In Wisconsin, a family day care license is required to care for 4 to 8 children who are younger than 12 years of age and are not immediate relatives of the provider. Many resources are available from a variety of agencies, to assist you in exploring this career option and in preparing to apply for a license. WCCIP has a contract with the State of Wisconsin to help you with this preparation. This web site is designed to help you connect with the essential information.

How do I get started?
How can I obtain a copy of the licensing rules?
Where can I get the forms I will need to use?
What else will I need?
Is zoning an issue?
Will I need a building inspection?

Will I need a water test?
Are background checks required?
What training must I have?
What is required of my home, or wherever I plan to operate a family day care center
Do I need policies or contracts?
Is insurance required?
Other questions?

How do I get started?
You will need to order a Family Day Care Inquiry Packet by sending a check or money order for $10 to your Regional Licensing Office. Complete the Business Start-Up Worksheet in the inquiry packet and mail it to WCCIP. A Technical Advisor (TA) will be assigned to help you.

How can I obtain a copy of the licensing rules?
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/childcare/licensed/Rules.HTM
The rules may be downloaded (caution: they are lengthy), or you may order a copy for $10 from your Regional Licensing Office.

Where can I get the forms I will need to use?
http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/childcare/licensed/Forms.htm

What else will I need?
The Child Care Information Center (CCIC) http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/ccic/ distributes many excellent, free resources, some of which you will be required to have. We especially recommend these:

G-3: Family Child Care Licensing Process, which gives an overview of the steps and requirements that must be met
D-26: List of Items Needed at the Site Prior to Provisional Licensing
H-1: Your Guide to Licensed Child Care, a pamphlet which must be given to each family
C-30: Babies Sleep Safest on Their Backs, a pamphlet which must be given to each family with a child under 2 years of age.

Read the entire listing, and request all that appear helpful to you. You may phone CCIC at 1-800-362-7353 for additional information. CCIC has an extensive book and videotape collection, any of which can be sent to you at no cost, other than return postage.

Is zoning an issue?
If you wish to operate a licensed family day care center somewhere other than your own residence, ask your local zoning commission if this is allowed in your community, and if so, if any permit or special appeal is needed.

Will I need a building inspection?
http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/COM/Com-Safety-and-Buildings.html

No, unless you wish to do licensed family day care in other than a 1- or 2-family dwelling, then a commercial building inspection is required. Your building will need to be inspected (there may be a fee involved) by one of the following:

1. Certified local building inspector
2. Wisconsin registered architect or engineer
3. Commercial building inspector certified by the Wisconsin Dept. of Commerce
4. Certified fire chief

Will I need a water test?

Yes.  If you have a private well, water must be tested annually for bacteria; if you wish to care for children under 6 months of age, it must also be tested for nitrates.  Click here for more information. 

Are background checks required?
Yes. Once a completed application is submitted, the licensing office will do a background check on the licensee along with anyone living in the home ages 10 and older and the child care center will complete background checks on anyone having direct contact with the children including staff, volunteers and substitute caregivers. For more information, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services website.

What training must I have?
A family child care provider must have 40 hours of training in early childhood education. This may be obtained through technical colleges, 4-year colleges, or independent study courses. In addition, such classes may be offered by some other agencies, with Wisconsin Dept. of Health and Family Services approval. The Registry (608-222-1123) may have information on sources of such approved trainings.

Effective September 1, 2003, names of DHFS approved non-credit courses that meet entry-level requirements have changed. Courses completed (or begun) prior to September 1, 2003, will continue to be accepted to meet the entry level training requirements. The new course names are as follows:

Introduction to the Child Care Profession plus Fundamentals of Family Child Care, together, have replaced the 40-hour Family Child Care class. Some training agencies split the "Introduction" course into Module A and Module B, so that "A" meets certification requirements and "A+B" meets licensing requirements.

If you have had a three credit course in child development, or a similar broad-based course specific to early childhood education, this will fulfill the requirement.

If you have taken a 40 hour course to work in a group day care program, such as "Early Childhood 1", you have met the 40 hour training requirement.

In order to be licensed to care for children younger than 1 year of age, you must have completed either "Introduction to the Child Care Profession" + "Fundamentals of Family Child Care" or "Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care." This ensures that all who care for infants receive SIDS prevention information before they begin caring for infants.  

If any child in care (other than your own) will be younger than 2 years of age, you are required to take "Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care." If you will only care for children age 12 months and older, then you have the period of your 6-month probationary period to get this training.

Providers who complete all training prior to receiving their licenses get off to a better-prepared start. However, Wisconsin law requires only that training be completed by the end of the 6-month probationary period, except for the new law regarding care of children under 1 year of age, described in the previous paragraph.

All course work must be approved by the Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS)

For information on training available to you, contact:
Area technical colleges. Many offer home-study version of their classes.
Your Resource and Referral Agency for information on local training sources.
The Registry: (608) 222-1123

Click here for a current list of Wisconsin DHFS-approved home-study courses.

What is required of my home, or wherever I plan to operate a family day care center?

1. In order for care to be done on a lower level, more than 6' below grade, there must be a second exit from that level - either a second stairway, or an exit door in an “exposed” basement, or a legal exit window (one at least 20" x 24", that can be opened from the inside.) Spiral stairways may not be used. The two exits should be located in different areas of the basement, i.e., the exit window should not be next to the stairway.
   
   
2. If children are cared for on an upper level, more than 6' above grade, a window (as described in #1) may serve as the second exit. It is not required to have a fire escape or balcony.
   
   
3. If any children under age 2 are cared for on an upper level (as described above), there must be interconnected smoke alarms, and no more than 2 such children may be cared for on these levels by one provider.
   
   
4. Fencing at least 48" high is required around outdoor play space whenever any potential hazard is present. “Hazards” include proximity to high speed and/or high volume traffic, sharp change in elevation, presence on or near property of water- - stream, lake, pool. In the absence of definite hazards, a licensor has the option of granting an exemption and requiring the provider to be outside directly supervising the children at all times.
   
   
5. Interior railings along stairs, balconies, etc. must be spaced no more than 4" apart. Netting, Plexiglas panels, lattice or other materials may be used with railings spaced more widely. If outdoor balconies, decks, or porches are used as play spaces, these are held to the same 4" requirement. If, however, children merely pass across that space to reach the playground, this would not be imposed.
   
   
6. Safety issues are as follows: facility must have a fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 2A-10BC; smoke detectors are required on each level of the center and in nap areas; cribs and playpens with wood slats must have no more than 2 3/8" space between slats; high chairs must have safety straps that go between legs.
   
   
7. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in licensed space, indoor or outdoor, when children in care are present. This includes rooms used by children, bathrooms, halls and entryways, and lobbies used by children to leave and enter the child care center.
   
   
8. Factors which can result in delay or denial of license include (but are not limited to) broken steps or rails; cracked or broken glass; torn carpeting; holes in ground, floor or porch; toy boxes without safety hinges; unprotected basement stairwells or window wells; failure to have references reply to request for information and failure to pass the background check.

Do I need policies or contract?

Policies which describe many aspects of your program are required. A detailed policy development guideline will be sent to you once you formally begin your preparation by submitting a worksheet to WCCIP. Click here for a sample policy template that meets WI requirements.  Other sample policies are available from CCIC , but be sure what you write reflects your own ideas and philosophy. Your WCCIP advisor will review the draft you develop.

Contracts are documents that finalize the financial and legal aspects of your relationship with the parents or guardians. While contracts are not required for licensure, they are strongly recommended, for your own protection.

Is Insurance required?
No. While it is strongly recommended, under Wisconsin law, you are only required to inform parents, in your written policies, whether you do or do not have liability insurance on your child care business operations and your property.  However, pet liability insurance is required if cats or dogs are in areas accessible to children during licensed hours.

Other questions?
You may ask questions by clicking on the “licensing” button on the WCCIP home page, or by calling the WCCIP InfoLine—800-366-3556—between 9 AM and 4 PM any week day.

Click here for more information on frequently asked questions, policies, recordkeeping, etc.