Idaho Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Idaho?

In Idaho, childcare licensing is administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), which issues state daycare licenses. DHW sets the minimum standards under Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 11 and IDAPA 16.06.03 (Daycare Licensing). IdahoSTARS customer support specialists collect the application documents for DHW, and your local public health district collects the licensing fee and carries out the health inspection.

Idaho requires licensing based on the number of children in your care. The type of license you need depends on how many children you serve:

• Daycare Center: A facility providing compensated daycare for thirteen (13) or more children. This is the standard license type for commercial childcare businesses and is subject to the most comprehensive set of regulations.

• Group Daycare Facility: A home, place, or facility providing compensated daycare for seven (7) to twelve (12) children. Group daycare facilities must be licensed and meet specific standards, though requirements are somewhat less extensive than for full daycare centers.

• Family Daycare Home: A home providing daycare for six (6) or fewer children. Family daycare homes are not required to be licensed in Idaho, but a home caring for fewer than seven children may choose to comply with the law and receive a basic daycare license. Anyone caring for four or more children in a family daycare home must still complete the criminal history check (Idaho Code Section 39-1114).

How to apply for an Idaho childcare license

State licenses are issued by DHW, and IdahoSTARS processes all state licensing applications on its behalf. Plan for the process to take several weeks to a few months depending on your readiness.

1. 1

   Start with IdahoSTARS and your local zoning office

   IdahoSTARS customer support specialists collect your documentation and assist you through the state licensing process (800-926-2588, or dial 2-1-1 in Idaho). Before you apply, contact your city or county planning and zoning office. Proof of compliance with local building, electrical, and zoning ordinances must be submitted with the license application.

2. 2

   Complete background checks for all required individuals

   All owners, operators, staff, and anyone age 13 or older who has unsupervised direct contact with children or is regularly on the premises must complete and pass a DHW criminal history and background check. Applications are submitted through the DHW online portal at chu.dhw.idaho.gov. Background check fees are charged at actual cost, in addition to the license fee (Idaho Code Section 39-1107).

3. 3

   Obtain CPR and First Aid certifications

   Every staff member counted in the child:staff ratio needs current certification in pediatric rescue breathing and pediatric first aid (Idaho Code Section 39-1119). DHW asks for certifications in pediatric rescue breathing, infant-child CPR, and first aid with your license application. The course must be taught by a certified instructor, and DHW does not accept online courses.

4. 4

   Plan for required training

   Idaho Code Section 39-1119 requires four hours of ongoing training in child development areas every 12 months after each employee's hire date. Providers who participate in the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) must also complete a series of free online courses on health and safety topics. IdahoSTARS can answer questions about which training applies to you.

5. 5

   Submit your application, pay the fee, and pass the inspections

   Submit your application through IdahoSTARS with your supporting documents, including proof of liability and fire insurance and your approved fire safety inspection. Your public health district then contacts you to collect the licensing fee ($325 for centers with 26 or more children in attendance, $250 for centers with 13 to 25, and $100 for other daycare facilities) and to complete the health inspection. An application that is not completed within six months is terminated, and you would need to start a new one.

6. 6

   Receive your license

   Once all requirements are met and your facility passes inspection, DHW will issue your childcare license. Your license must be posted in a visible location at your facility. Idaho daycare licenses are valid for two years.

Idaho staff-to-child ratio requirements

Idaho uses a unique point-based system to determine staff-to-child ratios, defined in Idaho Code Section 39-1109(4). Each staff member is allocated a maximum of 12 points, and children are assigned point values based on their age. The younger the child, the more points they require per staff member.

Following the passage of HB 243, the updated point values (effective July 1, 2025) are:

The point system allows flexibility when you have mixed-age classrooms. To calculate your required staffing, multiply the number of children in each age group by their point value and add the totals. Divide by 12 to determine the minimum number of staff required.

For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification and training requirements

Idaho has specific requirements for providers and staff working in licensed childcare facilities under Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 11 and IDAPA 16.06.03.

• Minimum age: Anyone applying to operate a daycare facility must be at least 18 years old (Idaho Code Section 39-1104). Staff employed to provide care and supervision must be at least 16 (Section 39-1102), and at least one adult employee must be present whenever children are in attendance.

• Background checks: All owners, operators, staff, and individuals age 13 or older who have unsupervised direct contact with children or are regularly on the premises must pass a DHW criminal history and background check, including fingerprinting. For individuals aged 13-17, juvenile justice records must be checked in all counties they have lived in.

• Background check transfers: A clearance completed within the last three years can be transferred to a new employer, provided the transferred clearance is an enhanced clearance and a new Idaho State Police name-based record check is also completed.

• CPR and First Aid: Every staff member counted in the child:staff ratio must hold current certification in pediatric rescue breathing and pediatric first aid from a certified instructor (Idaho Code Section 39-1119). DHW does not accept online courses.

• ICCP health and safety training: Providers who participate in the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) must complete a series of free online courses covering health and safety topics. For state licensing, the training requirement is the four hours of ongoing training described below.

• Ongoing training: Each owner, operator, and staff member must complete a minimum of four (4) hours of ongoing training every 12 months after their date of hire. Training must cover child development areas related to childcare.

• Staffing during hours of operation: At least one adult employee must be present at all times when children are in attendance. For overnight care, at least one staff member must be awake and on duty, and sleeping children must be on the same level as a staff member (Idaho Code Section 39-1109).

Facility requirements

Your physical space must meet Idaho minimum standards before a license can be issued. Key requirements include:

• Indoor space: Idaho state law (Idaho Code Title 39, Chapter 11) sets fire, health, and safety standards but does not set a statewide square footage per child. HB 243 repealed the local option that let cities and counties license daycare under their own ordinances, so confirm building occupancy, fire, and zoning requirements with local officials before you sign a lease.

• Outdoor space: Idaho does not set a statewide outdoor square footage per child. IDAPA 16.06.03 does require a fence at least four feet high, in good repair and with no gaps wider than four inches, when any part of the play area is next to a busy roadway, ditch, stream, or other hazard. Pools and other bodies of water must be fenced and locked or securely covered, and outdoor play areas must be fully visible to staff.

• Building exits: Your facility needs at least two exits set apart from each other, and exit doors must open from the inside without a key. If children are cared for in a basement or on a story above ground level, that level needs two exits, one of which opens directly to the outside.

• Fire safety: All licensed facilities must be inspected by the local fire official or their designee. An approved portable fire extinguisher (minimum 2A-10BC) must be mounted in a visible location and properly maintained. Facilities with more than fifty (50) children must have an approved fire alarm system installed.

• Smoke detectors: Smoke detectors are required in each room used for sleeping, outside each sleeping area, and on each story of the facility, including basements.

• Age-appropriate equipment: All furniture, cribs, and play equipment must be safe, in good repair, and appropriate for the ages of children enrolled. Equipment must meet current safety standards.

Background check requirements

Idaho requires comprehensive background checks before any individual has unsupervised access to children in a licensed childcare operation.

• Who must be checked: Owners, operators, all staff, and every individual age 13 or older who has unsupervised direct contact with children or is regularly on the premises during operating hours.

• Fingerprint-based check: Background checks are processed through the DHW Background Check Unit and include fingerprint-based criminal history checks through the Idaho State Police.

• Juvenile records: For individuals aged 13 through 17, juvenile justice records must be checked in all counties where the individual has lived.

• How to apply: Create an account at the DHW background check portal (chu.dhw.idaho.gov), complete the application, and schedule a fingerprinting appointment. Fees are charged at actual cost.

• Timing: Your application must show that every required individual has received a background check clearance. Checks must be completed and passed at least every five years (Idaho Code Section 39-1105).

Health and safety requirements

Idaho's minimum standards include daily health and safety requirements that all licensed operations must follow.

• Immunization records: Up-to-date immunization records are required for all enrolled children. Records must be on file and available for inspection at all times.

• Medication administration: Medications may only be administered with written parent authorization. All administration must be documented, including the medication name, dosage, time, and staff member responsible.

• Safe sleep practices: Infants must be placed on their backs to sleep in approved cribs. No soft bedding, pillows, bumper pads, or toys should be in the crib, in accordance with safe sleep guidelines.

• Handwashing: Proper handwashing procedures must be followed by both staff and children, including before and after meals, after diaper changes, after using the restroom, and after outdoor play.

• Emergency procedures: Each facility needs an approved fire safety and evacuation plan that is reviewed or updated annually and kept available in the facility. Fire and emergency evacuation drills must be held at least twice a year, with all staff and children participating.

• Illness exclusion: Operations must have written policies for excluding ill children and procedures for notifying parents when a child becomes ill during the day.

Record-keeping requirements

Idaho licensing requires childcare operations to maintain detailed records that are available for review during inspections. Organized, current records are essential for maintaining compliance.

• Attendance records: Daily sign-in and sign-out records for every child, with times documented for each entry. These records must be retained and available for inspection.

• Child enrollment records: Complete enrollment information for each child, including emergency contacts, authorized pickup persons, medical information, allergies, and immunization records.

• Staff records: Personnel files for every employee, including background check clearances, training documentation, CPR and First Aid certifications, and employment history.

• Incident reports: Written documentation of any injuries, accidents, or unusual incidents, including details of what occurred and what actions were taken.

• Fire drill and emergency drill logs: Documentation of all drills conducted, including dates, times, number of participants, and evacuation times.

IdahoSTARS and the Steps to Quality program

IdahoSTARS is Idaho's leading resource for childcare quality improvement. It administers Steps to Quality (STQ), the state's voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for childcare programs.

How Steps to Quality works

Steps to Quality is a six-step progressive system. Programs move through steps 1 through 6, implementing quality indicators at each level while maintaining the standards of previous steps. Each step is evaluated across six areas of quality called Quality Standards.

• Voluntary participation: Steps to Quality is a voluntary program open to licensed childcare centers and home-based programs. Participation signals a commitment to quality beyond minimum licensing requirements.

• Training and support: IdahoSTARS provides approved trainers statewide who offer a range of training opportunities, including multi-module basic trainings, intermediate-level courses, and essential trainings embedded in the QRIS framework.

• Benefits: Achieving Steps to Quality ratings can improve your program's visibility to families, demonstrate quality to parents, and may increase subsidy reimbursement rates for providers who participate in the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP).

Inspections and ongoing compliance

Once licensed, your operation will be subject to ongoing monitoring by your local health district and DHW.

• Routine inspections: Health inspections are conducted annually by a qualified inspector designated by DHW and are unannounced (IDAPA 16.06.03.380). DHW may also have a facility reinspected at any time during the license period.

• License renewal: Idaho daycare licenses are valid for two years (Idaho Code Section 39-1106). DHW notifies operators at least 90 days before the license expires, and the renewal application, fee, and required documents are due at least 45 days before expiration (IDAPA 16.06.03.121).

• Corrective action: If deficiencies are found during an inspection, you will be given a timeframe to correct the issues. The timeframe depends on the severity of the deficiency.

• Adverse actions: Repeated or serious violations can result in adverse actions, including probation, license suspension, or revocation. Violations that pose an immediate threat to children can result in emergency action.

• ICCP compliance: If your facility receives subsidy payments through the Idaho Child Care Program, you must also maintain compliance with ICCP regulations in addition to licensing standards.

Resources

Here are key resources for Idaho childcare providers:

• Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Child Care: The official state agency website for childcare licensing, including application information, regulations, and provider resources (healthandwelfare.idaho.gov).

• IdahoSTARS: Idaho's childcare resource and referral network, offering training, the Steps to Quality QRIS program, licensing guidance, and provider support (idahostars.org).

• Idaho AEYC: The Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children provides business guides, professional development resources, and advocacy for childcare providers across the state.

• DHW Background Check Unit: The online portal for submitting background check applications and scheduling fingerprinting appointments (chu.dhw.idaho.gov).

• IDAPA 16.06.03: The full text of Idaho's Daycare Licensing administrative rules, available through the Idaho Administrative Rules website (adminrules.idaho.gov).