Kentucky Child Care Centers and Homes License: Requirements, Cost & How to Apply (2026)
Quick answer
Certified family homes serve at most six unrelated children, plus up to four related children, for a total maximum of ten.
Required hours
Certified family homes: six hours of Kentucky Orientation within 90 days of application submission.
Minimum age
Certified family home applicants: at least 18 years old.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
How to get a child care centers and homes license in Kentucky
Check the licensing authority
Board
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Regulated Child Care
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Cabinet for Health and Family Services ... Office of Inspector General ... Division of Regulated Child Care
Official sourceOfficial agency page
Prepare your application
Apply with the agency
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Type I or Type II Licensed Child-Care Initial Application
Official sourceConfirm your next step with the agency
Review the official instructions for your situation before applying.
Open the official agency page
What else should I know?
Agency guidance
Certified family homes serve at most six unrelated children, plus up to four related children, for a total maximum of ten.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Care cannot exceed six unrelated children or four related children in addition to six unrelated children for a maximum of 10 children at any time.Official source
Agency guidance
Certified family home certification fee: $10, nonrefundable.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Applicants must submit a nonrefundable certification fee of $10Official source
Agency guidance
All required training completed by the provider must also be completed by every assistant and substitute provider. ... Complete nine hours of Cabinet-approved early care and education professional development annually. ... Complete one and one-half hours of Cabinet-approved pediatric abusive head trauma professional development every five years
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
All required training completed by the provider must also be completed by every assistant and substitute provider. ... Complete nine hours of Cabinet-approved early care and education professional development annually. ... Complete one and one-half hours of Cabinet-approved pediatric abusive head trauma professional development every five yearsOfficial source
Agency guidance
The official family-home page provides the initial certification application and mailing instructions.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
OIG-DRCC-03 Initial Certification Application for Family Child-Care HomeOfficial source
What are the Kentucky child care centers and homes license requirements?
Age
Certified family home applicants: at least 18 years old.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Applicants must provide proof that they are at least 18 years of ageOfficial source
Education
Certified family home applicants need a high school diploma or Commonwealth Child Care Credential, plus infant/child CPR and first aid certification.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Applicants must have a high school diploma or a Commonwealth Child Care Credential. ... Applicants must be certified in infant and child CPR and first aid.Official source
Insurance
Certified family homes: commercial liability coverage of at least $50,000 per occurrence within 90 days after starting the application process.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Applicants must obtain commercial liability insurance of at least $50,000 per occurrence within 90 days of initiation of the application process.Official source
Required hours
Certified family homes: six hours of Kentucky Orientation within 90 days of application submission.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
After submitting your application for certification, you must complete the following requirements within 90 days of the submission date: ... Complete six professional development hours of Kentucky Orientation for Child CareOfficial source
How do I renew my child care centers and homes license in Kentucky?
Continuing education topics
Certified family homes: early care and education; orientation covers health, safety, sanitation, recognizing child abuse and neglect, and developmentally appropriate practice.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Kentucky Orientation for Child Care, which includes health, safety and sanitation; recognition of child abuse and neglect; and developmentally appropriate child care practice. ... Complete nine hours of Cabinet-approved early care and education professional development annually.Official source
View renewal deadlines, fees and CE
Have a license or permit? Use the expiration date printed on it to set up your calendar and reminders.
How much does a child care centers and homes license cost in Kentucky?
Bonds and insurance
Insurance
Certified family homes: commercial liability coverage of at least $50,000 per occurrence within 90 days after starting the application process.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026 — source and quotation
Applicants must obtain commercial liability insurance of at least $50,000 per occurrence within 90 days of initiation of the application process.Official source
Confirm the charges and conditions for your application with the official agency.
How do I look up a child care centers and homes license in Kentucky?
License lookup link: Not verified yet. Check the licensing agency or browse license lookup by state.
Which official sources support this guide?
Official sources and verification (12)
Last verified Oct 25, 2026. Each quotation supports the corresponding published value.
Certified family home applicants: at least 18 years old.
Certified family home applicants: at least 18 years old.
Applicants must provide proof that they are at least 18 years of ageOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Certified family home applicants need a high school diploma or Commonwealth Child Care Credential, plus infant/child CPR and first aid certification.
Certified family home applicants need a high school diploma or Commonwealth Child Care Credential, plus infant/child CPR and first aid certification.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or a Commonwealth Child Care Credential. ... Applicants must be certified in infant and child CPR and first aid.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Certified family homes: commercial liability coverage of at least $50,000 per occurrence within 90 days after starting the application process.
Certified family homes: commercial liability coverage of at least $50,000 per occurrence within 90 days after starting the application process.
Applicants must obtain commercial liability insurance of at least $50,000 per occurrence within 90 days of initiation of the application process.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Certified family homes: six hours of Kentucky Orientation within 90 days of application submission.
Certified family homes: six hours of Kentucky Orientation within 90 days of application submission.
After submitting your application for certification, you must complete the following requirements within 90 days of the submission date: ... Complete six professional development hours of Kentucky Orientation for Child CareOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Certified family homes serve at most six unrelated children, plus up to four related children, for a total maximum of ten.
Certified family homes serve at most six unrelated children, plus up to four related children, for a total maximum of ten.
Care cannot exceed six unrelated children or four related children in addition to six unrelated children for a maximum of 10 children at any time.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Certified family home certification fee: $10, nonrefundable.
Certified family home certification fee: $10, nonrefundable.
Applicants must submit a nonrefundable certification fee of $10Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
All required training completed by the provider must also be completed by every assistant and substitute provider. ... Complete nine hours of Cabinet-approved early care and education professional development annually. ... Complete one and one-half hours of Cabinet-approved pediatric abusive head trauma professional development every five years
Certified family providers, assistants and substitutes need nine hours of Cabinet-approved training each year and 1.5 hours of pediatric abusive head trauma training every five years.
All required training completed by the provider must also be completed by every assistant and substitute provider. ... Complete nine hours of Cabinet-approved early care and education professional development annually. ... Complete one and one-half hours of Cabinet-approved pediatric abusive head trauma professional development every five yearsOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
The official family-home page provides the initial certification application and mailing instructions.
The official family-home page provides the initial certification application and mailing instructions.
OIG-DRCC-03 Initial Certification Application for Family Child-Care HomeOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Regulated Child Care
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Regulated Child Care
Cabinet for Health and Family Services ... Office of Inspector General ... Division of Regulated Child CareOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/lecp.aspx
Licensed ProviderOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/lecp.aspx
Type I or Type II Licensed Child-Care Initial ApplicationOfficial source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Certified family homes: early care and education; orientation covers health, safety, sanitation, recognizing child abuse and neglect, and developmentally appropriate practice.
Certified family homes: early care and education; orientation covers health, safety, sanitation, recognizing child abuse and neglect, and developmentally appropriate practice.
Kentucky Orientation for Child Care, which includes health, safety and sanitation; recognition of child abuse and neglect; and developmentally appropriate child care practice. ... Complete nine hours of Cabinet-approved early care and education professional development annually.Official source
Last verified Oct 25, 2026
Not yet verified: license fee, exam, renewal — see the official agency.
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Family and center child care in neighboring states
Neighboring states use Census adjacency data, including water and point boundaries.
Last verified Oct 25, 2026.
Official sources (2)
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