Arizona Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Arizona?

In Arizona, childcare licensing is administered by the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), specifically through its Bureau of Child Care Licensing (BCCL). BCCL develops and enforces provider standards, processes applications, conducts inspections, and handles enforcement actions for all regulated childcare operations in the state.

Arizona requires licensure for any person or entity that provides regular, compensated care for five or more unrelated children. The rules are codified in the Arizona Administrative Code, Title 9, Chapter 5 (AAC R9-5). The type of license you need depends on the setting:

• Child Care Center: A commercial facility (not the provider's home) that provides care for children. This is the most common license type for childcare businesses in Arizona.

• Child Care Group Home: A home-based operation that provides care for five to ten children. Group homes have a separate set of rules and requirements under ADHS.

• DES-Certified Family Child Care Home: A home-based operation certified through the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) rather than ADHS. These providers care for up to four children (in addition to the provider's own) and follow DES certification requirements.

How to apply for an Arizona childcare license

The Arizona 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

   Obtain a Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card

   Before you can apply, all owners and operators must obtain a valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card (FCC) issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS). This involves submitting fingerprints and passing a criminal background check at both the state and FBI levels. The current DPS fee is $67.

2. 2

   Submit your application to ADHS

   Submit a completed application to the Bureau of Child Care Licensing. You will need to include your fingerprint clearance card, site plans of the facility, and floor plans of the building drawn to scale. As of the 2025 rule update, an architect's seal is no longer required on plans; they may be prepared by an architect, draftsman, or contractor.

3. 3

   Complete background checks for all staff

   Every staff member, volunteer, and any household member age 18 or older who will be present at the facility must obtain their own Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card before starting work. Background checks are processed through DPS at both the state and national (FBI) levels.

4. 4

   Pass the initial inspection

   An ADHS licensing surveyor will conduct an on-site inspection to verify your facility meets all standards for space, safety, equipment, staffing, and documentation. Any deficiencies must be corrected before your license can be issued.

5. 5

   Receive your license

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

Arizona staff-to-child ratio requirements

Arizona sets specific staff-to-child ratios based on the ages of children in care. These ratios are defined in AAC R9-5-404 and must be maintained at all times when children are present. For mixed-age groups, the ratio is determined by the age of the youngest child in the group.

When two staff members are present with infants, the maximum is 11 children. For 1-year-olds with two staff, the maximum is 13 children. Additionally, when six or more enrolled children are present, infants may not be placed for supervision with children who are not infants.

These ratios are from AAC R9-5-404. Verify current ratios with ADHS, as they may be updated. For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification and training requirements

Arizona has specific requirements for directors and staff working in licensed childcare facilities, governed by AAC R9-5, Article 4.

Director qualifications

• Minimum age: Facility directors must be at least 21 years old.

• Education and experience: Directors must meet one of several qualifying combinations. Options include 24 months of child care experience with a high school diploma plus 6 credit hours in early childhood; an N.A.C., C.D.A., or C.C.P. credential with 18 months of experience; 24 college credit hours including 6 in early childhood development; or an associate or bachelor's degree in early childhood or a closely related field with relevant experience.

All staff requirements

• Fingerprint clearance card: Every staff member must have a valid Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card from DPS before starting work. This is non-negotiable and there is no grace period.

• CPR and First Aid: All staff must obtain and maintain current certification in pediatric CPR and First Aid (specific to infants and children). The training must include a hands-on demonstration component. Online CPR training is permitted if it includes a virtual demonstration.

• Annual training hours: As of the August 2025 rule update, staff must complete 24 hours of training per year (increased from the previous requirement). Programs have until August 2026 to meet the new 24-hour annual requirement.

• Abuse and neglect disclosure: All applicants must disclose whether they have had a substantiated allegation of child or adult abuse or neglect made to a child-welfare or adult-welfare agency, regardless of whether the allegation led to criminal charges.

Background check requirements

Arizona uses a centralized fingerprint clearance card system for childcare background checks, managed by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS).

• Who must be checked: All owners, operators, staff members, volunteers, and any household members age 18 or older who will be present at the facility during operating hours.

• Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card: Arizona requires a Level One FCC, which is the most comprehensive card type. Fingerprints are submitted to DPS, which conducts criminal history checks at both the state and national (FBI) levels.

• Precluded offenses: DPS compares criminal history against a list of precluded offenses that automatically disqualify an individual, including assault, theft, drug offenses, and many others. Individuals with precluded offenses may apply for a Good Cause Exception through the Arizona Board of Fingerprinting.

• Cost: The current DPS fee for a fingerprint clearance card is $67 (or $65 for volunteers).

• Timing: The fingerprint clearance card must be obtained before an individual begins work or has contact with children. There is no provisional or temporary clearance.

Facility and space requirements

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

• Indoor space (infants and 1-year-olds): A minimum of 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child for infants and 1-year-old children.

• Indoor space (all other ages): A minimum of 25 square feet of indoor activity space per child for children who are not infants or 1-year-olds.

• Outdoor space: A minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play area per child using the space at any one time. The outdoor area must include shade for each enrolled child and be enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet high with a latching gate.

• Site and floor plans: When applying, you must submit site plans and floor plans drawn to scale. As of the 2025 rule update, these no longer require an architect's seal and may be prepared by an architect, draftsman, or contractor.

• Fire and 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.

• Infant crib safety: As of the 2025 rule update, infant cribs may no longer contain blankets. Only a clean, sanitized, crib-size fitted sheet is allowed in the crib.

Health and safety requirements

Arizona Administrative Code includes detailed health and safety requirements that licensed childcare facilities 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.

• 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.

• 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: Infants must be placed on their backs to sleep in approved cribs. Per the 2025 rule update, only a fitted sheet is allowed in the crib; no blankets, pillows, bumper pads, or toys.

• Closure notifications: As of the 2025 rule update, providers must notify ADHS within 24 hours of a business closure, whether planned or unplanned.

• 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

Arizona 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.

• 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 fingerprint clearance card documentation, training records, 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.

• 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 ADHS Bureau of Child Care Licensing.

• Unannounced inspections: ADHS conducts unannounced inspections of licensed childcare facilities during normal operating hours. These inspections can happen at any time and may 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 monetary penalties. Violations posing an immediate threat to children can result in emergency actions.

Quality First: Arizona's quality rating system

Quality First is Arizona's voluntary Quality Improvement and Rating System (QIRS), funded and administered by First Things First, the state's early childhood agency. While not required for licensing, participating in Quality First can help your program improve quality and attract families.

• Star ratings: Quality First assigns a rating of 1 to 5 stars based on program observations. Quality standards are based on what research shows is important in early care and education, including adult-child interactions, learning environments, and staff qualifications.

• Free to participate: Participation is free for regulated child care centers, homes, and preschool programs. First Things First provides professional development, coaching, specialized assistance, and funding to help programs improve.

• Reach: More than 1,400 regulated child care and preschool programs in Arizona are star-rated through Quality First, with over 1,100 receiving quality improvement support.

Resources

Here are key resources for Arizona childcare providers:

• ADHS Bureau of Child Care Licensing: The official state agency website for childcare licensing, including rules, application forms, and provider resources (azdhs.gov).

• Arizona DPS Fingerprint Clearance Card: Information and application for the required Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card (azdps.gov).

• Quality First / First Things First: Arizona's voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early care and education programs (qualityfirstaz.com).

• Arizona Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R): Provides training, technical assistance, and support to childcare providers across Arizona (azccrr.com).

• Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES): Oversees DES-certified family child care homes and child care subsidy programs (des.az.gov).