Child care provider licensing requirements
The purpose of licensing is to provide standards which protect the health and safety of your children. In Minnesota, licensing rules are minimum standards; providers must meet standards for caregiver qualifications, physical environment, number of children per caregiver, behavior guidance, required policies and records, activities, and equipment. Family Child Care homes are licensed by the county of residence and Child Care Centers are licensed by the state of Minnesota. For more information about a family child care license or an application, contact your local social service agency or contact the DHS Licensing Division at 612-296-3971. For TTY communication, contact the Minnesota Relay Service at 1-800-627-3529.
Licensed programs must display their license at all times. When choosing child care, check the ratios of adults to children. An important indicator of high quality child care is that the number of children per adult provider is small enough so that each child receives sufficient individual attention and care.