Become a Provider

There are multiple options for becoming a Child Care Provider in the State of Oregon, including licensed and licensed exempt programs.

Licensed Child Care

The Child Care Licensing Division conducts regular visits to licensed child care programs to ensure each program is following basic health and safety rules. Licensed programs require that staff have ongoing training and background checks. Programs are required to follow rules about the number of staff that need to be present and the number of children that can be cared for at one time.

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Licensed Exempt Child Care

License Exempt caregivers who provide child care in their homes on an informal basis. These caregivers are not required to be licensed if they care for three children or fewer and may be friends or relatives of your family.

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Licensed Child Care Overview

Do I Need a License?

The Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD) issues three types of licenses. While all three licenses have health and safety requirements, they are three very different licenses. In most cases, both Registered Family and Certified Family Child Care licenses are in residential homes, and Certified Center licenses are in commercial buildings. Each type of license operates under a different set of Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs).

Here are the traits all three licensed-care formats have in common:

They meet higher health, safety and program standards (on-site inspections).
They comply with comprehensive background checks with Child Care Licensing Division.
They are regularly monitored.
They participate in ongoing training.
They keep attendance records.
They have planned educational activities.
They have a guidance and discipline policy.
They have a daily routine/schedule.
Employees are certified in food preparation.
Employees are trained in first aid and CPR.
Employees are trained in child abuse and neglect.
They participate in ongoing training on child development, health, and safety.
They are eligible to apply for quality rating.

Learn more about licensed child care in Oregon

Registered Family Child Care Homes

A Registered Family Child Care Home is defined by CCLD as a child care facility that is licensed to care for no more than 10 children and is the residence of the provider. The Registered Family Child Care Home has limits on the ages and number of children that can be in care at one time. Of the 10 children in care, a maximum of 6 children can be preschool‐age or younger, of which only 2 children can be under 24 months of age. In addition to the 6 children preschool‐age or younger, you can care for up to 4 school‐age children. More school‐age children can be in care if there are fewer than 6 preschool‐age or younger children, as long as there are no more than 10 children in the home at any one time.

Learn more about becoming a Registered Family Child Care Home

Certified Family Child Care Home

A Certified Family Child Care Home is defined by CCLD as a child care facility that is certified to care for no more than 16 children, and is located in a building constructed as a single‐family dwelling.

Learn more about becoming a Certified Family Child Care Home

Certified Center Child Care Center

A child care center is defined by CCLD as a child care facility that is certified to care for thirteen or more children, or a facility that is certified to care for twelve or fewer children and located in a building constructed as other than a single family dwelling.

Learn more about becoming a Certified Center Child Care Center

Licensed Exempt Child Care Overview

Some types of child care are not required to be licensed with the Department of Early Learning and Child Care Licensing Division (CCLD). If any of the following exemptions apply to you, the type of care you provide may* not be required to be licensed. In certain situations you may be required to record the program with CCLD. See Recorded Programs for more information.

Exemptions include but are not limited to:

I am providing care in the home of the child and all children present, not including my own children, reside in the home.
I am related to all the children I care for.
All the children I care for – not including my own children – are from the same family.
The number of days that I care for children is not more than 70 days in a year.
I am caring for three or fewer children, not including my own children, at any one time.
I am operating a program that is for school-age children, is focused on a single enrichment activity and operates for no more than eight hours a week.
I am operating a program that is mostly a group athletic or social activity and is sponsored by an organized club or hobby group.
I am operating a parent cooperative child care program. Parents of the children in care must provide care on a rotating basis.
The program is operated by a school district, political subdivision of the state or a governmental agency.
I am operating a program in a facility that provides care to children while the parents remain on the premises and are engaged in an activity offered by the facility or in other non-work activity.
I am operating a preschool recorded program or a school-age recorded program.

*Disclaimer: This is an informational tool only and may not be relied upon for a determination of exempt status.

Please contact CCLD staff should you have any additional questions.
Phone: 1 (800) 556-6616
Email: ccld.customerservice@delc.oregon.gov

License-Exempt Providers

*License exempt child care providers need to meet training and safety requirements before they can provide child care and get paid through ERDC.

Find information about becoming and ERDC Provider

Regulated Subsidy Providers

A Regulated Subsidy Provider is a non-relative who cares for children whose families are eligible for ERDC through the Department of Early Learning and Care.

* A Regulated Subsidy Provider (sometimes referred to as a license-exempt child care or ERDC provider) is required to be listed with the Department of Early Learning and Care’s Direc Pay Unit (DPU) and to follow federal regulations for training and allow a visit by the Office of Child Care.

Learn more about becoming a Regulated Subsidy Provider

Recorded Programs

Oregon statutes (ORS 329A.255 and ORS 329A.257) require certain programs serving children to be recorded with the Department of Early Learning and Care, Child Care Licensing Division. The purpose of the statutes are to ensure adults having contact with children complete criminal background checks and to inform parents about the type of program they are accessing.

Find information on Recorded Programs