State Collaboration Office
The Holland Building
600 South Calhoun Street, Suite 202
Tallahassee, FL, 32399-4143
Phone: (850) 921-3467
Fax: (850) 488-7099
|
Child Care Food
Program Agency
Food and Nutrition Management Section
Florida Department of Education
325 West Gaines Street, Room 1014
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
Phone: (800) 504-6609
Phone: (850) 245-9262
Phone: (850) 245.4323
Fax: (850) 245-9287 |
State Child Care
Resource & Referral Contact
Agency for Workforce Innovation, Office of Early Learning
107 East Madison Street
Caldwell Building, MSC 140
Tallahassee, FL 32399-4120
Phone: (850) 921-3180
Toll Free: (866) 357-3239
Fax: (850) 921-3188
|
Office of Child
Support Enforcement
Child Support Enforcement
Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 8030
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-7016
Phone: (850) 488-8726
Fax: (850) 921-0792 |
Child Abuse Reporting
To report suspected child abuse in Florida, call Toll-Free: (800) 96-ABUSE (800-962-2873).
For national child abuse information, call Childhelp®, 800-4-A-CHILD
(800-422-4453), or your local CPS agency. |
Florida Family/Large Family Daycare Requirements
Florida Specialized Care of Mildly-Ill Children
