{"id":5463,"date":"2026-01-05T18:08:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T18:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/s37407.p1377.sites.pressdns.com\/resources\/child-care-center-licensing-by-state\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T18:08:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T18:08:41","slug":"child-care-center-licensing-by-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/child-care-center-licensing-by-state\/","title":{"rendered":"Verify a child care center&#8217;s licensing: Search by state"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Before deciding on a daycare or child care center or other care facility, you should ensure it is up to date on necessary licensing. To verify the accreditation and licensing status of a daycare or child care center near you or to see if a provider has past complaints or violations, you may visit your state&rsquo;s Department of Licensing.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-custom-dynamic-list key-takeaways-block\"><h3>Key takeaways<\/h3><div class=\"key-takeaways-container\"><ul><li>Licensing requirements vary by state, and state-licensed child care providers are required to have licensing inspections each year and these are public record; however, not all child care businesses may be required to obtain a license.<\/li><li>Families should confirm the requirements to ensure a center they&rsquo;re considering is not operating unlicensed when it should be licensed.<\/li><li>Always check the information about a child care business that&rsquo;s important to you.<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><p><\/p><p><em>Please note: State links are supplied for your convenience, but available information varies by jurisdiction and is updated at different frequencies, so the information may not be fully complete or accurate for a particular business at all times. Links were last checked at the publication date of this article, which will be updated from time to time.<\/em><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-follow-the-link-subject-to-change-to-your-state-s-department-of-licensing-below\">Follow the link (subject to change) to your state&rsquo;s Department of Licensing below:<\/h2><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.dhr.alabama.gov\/daycare\/daycare_search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alabama<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/hhs.muni.org\/cac\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Alaska&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/hsapps.azdhs.gov\/ls\/sod\/SearchProv.aspx?type=CC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arizona&#8203;<\/a> &#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/ardhslicensing.my.site.com\/elicensing\/s\/search-provider\/find-providers?tab=CC&amp;language=en_US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arkansas<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ccld.dss.ca.gov\/carefacilitysearch\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">California&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.colorado.gov\/apps\/jboss\/cdhs\/childcare\/lookup\/index.jsf%E2%80%8B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colorado<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/search.211childcare.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Connecticut<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/delaware.maps.arcgis.com\/apps\/webappviewer\/index.html?id=106bc5ac91a24fb38533dc029b34bb5b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Delaware<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/caressearch.myflfamilies.com\/PublicSearch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Florida&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/families.decal.ga.gov\/ChildCare\/Search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Georgia<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/stage.worklifesystems.com\/parent\/39\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hawaii&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.idahochildcarecheck.org\/search\">Idaho<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov\/Content\/Licensing\/Daycare\/MonitoringReports.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Illinois<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/secure.in.gov\/apps\/fssa\/providersearch\/map\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Indiana&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us\/dhs_titan_public\/ChildCare\/ComplianceReport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Iowa&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us\/OIDS\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kansas&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/kynect.ky.gov\/benefits\/s\/child-care-provider?origin=program-page&amp;language=en_US\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kentucky&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/louisianaschools.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Louisiana<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.childcarechoices.me\/SearchForChildcare.aspx%E2%80%8B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maine<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkccmd.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maryland<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/eeclead.force.com\/EEC_ChildCareSearch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Massachusetts<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/cclb.my.site.com\/micchirp\/s\/statewide-facility-search\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michigan<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/licensinglookup.dhs.state.mn.us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Minnesota<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.msdh.provider.webapps.ms.gov\/ccsearch.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mississippi&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/healthapps.dhss.mo.gov\/childcaresearch\/searchengine.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Missouri&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/dphhs.mt.gov\/ecfsd\/childcare\/childcarelicensing\/providersearch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Montana<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nebraska.gov\/LISSearch\/search.cgi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nebraska&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/nvdpbh.aithent.com\/Protected\/LIC\/LicenseeSearch.aspx?Program=CCP&amp;PubliSearch=Y&amp;returnURL=~%2fLogin.aspx%3fTI%3d1#noback%E2%80%8B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nevada<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washoecounty.gov\/hsa\/childrens_services\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nevada (Washoe&nbsp;County&#8203;)<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.nh.gov\/licenseverification\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Hampshire<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/childcareexplorer.njccis.com\/portal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Jersey&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmececd.org\/child-care-services\/child-care-licensed-and-registered-provider-inspection-surveys\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New Mexico<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/ocfs.ny.gov\/main\/childcare\/ccfs_template.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York<\/a>&nbsp;&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/a816-healthpsi.nyc.gov\/ChildCare\/search.action\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York&nbsp;boroughs (city)<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov\/childcaresearch\">North Carolina<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/search.ec.hhs.nd.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">North Dakota&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/childcaresearch.ohio.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ohio&#8203;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"http:\/\/childcarefind.okdhs.org\/childcarefind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oklahoma<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/findchildcareoregon.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oregon<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.compass.state.pa.us\/Compass.Web\/ProviderSearch\/Home#\/BasicSearch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pennsylvania<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/earlylearningprograms.dhs.ri.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rhode Island<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/scchildcare.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Carolina<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/olapublic.sd.gov\/child-care-provider-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">South Dakota<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/onedhs.tn.gov\/csp?id=tn_cc_prv_maps%20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tennessee<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/childcare.hhs.texas.gov\/Public\/childcaresearch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Texas<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/ccl.utah.gov\/ccl\/#\/facilities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Utah<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightfutures.dcf.state.vt.us\/vtcc\/reset.do?0Mmr3gjumkz13-SgYEjWekr3%3dxguw3YEa.aU7zaju.xnn.xGOSS-Oh-SD%2bSd%256UGh%256UO0.q6qgwEkeUs3peYY.wjRszYgwUVm3kmLmkkUs_umUkYAgsUWVjUVm3mWgwkmpwUVm31mLUjsegkz13S6OhqhO6O0qDS_SD\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vermont<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dss.virginia.gov\/facility\/search\/cc.cgi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Virginia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findchildcarewa.org\/#\">Washington<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/bfa.wv.gov\/page\/find-childcare-provider\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">West Virginia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/childcarefinder.wisconsin.gov\/Search\/Search.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wisconsin<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/findchildcarewy.org\/maps\/index.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wyoming<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/childcareconnections.osse.dc.gov\/MyChildCare\/ProviderSearch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Washington DC<\/a>&#8203;<\/li><\/ul><p>Alternatively, you can use the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.childcareaware.org\/resources\/map\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Child Care Aware website<\/a> to learn more about child care resources, including licensing for your state.<\/p><p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For easy daycare or child care license lookup and to review any past complaints or violations, follow the link to your state\u2019s Department of Licensing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":975,"featured_media":43382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"enable_toc":false,"care_reviewed_by":0,"care_post_updated_flag":false,"care_updated_date":"2026-01-05T18:08:35.885Z","last_update":"2026-01-05","view_count":129683,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"member-type":[3],"vertical":[6,17,16,13],"platform":[2],"class_list":["post-5463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","member-type-seeker","vertical-children","vertical-child-care-advice","vertical-child-care-options","vertical-kids-health-safety","platform-resources"],"acf":[],"created":"2019-05-21","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/975"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5463"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":225001,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5463\/revisions\/225001"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5463"},{"taxonomy":"member-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/member-type?post=5463"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=5463"},{"taxonomy":"platform","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.care.com\/c\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/platform?post=5463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}