Licensing

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and local county offices license child care centers and family child care providers to ensure they meet minimum standards for care and physical environments.

Look up a provider’s licensing records
Many public records related to child care providers' licenses can be viewed through the Licensing Information Lookup website. You might find this helpful in selecting a child care provider or learning if action has been taken against a current provider.
- You can search for information about a provider by name, license number, program type, county, ZIP code or city.
- You can see the status of a current provider's license, including recent and some past corrective action that may have been ordered. Actions taken when minimum license standards are not met include correction orders and conditional licenses. Additional actions also may be taken, including denying an application or imposing a fine, suspending a license or revoking a license.
Requirements for family child care
County offices license family child care providers, under delegation from DHS. State rules and laws set requirements for family child care and group family child care providers. It covers items such as:
- Agency records
- Caregiver qualifications and training
- Licensed capacity, child-to-adult ratios and age distribution requirements
- Reporting requirements
- Behavior guidance
- Admission and provider records
- Physical environment, including activities and equipment; sanitation and health; water, food and nutrition.
Those who want to review the detailed requirements or apply for a family child care license can find more information online or contact their local county office.
Requirements for child care centers
DHS licenses child care centers, which include programs that provide child care, preschool/nursery programs, Head Start programs, night care, drop-in and sick care for fewer than 24 hours a day in a setting that is not a residence.

License requirements follow state laws and rules that cover items such as:
- Staff qualifications and training
- Child-to-staff ratios and age distribution requirements
- A written child care program plan that addresses items listed below.
  - Supervision
  - Age categories and number of children served
  - Goals and objectives
  - Activities
  - Each child's progress
  - Daily schedule.
- For a child with special needs, an individual child care program plan must be developed to meet that child's individual needs upon enrollment.
- Written polices addressing
  - Behavior guidance
  - Health, including first aid, safety and sanitation
  - Emergency and accident policies and records
  - Information for parents.
More information about licensing requirements for child care centers is online.
Pools at family child care programs
Family child care providers licensed in Minnesota must provide certain information to parents if there is a wading or swimming pool at the child care site.
- Information for parents, including consent forms for their children to use the pools, is on our child care safety information page.
- Information for licensed providers about pool safety and required consent also is online.
Safe sleeping position for infants
Child care providers licensed in Minnesota are required to place babies on their backs to sleep.
- Information for parents, including safe sleep videos and consent forms for alternative sleep positions, is on our child care safety information page.
- Information for licensed providers about safe sleeping training requirements also is online.
Effects of abusive head trauma and ways to prevent it
Child care providers licensed in Minnesota are required to take training to prevent abusive head trauma.
- Videos for parents and anyone who cares for children about the effects of abusive head trauma and ways to prevent it is on our child care safety information page.
- Information for licensed providers about abusive head trauma training requirements also is online.