Become a child care provider

Types of Regulated Child Care 

Licensed Child Care Home, Licensed Child Care Center, Unlicensed Registered Ministry, Exempt Program

As a potential child care provider, you can have the opportunity to own and operate your own business while engaging in a profession that is rewarding and will directly impact the development of Indiana’s children. For support working through the process of becoming a licensed child care home, licensed child care center, unlicensed registered ministry, or legally licensed exempt provider, you can:

First Steps:

1. Complete the Emerging Provider – New Child Care Business Interest form, which can be found by clicking here.
2. Once the online Interest form has been completed, please review the “Next Steps” Section for different program types and complete the trainings.

Next Steps:

If you are interested in becoming a child care provider but don’t know what type of provider you are, please:

• Read the Indiana Child Care Definitions and refer to the information below about the process for becoming a licensed child care home, licensed child care center, or unlicensed registered child care ministry.
• For quick view of all regulated child care programs for Indiana and general program requirements, please view the Matrix.
• To find your local licensing consultant, OECOSL partner, or CCDF policy consultant, please click here.

To become a licensed child care center provider:

• Complete Orientation 1: Training for childcare providers (start-up process and information). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
• Complete Orientation 2: Training for child care centers (preparation for licensure). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths, located at I-LEAD.
• Submit your application online at I-LEAD.
• Pass onsite inspection from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

To become a licensed child care home provider:

• Complete Orientation 1: Training for childcare providers (start-up process and information). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths, located at I-LEAD.
• Complete Orientation 2: Training for child care home providers (preparation for licensure). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths, located at I-LEAD.
• Submit your application online at I-LEAD.
• Pass onsite inspection from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

To become an unlicensed registered child care ministry provider:

• Complete Orientation 1: Training for childcare providers (start-up process and information). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
• Complete Orientation 2: Training for unlicensed registered child care ministries (preparation for registration). This training can be found within Indiana Learning Paths located at I-LEAD.
• Submit your application online at I-LEAD.
• Submit the completed application packet to the Department of Homeland Security, Fire and Building Safety Division.
• Pass onsite inspection from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

Legally licensed exempt providers

• If you believe you might be exempt from licensure, please read the Indiana Code regarding child care licensure exemptions.
• Submit your application online at I-LEAD.
• Legally License Exempt Packet click here.
• Pass onsite inspection from the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

If you believe you might be exempt from licensure, please read the Indiana Code regarding child care licensure exemptions.

Who to contact

1. Once you have completed the Orientation trainings and you are still in need of assistance please Contact the Emerging Provider Support (EPS) Team with OECOSL at the email:  [email protected]
2. To find out who your EPS is,  please see the reference below.
   

   Name	County
   Marleta Misch	Benton, Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fountain, Fulton, Hendricks, Jasper, La Porte, Lake, Marshall, Montgomery, Newton, Parke, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Warren, White
   Annette Jones	Adams, Allen, Blackford, DeKalb, Delaware, Elkhart, Grant, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jay, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Madison, Miami, Noble, Randolph, St. Joesph, Steuben, Tipton, Wabash, Wayne, Wells, Whitley
   Lynn Turman	Bartholomew, Brown, Clark, Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dearborn, Decatur, Dubois, Fayette, Floyd, Franklin, Gibson, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Lawrence, Marion – *Ministries/Centers/LLEP Centers and LLEP Nanny Care, Martin, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Orange, Owen, Perry, Pike, Posey, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Sullivan, Switzerland, Union, Vanderburgh, Vigo, Warrick, Washington

3. To find your licensing consultant contacts, click here.

Licensed Child Care Center:

In Indiana, a child care center is defined as a non-residential building where at least one child receives child care from a provider while unattended by a parent, guardian, or custodian; for regular compensation; and for more than 4 hours but less than 24 hours in each of 10 consecutive days per year, excluding intervening Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Director Qualifications:

All directors must be at least 21 years old, be present on-site for a minimum of 30 hours per week, and have a higher education degree from an accredited college or university. The director must have either a:

• • Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education or Elementary Education with a Kindergarten endorsement
  • Bachelor degree in any field with 15 credit hours related to Early Childhood Education or a Child Development Associate credential (CDA)
  • Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a minimum of 3 years of experience in an early childhood program

A qualified director must be identified and on staff prior to opening the center. The child care licensing consultant will review all documents to determine eligibility.

Capacity:

Based on your building size.  Toddlers and older: 35 sq ft per child of usable indoor space. Infants: 50 sq ft per child of usable play space.

Unlicensed Registered Ministry:

In Indiana, an unlicensed registered ministry is defined as a child care operated by a church or religious ministry that is a religious organization exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.

For more information about the different rules and regulations of each program click here.