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Minnesota law (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 245A) starts with requiring that all individuals or organizations providing child care are licensed.
Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.03, subdivision 2 includes a limited list of situations where individuals or organizations caring for children are not required to be licensed. These exceptions are referred as exclusions from licensure, and the care is referred to as license-exempt child care. License-exempt child care is not regulated or monitored by the Department of Human Services (DHS).
Minnesota Statutes, Section 245H requires license-exempt child care to become certified in order to participate in the State’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Therefore, a license-exempt child care center that becomes certified is referred to as a certified license-exempt child care center. DHS regulates and monitors certified license-exempt child care centers. License-exempt child care that does not become certified is not eligible to participate in CCAP.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.03, subdivision 2; Minnesota Statute section, 245H.02
The following exclusions from licensure describe programs that care for children and are not required to be licensed under the authority of Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.03, subdivision 2:
Minnesota Statutes, section, 245H.02 calls out these specific exclusions from licensure that allow a program to be eligible to become certified and participate in Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). In order to apply for certification, a program must meet one of those exclusions from licensure.
For more information on exclusions and eligibility for certification specific to a program’s unique circumstances, contact DHS licensing at 651-431-6015 or dhs.ccc.licensing@state.mn.us.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.03, subdivision 2; Minnesota Statutes, section, 245H.02
License-exempt certified child care centers can serve children and families using Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) funding. A family who is authorized to receive CCAP assistance for child care costs, can only send their child to receive care at a program that is authorized to receive CCAP payments. In Minnesota, CCAP only authorizes licensed child care centers, licensed family child care providers, certified license-exempt child care centers, and legal non-licensed child care providers.
Certification requirements provide standards for practices that ensure healthy and safe child care. Certification requirements are based on federal standards.
DHS licensing staff is available to support certified license-exempt child care centers in becoming certified and maintaining certification. Each center has an assigned licensor.
The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) is a state government program administered by local, county or tribal governments that provides financial assistance to help eligible families with low incomes pay for child care so that they can work, pursue employment, or engage in education leading to employment. A large percentage of this funding comes from federal funding through the Child Care Development Block Grant.
Once a center is granted certification, the certified child care center is eligible to register with CCAP as a provider. Once registered, the center can receive subsidized payments for child care for children whose families are eligible to receive child care assistance.
For more information about CCAP, visit CCAP Information for Child Care Programs on the Department of Children, Youth, and Families website.
For questions about the Child Care Assistance Program, email CCAP.Providers.DCYF@state.mn.us or call 651-431-4848. If you want to apply, have questions about applying for child care assistance or a specific case, contact your county office, tribal office or contracted agency.
The Certified Child Care Centers and CCAP Informational Sheet (PDF) is a great summary of information on certification and participation in the Child Care Assistance Program in our State.
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.
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.
The application process for certification of a license-exempt child care center in Minnesota is broken into two phases.
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
Certification Assistance
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:
The organization name that is legally responsible for the operation of the center, and granted certification by the commissioner. Examples: School District, Parks and Rec, YMCA, etc. For School Districts the name should be the same as what is listed with the Minnesota Department of Education.
Person exercising supervision or control over the center’s operations, planning, and functioning. Typically, the Center Operator is the person completing the application and identifies who the Authorized Agent is for the organization.
This is the name of the child care center. If there is more than one center, the naming convention should be center specific. Example: After School Program- Lincoln Elementary.
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.
Certified centers must include the following health and safety areas in their center’s policies. Each policy will need to be uploaded in the hub as a separate document.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.13 subdivision 8
Certified centers must develop a risk reduction plan as specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.13, subdivision 7 that identifies the general risks to children served by the certified center with a plan to minimize those risks. Certified centers may use the DHS Risk Reduction Plan form to meet this requirement.
It is also required that staff are trained at orientation, at least once each calendar year and when changes are made to the Risk Reduction Plan. For more information on this requirement, see the Training requirements section below.
Legal authority: Minn. Stat. 245H.13, Subd.10; Minn. Stat. 245H.14, Subd. 5; Minn. Stat. 245H.14, Subd. 6.
Certified centers must develop emergency plans using the Department of Human Services Child Care Emergency Plan Form. If a license holder has more than one certified center, each center must have their own emergency plan that is specific to each location.
The Emergency Plan will be reviewed by a licensor and must include all required information specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.15, subdivision 1 before a center will be granted certification.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.15
Certified centers must have written policies for staff to comply with reporting requirements for abuse and neglect specified in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260E. Refer to form DHS-7634D, Maltreatment of Minors Mandated Reporting. A person mandated to report physical or sexual abuse or neglect occurring within a certified center shall report the information to the commissioner.
Policies for reporting must also include statements that the certification holder must inform the commissioner within 24 hours of:
The certification holder must use the Serious Injury and Death Reporting Form (PDF) on the Certified Center web page to make a report.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statute, section 260E
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
A certified center must provide documentation showing that a fire inspection was completed within the previous three years prior to obtaining certification. If this has been completed, attach the fire inspection at this time
If this has not been completed, DHS must request the fire inspection. If you believe you need an inspection or have questions, please email us at dhs.ccc.licensing@state.mn.us. Certified centers that need a fire marshal inspection will be required to pay $50 to the state fire marshal for the inspection. The State Fire Marshal has created a resource showing the step-by-step process individuals can follow before a fire inspection is requested by DHS for a program in application. The Interagency Inspection Requests for DHS-Licensed or Certified Child Care Facilities (PDF) can be found on the State Fire Marshal website.
For certified centers located in a public school building, this have already been completed and you can provide documentation from your school.
For centers NOT located in a public school building, an appropriate fire inspection will need to be completed prior to granting certification.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statute, section 245H.13 subdivision 5
Each center will be required to submit a floor plan of the building that designates the following:
Legal authority: Minnesota Statute, section 245H.13 subdivision 5
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.
Minnesota law requires individuals affiliated with a certified child care center, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.02, subdivision 6a, to have a background study completed by the Department of Human Services (DHS). A resource is available to assist in the identification of Who Needs a Background Study in a certified license-exempt child care center.
The Background Studies Division has additional information about background study requirements for child care providers on the Background Study website. Information about the background study system and how to initiate child care background studies is found on the NETStudy 2.0 website.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.10; Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.02, subdivision 6a; Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.14; Minnesota Statutes, section 245C.22
Personnel information is required for the director, all staff persons that will work with children providing direct contact services, substitute staff, and unsupervised volunteers. The information required in Statute includes:
Certified centers will submit personnel information into the Provider Hub to demonstrate compliance with staff documentation and training requirements for certification. The personnel information will be reviewed by a licensor and must be complete for all required individuals before a center will be granted certification.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statute, section 245H.14
Director information is required to be submitted for each child care center. The director must be 18 years of age or older and have completed at least 16 hours of training per requirements listed in 245H.08, subd.02. The Director information will be reviewed by a licensor to ensure that the director meets qualifications before a center will be granted certification.
If a certification holder has multiple centers at different locations, any number of the centers can have the same director as long as an assigned designee(s) covers the operating hours at all locations when the director is not onsite.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.08, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes, section 245H.08 subdivision 2
If the fire inspection was not submitted during Phase I an approved fire inspection will need to be uploaded before certification is granted.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statute, section 245H.13 subdivision 5
If the floor plan was not submitted during Phase I an approved floor plan will need to be uploaded before certification is granted.
Legal authority: Minnesota Statute, section 245H.13 subdivision 5
If all applicable requirements are met, certification is granted.
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