Wyoming Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Wyoming?

In Wyoming, childcare licensing is administered by the Department of Family Services (DFS), Early Childhood Division. The division is responsible for setting licensing rules, processing applications, conducting inspections, and enforcing compliance for all regulated childcare operations in the state.

Wyoming requires licensing or certification for childcare providers who care for children on a regular basis. The type of license or certification you need depends on the size and setting of your operation:

• Family Child Care Home: A home-based operation that provides care for 3 to 10 children without additional staff beyond the primary caregiver. The provider cares for children in their own home.

• Family Child Care Center: A facility that provides care for a maximum of 15 children, either in the provider's home or another building. When more than 10 children are present, at least one additional staff member is required.

• Child Care Center: A facility that provides care for 16 or more children. Centers must have adequate staff to meet the staff-to-child ratio requirements at all times and are subject to the most comprehensive set of licensing rules.

How to apply for a Wyoming childcare license

The Wyoming childcare licensing application process involves several steps. Plan for the process to take several weeks to several months, depending on how quickly you can meet all requirements.

1. 1

   Complete the pre-licensing orientation training

   Wyoming requires all prospective providers to complete a six-hour online pre-licensing orientation training course, available on the DFS website. This course covers licensing rules, fire and sanitation requirements, and the responsibilities of operating a childcare facility.

2. 2

   Submit your application to the Department of Family Services

   Applications are submitted to the DFS Early Childhood Division. You will need to provide information about your facility, staffing plan, and operational details. Check the DFS website for current application forms and fee amounts.

3. 3

   Complete background checks

   All providers, directors, staff, volunteers, substitutes, and household members over the age of 18 must complete a full national fingerprint criminal background check and a Wyoming Central Registry background check. Additional checks include the National Sex Offender Registry and the Wyoming Sex Offender Registry, along with checks for each state of residence for the past five years.

4. 4

   Pass licensing, fire safety, and health inspections

   Upon submission of your application, DFS schedules inspections within 30 days. Your facility must pass a childcare licensing inspection, a fire safety inspection, and a health and sanitation inspection before your license can be issued.

5. 5

   Receive your license

   Once you have met all requirements and passed all inspections, DFS will issue your childcare license. The license must be posted in a location visible to parents at your facility.

Wyoming staff-to-child ratio requirements

Wyoming sets specific staff-to-child ratios and maximum group sizes based on the ages of children in care. These ratios are defined in the Wyoming Child Care Licensing Rules and must be maintained at all times when children are present, including during outdoor play and transitions.

These ratios are from the Wyoming Child Care Licensing Rules. Verify current ratios with DFS, as they may be updated periodically. For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification and training requirements

Wyoming has specific requirements for directors, staff, and caregivers working in licensed childcare facilities.

• Director qualifications: Directors of licensed child care centers must meet education and experience requirements set by DFS as outlined in Chapter 4 of the Wyoming Child Care Licensing Rules. Requirements generally include a combination of formal education in early childhood education or a related field and hands-on childcare experience.

• Pre-service training: Before assuming unsupervised direct care of children, all staff must complete pre-service training and facility orientation. This must be completed either before their start date or within three months thereafter, facilitated by the Wyoming Statewide Training and Resource System (STARS).

• Ongoing training: All early childhood professionals in Wyoming must complete 36 hours of professional development training every two years based on their licensing anniversary. Training must cover topics relevant to child development, health and safety, and program quality.

• Infant and toddler training: At least one staff person working directly with infants or toddlers must have a minimum of eight training credits of specialized training in the care of infants or toddlers every two years.

• CPR and First Aid: At least one caregiver with current pediatric CPR and First Aid certification must be present at all times when children are in care.

• Family child care home providers: Home-based providers must complete a minimum of six training credits of child care training, along with the pre-service orientation training before licensing.

Facility requirements

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

• Indoor space: A minimum of 35 square feet of usable play space per child must be available continuously. This measurement excludes kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, staff-only areas, and storage.

• Outdoor space: A minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child. If a facility does not offer care for more than four hours per day, outdoor play space is not required. Outdoor areas must be fenced and free of hazards.

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

• Fire safety: Facilities must comply with Wyoming fire codes. Working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers must be installed and maintained. Regular fire drills are required and must be documented.

• Health and sanitation: Your facility must pass a health and sanitation inspection as part of the licensing process. This covers food preparation areas, diaper changing stations, handwashing facilities, and general cleanliness.

Background check requirements

Wyoming requires comprehensive background checks for all individuals involved in childcare operations. These checks must be completed before any individual has unsupervised access to children.

• Who must be checked: All child care providers, directors, staff, volunteers, substitutes, and household members over the age of 18 must undergo background checks.

• National fingerprint check: A full national fingerprint-based criminal background check is required for all applicable individuals.

• Wyoming Central Registry: All individuals must be checked against the Wyoming Central Registry for child abuse and neglect records, with no disqualifying information found.

• Sex offender registry: Checks of the National Sex Offender Registry and the Wyoming Sex Offender Registry are required, along with checks for each state of residence for the past five years.

• Disqualifying offenses: Wyoming excludes individuals with convictions or pending deferred prosecution for felonies related to child abuse, neglect, sexual offenses, violent crimes, drug offenses, or arson. Misdemeanor exclusions include violent misdemeanors against children or domestic violence offenses within the last five years.

• TB risk assessment: All staff and household members are required to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment before employment.

Health and safety requirements

Wyoming Child Care Licensing Rules include detailed health and safety requirements that licensed operations must follow every day.

• 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 medication administration must be documented, including the medication name, dosage, time given, and the staff member who administered it.

• Illness exclusion: Operations must have a written illness exclusion policy and procedures for notifying parents when their child becomes ill during the day.

• 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.

• Safe sleep practices: For infants, Wyoming requires adherence to safe sleep guidelines. Infants must be placed on their backs to sleep in approved cribs, with no soft bedding, pillows, bumper pads, or toys in the crib.

• Emergency procedures: Written emergency procedures must be posted and practiced regularly. Staff must know what to do in the event of a fire, severe weather, medical emergency, or other crisis.

Record-keeping requirements

Wyoming licensing requires childcare operations to maintain detailed records that are available for review during inspections. Keeping these records organized and current is one of the most important things you can do to stay in compliance.

• Attendance records: Daily sign-in and sign-out records for every child, with the time recorded for each entry. These records must be retained for the period specified by DFS.

• 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 results, training documentation, certifications, and employment history.

• Incident reports: Written documentation of any injuries, accidents, or unusual incidents that occur at the facility, including details of what happened and what actions were taken.

• Fire drill logs: Documentation of every fire drill conducted, including the date, time, number of children and staff present, and evacuation time.

• Medication administration logs: Records of all medications administered to children, including parent authorization forms.

Inspections and compliance

Once licensed, your operation will be subject to ongoing monitoring by the Wyoming Department of Family Services.

• Initial inspections: Upon submitting your application, DFS schedules inspections within 30 days. These include a childcare licensing inspection, a fire safety inspection, and a health and sanitation inspection.

• Ongoing inspections: DFS conducts periodic inspections of licensed childcare operations. These inspections may be announced or unannounced and can cover any aspect of your operation.

• Corrective action: If deficiencies are found during an inspection, the operation is given a specified 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, license revocation, or other penalties. Violations that pose an immediate threat to children can result in emergency suspension.

Costs and timeline

The costs and timeline for obtaining a Wyoming childcare license can vary depending on your facility type and how quickly you can meet all requirements.

• Application fees: Wyoming charges application and licensing fees that vary by facility type. Check the DFS website for the most current fee schedule.

• Background check costs: National fingerprint criminal background checks involve processing fees. These costs are typically the responsibility of the provider or employee.

• Timeline: Plan for the entire licensing process to take several weeks to several months. Completing the pre-licensing orientation, gathering documentation, scheduling and passing inspections, and processing background checks all take time. DFS schedules initial inspections within 30 days of receiving a completed application.

Resources

Here are key resources for Wyoming childcare providers:

• Wyoming Department of Family Services, Early Childhood Division: The official state agency responsible for childcare licensing, including licensing rules, application forms, and provider resources. Contact them at (307) 777-5491.

• Wyoming STARS (Statewide Training and Resource System): Wyoming's system for pre-service training, professional development, and continuing education for childcare providers. STARS coordinates training opportunities across the state.

• Wyoming Child Care Licensing Rules: The full set of licensing rules (Chapters 1-11) is available on the DFS website. These rules are periodically updated, so always check for the most current version.