Where to Check License Status On Your Childcare Provider

Finding the right provider requires a lot of questions and a lot of diligence prior to enrolling. Our helpful resources walk you through the process so you feel confident you’re making a decision that’s right for your family.

Start by understanding what to look for in a provider. There are four things to look for and understand:
1. Word-of-mouth referrals are great, but every family has different needs, so take them with a grain of salt
2. A school’s philosophy should align with your parenting style
3. How a provider communicates and how often they communicate is critical
4. Your family’s values should be reflected in the school
5. Every parent has personal preferences and priorities, so consider yours during your search

From there, you’ll identify providers who may be a good fit and being touring. On a tour, there are many questions to ask. Don’t be shy - you’re determining who should care for your child potentially as much as you do. Everything from discipline, to curriculum, to school closures is vital before enrolling. Our reference guide gives you a great list to help prepare you prior.

Lastly, once you’ve narrowed down your selection, you can search for your provider’s license status online. Your provider’s license status will often tell you when they were licensed, the dates of their inspections what, if any, violations have occurred, and what, if any, substantiated complaints have been logged against them.

Below is a list of places you can find your child care provider’s license status information in each state.

Alabama
Alabama Department of Human Resources

Alaska
Department of Health and Social Services

Arizona
Department of Health Services

Arkansas
Arkansas Child Care Information

California
California Department of Social Services

Colorado
Colorado Shines

Connecticut
State of Connecticut E-License Website

Delaware
Delaware FirstMap

Florida
Department of Children and Families

Georgia
Department of Early Care and Learning

Hawaii
Hawaii Department of Human Services

Idaho
Idaho Child Care Check

Illinois
Department of Children & Daily Services

Indiana
Indiana Child Care Finder

Iowa
Iowa Department of Human Services

Kansas
Kansas Department of Health & Environment

Kentucky
Benefind

Louisiana
Louisiana School Finder

Maine
Child Care Choices

Maryland
Maryland State Department of Education

Massachusetts
Department of Early Education and Care

Michigan
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Minnesota
Department of Human Services

Mississippi
Mississippi State Department of Health

Missouri
Missouri Department of Healthy & Senior Services

Montana
Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services

Nebraska
Department of Health & Human Services

Nevada
Division of Public & Behavioral Health

New Hampshire
Department of Health & Human Services

New Jersey
Department of Children and Families

New Mexico
Children, Youth, & Families Department

New York
Office of Children & Family Services
NYC Health

North Carolina
Division of Child Development & Early Education

North Dakota
ChildCare Aware of North Dakota

Ohio
Department of Education/Department of Job and Family Services

Oklahoma
Department of Human Services

Oregon
Department of Education

Pennsylvania
Compass

Rhode Island
Department of Children, Youth & Families

South Carolina
Department of Social Services

South Dakota
Department of Social Services

Tennessee
Department of Human Services

Texas
Department of Health & Human Services

Utah
Department of Health

Vermont
Department for Children & Family

Virginia
Department of Social Services

Washington
Department of Children, Youth, & Families

Washington DC
Office of the State Superintendent of Education

West Virginia
Bureau for Children & Families

Wisconsin
Department of Children & Families

Wyoming
Department of Family Services

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