New Mexico Child Care Centers and Homes License: Requirements, Cost & How to Apply (2026)

New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), Child Care Services Bureau Regulatory Oversight Unit

New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD), Child Care Services Bureau Regulatory Oversight Unit

The child care services bureau regulatory oversight unit of the early education, care and nutrition division of the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Open the official agency page

https://www.srca.nm.gov/parts/title08/08.009.0004.html

CHILD CARE LICENSING; CHILD CARE CENTERS, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS, FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES, AND OTHER EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

1 years

1

An annual license is issued for a one-year period to a child care facility that has met all requirements of these regulations.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

A licensee will submit a notarized renewal application, indicating the number of stars requested, on forms provided by the licensing authority, along with the required fee, at least 30 days before expiration of the current license.

A licensee will submit a notarized renewal application, indicating the number of stars requested, on forms provided by the licensing authority, along with the required fee, at least 30 days before expiration of the current license. Applies to: Licensed child care facilities

A licensee will submit a notarized renewal application, indicating the number of stars requested, on forms provided by the licensing authority, along with the required fee, at least 30 days before expiration of the current license.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Center directors must be at least 21; staff working directly with children and counted in ratios must be at least 18.

Center directors must be at least 21; staff working directly with children and counted in ratios must be at least 18.

a child care center will have a director who is at least 21 years old Educators who work directly with children and who are counted in the staff/child ratios must be 18 years of age or older.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Licensed family homes serve five or six children; licensed group homes serve seven to twelve children. The licensee lives in the home and is the primary educator.

Licensed family homes serve five or six children; licensed group homes serve seven to twelve children. The licensee lives in the home and is the primary educator.

provides care, services, and supervision to at least five but no more than six children for a period of less than 24 hours of any day. The licensee will reside in the home and be the primary educator. Group child care home - A private dwelling or other building on the premises required to be licensed pursuant to these regulations which provides care, services, and supervision for at least seven but not more than 12 children

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Center staff working directly with children more than 20 hours weekly, including the director, need at least 24 training hours per employment-anniversary year. All seven competency areas must be addressed within two years.

Center staff working directly with children more than 20 hours weekly, including the director, need at least 24 training hours per employment-anniversary year. All seven competency areas must be addressed within two years.

Each staff person working directly with children and more than 20 hours per week, including the director, is required to obtain at least 24 hours of training each year. For this purpose, a year begins and ends at the anniversary date of employment. Training must address all seven competency areas within two years.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Child growth, development and learning; Health, safety, nutrition and infection control; Family and community collaboration; Developmentally appropriate content; Learning environment and curriculum implementation; Assessment of children and programs; Professionalism

Child growth, development and learning; Health, safety, nutrition and infection control; Family and community collaboration; Developmentally appropriate content; Learning environment and curriculum implementation; Assessment of children and programs; Professionalism

child growth, development and learning; health, safety, nutrition and infection control; family and community collaboration; developmentally appropriate content; learning environment and curriculum implementation; assessment of children and programs; professionalism.

Last verified Oct 25, 2026