Certified Child Care
Visit the Department of Children and Families’ website for more information regarding Certification.
Thank you for all you’ve done to make this process clear for us. Without you we would have felt as if we were left to fend for ourselves with brick walls, frustration, confusion, red tape and no leadership from you. Thank goodness for Supporting Families Together Association through the [Wisconsin Department of Children and Families].
– Provider comment to Pre-Licensing Specialist
Licensed Family Child Care
In Wisconsin, a family child care license is required if you are going to care for four or more children under the age of 7 years who are not related to the provider. A licensed family child care provider is limited to caring for no more than eight children at any one time. 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. Access the Family Child Care Initial Licensing Checklist under “Family Child Care Resources” below.
Licensed Group Child Care
In Wisconsin, a group child care license is required to care for nine or more children for less than 24 hours a day. 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. Access the Group Child Care Initial Licensing Checklist under “Group Child Care Resources” below.
Contact your local child care resource and referral agency for more information or visit the WI Department of Children and Families website.
*Please note, if you are starting a child care we have recently received some reports from the field that there are individuals attempting to make child care providers pay to receive Department of Workforce Development (DWD) posters that they say you must have posted in your program. Do NOT pay for these from anyone claiming that you should. These are not required to be posted by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and you can check under the DWD requirements to see whether any of them are required to be posted at your program by DWD. If you choose to post some or all of these posters you can access them for free right here.
View Info Session dates in English (PDF)
View Info Session dates in Spanish (PDF)
If you are interested in becoming a regulated child care provider and cannot decide which type would be the best for you, please join us at one of our information sessions where you will learn:
Explanation of licensing and regulation (PDF)
Overview of the licensing process for family and group child care (PDF)
Order a Family or Group Child Care Inquiry Packet by completing this form and sending with it, a check or money order for $25, payable to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to:
Department of Children and Families
2187 North Stevens Street, Suite C
Rhinelander, WI 54501
Inquiry Packets include a licensing rule book, suggested procedures for starting up a program, a start-up worksheet, and other information necessary to begin the start-up process. Once you receive the packet, complete the Child Care Business Start-Up Worksheet and mail to:
Supporting Families Together Association
700 Rayovac Drive, Suite 6
Madison, WI 53711
Supporting Families Together Association and our partnering Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies support potential early care and education professionals getting off to a strong start. With the assistance of the WI Department of Children and Families, SFTA and our partners provide the following services to potential licensed providers:
Once the worksheet is received, SFTA will assign a technical consultant to provide you with limited support—free of charge—in the areas of licensing rules and procedures, written policies, and environments. Additional technical consultation may be arranged to support providers in their preparation efforts, for an additional investment. For more information, please ask your technical consultant.
For a more detailed outline of the full process to become licensed, visit the WI Department of Children and Families’ Child Care Start-Up Information webpage. For ideas and inspiration, read about Wisconsin child care programs succeeding in YoungStar.
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