Alaska Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Alaska?

In Alaska, childcare licensing is administered by the Alaska Department of Health (formerly part of the Department of Health and Social Services), through its Child Care Program Office. The Child Care Program Office is responsible for setting standards, processing applications, conducting inspections, and enforcing compliance for all regulated childcare operations in the state. In the Municipality of Anchorage, child care licensing is administered locally by the Anchorage Department of Health.

The regulations governing child care facility licensing are found in Alaska Administrative Code, Title 7, Chapter 57 (7 AAC 57). Alaska requires licensing for childcare facilities based on the number of children in care:

• Child Care Center: A facility that provides care for 13 or more children. Centers must meet comprehensive staffing, facility, and program requirements under 7 AAC 57.

• Group Home: A facility, usually in an occupied residence, that provides care for 9 to 12 children. Must have at least two adult caregivers, one of whom is the administrator and must be at least 21 years of age.

• Child Care Home: A home-based operation that provides care for up to 8 children, usually in an occupied residence. Must have at least one caregiver/administrator who is at least 21 years of age.

How to apply for an Alaska childcare license

The Alaska 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

   Contact the Child Care Program Office

   Begin by contacting the Alaska Department of Health, Child Care Program Office to request an application packet and learn about current requirements. If you are in Anchorage, contact the Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health instead.

2. 2

   Submit your application (Form CC52)

   Complete and submit the CC52 Application for Provisional Child Care License form. You will need to provide information about your facility, staffing plan, and organizational structure. An application fee is required; check the Department of Health website for current fee amounts.

3. 3

   Complete background checks

   Fingerprint-based background checks are required for all individuals associated with your facility who are 16 years of age or older. These must be completed through the State of Alaska Background Check Program before your license can be issued.

4. 4

   Pass the initial inspection

   A licensing specialist will conduct an on-site inspection of your facility to verify it meets all requirements for space, safety, equipment, and documentation. Any deficiencies must be corrected before your license is granted.

5. 5

   Receive your provisional license

   Once you have met all requirements and passed your inspection, the state will issue a provisional child care license. After demonstrating ongoing compliance, you can receive a full license. The license must be posted in a location visible to parents at your facility.

Alaska staff-to-child ratio requirements

Alaska sets specific child-to-caregiver ratios based on the ages of children in care. These ratios are defined in 7 AAC 57.505 and must be maintained during all hours of operation.

For mixed-age groups, when infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are combined, the child-to-caregiver ratio for the youngest child in the group applies. When kindergartners and school-age children are in a mixed group, the ratio must be consistent with the age of the majority of the children.

A child in care who is 13 years of age or older must be counted as a school-age child for the purposes of meeting ratio requirements.

These ratios are from 7 AAC 57.505. Maximum group sizes are specified in 7 AAC 57.510. Verify current ratios with the Alaska Department of Health, as they may be updated periodically. For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification and training requirements

Alaska has specific requirements for administrators and caregivers working in licensed childcare facilities under 7 AAC 57.300.

• Administrator age: The administrator of a child care center, group home, or child care home must be at least 21 years of age.

• Administrator education: Administrators must provide proof of education appropriate to the age and development of the children in care. Acceptable credentials include a degree in early child development, child psychology, or elementary education. Administrators without a qualifying bachelor's degree must complete continuing education of at least three semester hours of college credit in courses relevant to child care and development every two years.

• Administrator skills: Administrators must have skills to work with children, family members, department staff, and community agencies, as well as skills for handling finances, planning and evaluating programs, and supervising personnel.

• Annual training: Each staff member must complete 24 hours of child development training per year. Training must be relevant to the ages and needs of children in care.

• CPR and First Aid: At least one person with a current CPR and first aid certification must be on duty at all times when children are in care.

Background check requirements

Alaska requires comprehensive background checks for all individuals associated with a licensed childcare facility.

• Who must be checked: All individuals associated with your facility who are 16 years of age or older must pass a background check. This includes administrators, caregivers, substitutes, volunteers, and household members in home-based facilities.

• Fingerprint-based check: Background checks are fingerprint-based and processed through the State of Alaska Background Check Program. This includes checks of state and federal criminal history records.

• Registry checks: Screenings include the sex offender registry and the child abuse and neglect registry.

• Timing: Background checks must be completed before a person has direct, unsupervised contact with children in care.

• Anchorage exception: In the Municipality of Anchorage, the background check process may differ slightly. Check with the Anchorage Department of Health for specific local requirements.

Facility requirements

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

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

• Outdoor space: A minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor recreation space per child. Outdoor areas must be safely enclosed and free of hazards, with age-appropriate equipment.

• Equipment and supplies: All furniture, cribs, and play equipment must be safe, in good repair, and appropriate for the ages of children enrolled. Equipment and supplies requirements are detailed in 7 AAC 57.630.

• Fire safety: Working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers must be installed and maintained. Regular fire drills are required and must be documented. Your facility must have a posted evacuation plan.

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

Health and safety requirements

Alaska licensing standards under 7 AAC 57.550 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 procedures for identifying and managing sick children, including when a child must be excluded from care and when parents must be notified.

• Safe sleep practices: For infants, Alaska 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.

• 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: Written emergency procedures must be posted and practiced regularly. Given Alaska's geography and climate, facilities must also have plans for earthquake preparedness and extreme weather situations.

Record-keeping requirements

Alaska 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 the Department of Health.

• 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. The CC56 Administrator Designation and Qualification Form must be on file for your administrator.

• 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.

• Staffing plan: A completed CC71 Child Care Facility Staffing Plan must be on file and kept current, demonstrating how your facility maintains required child-to-caregiver ratios throughout the day.

Inspections and compliance

Once licensed, your operation will be subject to ongoing monitoring by the Alaska Department of Health or, if you are in Anchorage, by the Municipality of Anchorage Department of Health.

• Unannounced inspections: Licensing specialists conduct unannounced inspections of licensed childcare operations during normal operating hours. These inspections can happen at any time and may cover any aspect of your operation.

• Provisional vs. full license: New facilities typically receive a provisional license first. After demonstrating sustained compliance during the provisional period, the facility can receive a full license.

• 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 monetary penalties. The most serious violations can result in emergency suspension.

Learn & Grow: quality rating program

Learn & Grow is Alaska's Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS). It is a voluntary program that helps early childhood education programs improve the quality of their care and communicate that quality to families. The program is managed by thread, Alaska's statewide Child Care Resource & Referral organization.

• Five quality levels: Learn & Grow recognizes five levels of quality in early childhood education programs. Each level consists of four quality domains, all with a unique set of standards and required activities.

• Quality domains: The program focuses on positive teacher-child interactions, proper use of research-based curriculum and child assessments, increasing teacher education, and creating nurturing learning environments.

• Benefits for providers: Participation in Learn & Grow can help providers access professional development resources, improve program quality, and demonstrate their commitment to quality care to families and the community.

• Benefits for families: Learn & Grow gives families a way to gauge the level of quality of individual programs when looking for care for their children.

Resources

Here are key resources for Alaska childcare providers:

• Alaska Department of Health, Child Care Program Office: The official state agency for childcare licensing outside of Anchorage. Provides application forms, regulations, and provider resources.

• Municipality of Anchorage, Child Care Licensing: The licensing authority for childcare facilities within the Municipality of Anchorage. Provides local regulations and application information.

• thread (Alaska's Child Care Resource & Referral): A statewide organization that provides training, technical assistance, and support to childcare providers. Also manages the Learn & Grow QRIS program.

• 7 AAC 57: The full text of the Alaska Administrative Code governing child care facilities licensing, available through the Alaska Legislature website and the federal Licensing Regulations Database.