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

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https://m.flsenate.gov/Statutes/402.313

402.313 Family child care homes.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Child care facility operators must be at least 21; personnel under 16 require direct supervision and cannot count in the staffing ratio.

Child care facility operators must be at least 21; personnel under 16 require direct supervision and cannot count in the staffing ratio.

Such minimum standards shall prohibit a person under the age of 21 from being the operator of a child care facility and a person under the age of 16 from being employed at such facility unless such person is under direct supervision and is not counted for the purposes of computing the personnel-to-child ratio.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Family home operators: approved 30-clock-hour introductory course before caring for children.

Family home operators: approved 30-clock-hour introductory course before caring for children.

Operators of family child care homes must successfully complete an approved 30-clock-hour introductory course in child care, as evidenced by passage of a competency examination, before caring for children.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Family home operators must pass a competency examination demonstrating completion of the approved introductory course.

Family home operators must pass a competency examination demonstrating completion of the approved introductory course.

Operators of family child care homes must successfully complete an approved 30-clock-hour introductory course in child care, as evidenced by passage of a competency examination, before caring for children.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Before large-family-home licensure, the home must have operated as a licensed family home for two years and its operator must have held a CDA or equivalent for one year.

Before large-family-home licensure, the home must have operated as a licensed family home for two years and its operator must have held a CDA or equivalent for one year.

A large family child care home must first have operated as a licensed family child care home for 2 years, with an operator who has had a child development associate credential or its equivalent for 1 year, before seeking licensure as a large family child care home.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Family homes require licensing where required by existing county ordinance or county commission resolution; otherwise they must register annually. Homes may volunteer for licensing.

Family homes require licensing where required by existing county ordinance or county commission resolution; otherwise they must register annually. Homes may volunteer for licensing.

Family child care homes shall be licensed under this act if they are presently being licensed under an existing county licensing ordinance or if the board of county commissioners passes a resolution that family child care homes be licensed. ... If not subject to license, family child care homes shall register annually with the department ... A family child care home may volunteer to be licensed under this act.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

State-issued center license fee: USD 1 per licensed child, minimum USD 25 and maximum USD 100. Registered home: USD 25; licensed family home: USD 50; licensed large family home: USD 60. Counties may charge their own license fee.

State-issued center license fee: USD 1 per licensed child, minimum USD 25 and maximum USD 100. Registered home: USD 25; licensed family home: USD 50; licensed large family home: USD 60. Counties may charge their own license fee.

such fee shall be $1 per child, based on the licensed capacity of the facility, except that the minimum fee shall be $25 per facility and the maximum fee shall be $100 per facility. ... For a family child care home registered ... such fee shall be $25. ... For a family child care home licensed ... such fee shall be $50. ... For a large family child care home licensed ... such fee shall be $60. ... Any county may collect a fee for any license it issues

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Family home operators need one continuing education unit or ten clock hours of approved equivalent training annually.

Family home operators need one continuing education unit or ten clock hours of approved equivalent training annually.

operators of family child care homes shall be required to complete an additional 1 continuing education unit of approved training or 10 clock hours of equivalent training, as determined by the department, annually.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Center personnel must take a 40-hour introductory course, subject to credential/exam exemptions; begin within 90 days of employment and complete within a year of starting, demonstrated by an in-person or online competency exam.

Center personnel must take a 40-hour introductory course, subject to credential/exam exemptions; begin within 90 days of employment and complete within a year of starting, demonstrated by an in-person or online competency exam.

all child care personnel take an approved 40-clock-hour introductory course in child care ... Within 90 days after employment, child care personnel shall begin training ... Child care personnel shall successfully complete such training within 1 year after the date on which the training began, as evidenced by passage of an in-person or online competency examination. ... Exemption from all or a portion of the required training shall be granted to child care personnel based upon educational credentials or passage of competency examinations.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

After initial training, center personnel need one continuing education unit or ten clock hours of approved equivalent in-service training annually.

After initial training, center personnel need one continuing education unit or ten clock hours of approved equivalent in-service training annually.

On an annual basis ... child care personnel who have fulfilled the requirements for the child care training shall be required to take an additional 1 continuing education unit of approved inservice training, or 10 clock hours of equivalent training

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Family home operators must complete one-time early-literacy/language training for children from birth to five; it counts toward five hours of annual training in the year completed.

Family home operators must complete one-time early-literacy/language training for children from birth to five; it counts toward five hours of annual training in the year completed.

Operators of family child care homes shall be required to complete 0.5 continuing education unit of approved training in early literacy and language development of children from birth to 5 years of age one time. The year that this training is completed, it shall fulfill the 0.5 continuing education unit or 5 clock hours of the annual training required in subsection (5).

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

The statutory child care facility definition generally covers paid care for more than five children unrelated to the operator, subject to the listed school, camp and other exemptions.

The statutory child care facility definition generally covers paid care for more than five children unrelated to the operator, subject to the listed school, camp and other exemptions.

“Child care facility” includes any child care center or child care arrangement which provides child care for more than five children unrelated to the operator and which receives a payment, fee, or grant for any of the children receiving care, wherever operated, and whether or not operated for profit. The following are not included:

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Florida Department of Children and Families; county-designated agencies handle local licensing

Florida Department of Children and Families; county-designated agencies handle local licensing

“Department” means the Department of Children and Families. ... “Local licensing agency” means any agency or individual designated by the county to license child care facilities.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026