How to Get a Child care centers & homes License in Arizona (2026)

Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing

Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing

Arizona Department of Health Services Division of Public Health Licensing Bureau of Child Care Licensing

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.azdhs.gov/licensing/childcare-facilities/index.php

Child Care Licensing

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://facility-licensing.azdhs.gov

The new Child Care Licensing Management System is now live.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Center license applicants must be at least 21.

Center license applicants must be at least 21.

An applicant for a license shall: 1. Be at least 21 years of age;

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Group-home provider: high school diploma, equivalency diploma, associate degree or bachelor's degree; Department orientation is also required.

Group-home provider: high school diploma, equivalency diploma, associate degree or bachelor's degree; Department orientation is also required.

Has a high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, associate degree, or bachelor degree; ... Has completed Department-provided orientation training

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Has completed at least three credit hours in child growth and development, nutrition, psychology, or early childhood education; ... Has completed at least 60 hours of training in child growth and development, nutrition, psychology, early childhood education, or management of a child care business; or ... Has at least 12 months of child care experience;

Group-home provider must meet one alternative: three credits in child growth/development, nutrition, psychology or early childhood education; 60 training hours in those subjects or child care business management; or 12 months of child care experience.

Has completed at least three credit hours in child growth and development, nutrition, psychology, or early childhood education; ... Has completed at least 60 hours of training in child growth and development, nutrition, psychology, early childhood education, or management of a child care business; or ... Has at least 12 months of child care experience;

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Centers and child care group homes must have liability insurance.

Centers and child care group homes must have liability insurance.

centers are required to have liability insurance and fire, sanitation and safety inspections. Child care group homes are required to have liability insurance and meet local zoning requirements.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

A certificate is valid unless it is revoked or suspended or the licensee does not pay the licensure fee and may be renewed by submitting the certification fee as prescribed by the department under subsection C of this section.

A certificate is valid unless it is revoked or suspended or the licensee does not pay the licensure fee and may be renewed by submitting the certification fee as prescribed by the department pursuant to subsection C of this section. Applies to: Child care group-home certificate

A certificate is valid unless it is revoked or suspended or the licensee does not pay the licensure fee and may be renewed by submitting the certification fee as prescribed by the department pursuant to subsection C of this section.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Group-home certification is required for care of five or more children for compensation; a person may care for four or fewer without group-home certification.

Group-home certification is required for care of five or more children for compensation; a person may care for four or fewer without group-home certification.

No, a person may care for four or fewer children for compensation without being a certified child care group home. A person caring for five or more children for compensation must be certified by BCCL in order to operate legally.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

A child care facility must be licensed by ADHS before receiving a child for care, supervision or training.

A child care facility must be licensed by ADHS before receiving a child for care, supervision or training.

A child care facility shall not receive any child for care, supervision or training unless the facility is licensed by the department of health services.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Group-home designated provider must live in the residence and be at least 21.

Group-home designated provider must live in the residence and be at least 21.

Designate a provider who: a. Lives in the residence; b. Is 21 years of age or older;

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

A facility director is 21 years of age or older ... At least three months of child care experience and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field;

Center directors must be at least 21; one qualifying pathway is three months of child care experience and a bachelor's degree in early childhood, child development or a closely related field from an accredited institution.

A facility director is 21 years of age or older ... At least three months of child care experience and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field;

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Center licenses remain valid unless revoked, suspended, or the licensure fee is unpaid; the Department collects annual fees subject to available funding.

Center licenses remain valid unless revoked, suspended, or the licensure fee is unpaid; the Department collects annual fees subject to available funding.

Pursuant to available funding, the department shall collect annual fees. ... A license is valid from the date of issuance unless it is subsequently revoked or suspended or the licensee does not pay the licensure fee

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Center licenses are not transferable between people and are valid only for the original premises.

Center licenses are not transferable between people and are valid only for the original premises.

The license is not transferable from person to person and is valid only for the quarters occupied at the time of issuance.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026