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Applying for Certified, License-Exempt Child Care

The Department of Human Services (DHS) is responsible for certifying and monitoring license-exempt child care centers that participate in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Certification helps protect the health and safety of children by requiring that providers meet minimum standards for care and physical environment. In Minnesota, a license-exempt child care center is required by state law to become certified in order to accept funding from the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

What is certified child care in Minnesota?

Information session for interested applicants

The Child Care Center Licensing Unit offers an information session for individuals interested in applying for child care center certification. The session features information on the different phases of the process to obtain child care center certification in Minnesota.

Participation is not a requirement of the certification process for child care centers. This session is intended to support applicants, provide guidance, and offer resources related to applying for child care center certification. Individuals considering certification should ensure the child care center is exempt from licensure and eligible for certification before registering.

More information, including links to register, can be found on the main Certified child care centers website.

What are the requirements for certified child care centers?

The requirements are laws of the state and are published by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. The state requirements for certified child care centers, Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245H specify the minimum health and safety standards for care and the physical environment of the child care facility.

Phases of the application process for certification

The application process for certification of a license-exempt child care center in Minnesota is broken into two phases.

  • Phase I - The applicant submits the application, including policies and procedures, and the floor plan and fire inspection (if available) in the Provider Hub licensing website.
  • Phase II - After a licensor approves the submitted policies and procedures, the applicant will be prompted to submit staffing information in the Provider Hub. This phase includes final approval of all requirements including background studies.

Applications are submitted through the Provider Hub. If you are an existing certification holder applying for a new location, you will apply for a new center location in your existing Provider Hub account. If you are a new certification applicant that does not currently operate a certified center, you will create a new account.

For instructions on logging into the Provider Hub, visit Provider Hub: Getting started.

Provider Hub Assistance

  • For help getting started in the Provider Hub, visit Provider Hub: Getting started.
  • For additional questions about the Provider Hub, you can search for Help & Resources or open a Product Experience Support Case within the Provider Hub, or call our Product Experience Support Team at (651) 431-6075.
  • For feedback about the Provider Hub, email the product team at ccproviderhub.dhs@state.mn.us.

Certification Assistance

Phase I

Phase I of the application process allows a center to apply for certification with the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

Application

Application is the first step required to become a certified child care center in Minnesota. A single application can be used to start the application process for one or more center locations within one organization.

All applications must be completed online in the Provider Hub. For instructions on logging into the Provider Hub, visit Provider Hub: Getting started.

Accurately identifying the organization and individuals responsible for the administration and operation of a certified license-exempt child care center is a significant step in completing the application. The roles identified on the application are verified by the DHS Licensing Division and entered into the licensing system as the legal entities for the certified center. Use the definitions below to identify each individual's role:

Policies and procedures

Minnesota statute requires that the certification holder develop policies and procedures necessary to maintain compliance with requirements. Each center will be required to submit the center’s policies and procedures. It is highly recommended that centers use the Guidelines for Developing Policies and Procedures as a resource to ensure that policies and procedures meet all requirements. The center’s policies and procedures will be reviewed by a licensor and must include the written policies required in Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.13, subdivision 8 before a center will be granted certification.

Fire inspection and floor plan

Each certified center will be required to submit documentation of fire inspection and a floor plan showing the indoor and outdoor space used by the center prior to certification.

Legal authority:  Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.13, subdivision 5

NetStudy 2.0 account

As a part of Phase I, applicants will receive a Net Study 2.0 onboarding email. Applicants must create a NetStudy 2.0 account to submit background studies for individuals who require a background study. Delays in completing background studies during the application process can extend the timeline for granting certification.

Phase II

When DHS has received, verified and approved the information required in Phase I of the application, the center operator will receive a notification regarding the information needed for personnel information. Phase II also requires the center to have completed all NetStudy 2.0 background studies. Any fire inspection approval and floor plan not submitted in Phase I, must be submitted in Phase II.

Incomplete requirements

After initial submission and review, the applicant will receive notice if any required application information needs to be re-submitted, updated, or changed. At that point, the applicant will be given 45 days to respond. Failure to respond and submit a substantially complete application within the 45 days will result in denial of the application.

Certification granted

If all applicable requirements are met, certification is granted.

Application denial

If the applicant is consistently unable to provide documentation of compliance with certification requirements, withholds relevant information, or provides false and misleading information in connection with the application, DHS may deny the application. Failure to submit a complete application after receiving notice from DHS that the initial application was incomplete, can also be basis for denying certification. If an application for certification is denied, written notice of reconsideration may be requested by the applicant.

Legal authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.03, subdivision 4

Certification

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