Arkansas Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Arkansas?

In Arkansas, childcare licensing is overseen by the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education (DCCECE), which operates under the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS). The DCCECE's Licensing and Accreditation Unit is responsible for setting minimum licensing requirements, processing applications, conducting on-site inspections, and enforcing compliance for all regulated childcare operations in the state.

Arkansas requires licensing for childcare facilities that serve children outside of the child's own home. The type of license or registration you need depends on the size and setting of your operation:

• Licensed Child Care Center: A facility (not the caregiver's home) that provides regular care for children. This is the most common license type for commercial childcare businesses and preschool programs.

• Licensed Child Care Family Home: A home-based operation where the caregiver provides care for children in their own residence. Licensed family homes serve a larger number of children than registered homes and must meet additional standards.

• Registered Child Care Family Home: A home-based operation serving a smaller number of children. Registration requirements are less extensive than a full license but still include background checks and compliance with minimum standards.

• Out-of-School Time Facility: A center-based program that provides care exclusively for school-age children before and after school, on school holidays, and during summer breaks.

How to apply for an Arkansas childcare license

The Arkansas 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 licensing unit

   Reach out to the DCCECE to request information about the licensing process. You will be connected with a childcare licensing specialist in your area who can guide you through the requirements specific to your operation type.

2. 2

   Prepare your facility

   Your childcare facility must meet specific regulations for space, safety, and equipment before you can apply. This includes appropriate furniture, learning materials, outdoor play equipment, safety gear, and compliance with fire and health codes.

3. 3

   Gather required documentation

   You will need proof of caregiver qualifications and training, background check results for all staff and relevant adults, health records including TB test results, emergency preparedness plans, and safety checklists.

4. 4

   Complete background checks

   All owners, directors, caregivers, and anyone with access to children must pass background checks before your license can be issued. A prospective staff member may not begin work until the Arkansas State Police criminal record check result has been returned as satisfactory.

5. 5

   Submit your application

   Submit your completed application to the DCCECE along with all required documentation and fees.

6. 6

   Pass the pre-licensing inspection

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

7. 7

   Receive your license

   Once you have met all requirements and passed your inspection, DCCECE will issue your childcare license. Your license specifies the maximum number of children you may have in care at any one time, and you must not exceed that number.

Arkansas staff-to-child ratio requirements

Arkansas sets specific staff-to-child ratios based on the ages of children in care. These ratios must be maintained at all times, including during outdoor play and transitions. The maximum group size is limited to two times the number of children allowed with one staff member.

Naptime ratio adjustments

During naptime for children age two and a half and above, a minimum of 50% of the required staff must remain with the children, and a total of 75% of the required staff must remain in the building.

These ratios are from the Arkansas Minimum Licensing Requirements for Child Care Centers. Verify current ratios with the DCCECE, as they may be updated periodically. For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification requirements

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

Director qualifications

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

• Education: Directors must hold a degree in early childhood education or a related field. Arkansas provides several qualifying pathways, including a bachelor's degree, an associate degree in early childhood or child development combined with six years of experience, or eight years of experience in early childhood education combined with approved certification.

• On-site presence: A Director, Assistant Director, or Site Supervisor who meets director qualifications must be present at each licensed site a minimum of 50% of the center's primary operational day, on a routine basis.

• New Director Orientation: All new Directors and Assistant Directors must attend New Directors Orientation, Program Administration Scale (PAS) training, and Environment Rating Scale (ERS) training within six months of employment.

Caregiver requirements

• Background checks: All staff must pass an Arkansas State Police criminal record check before beginning work. The Child Maltreatment Central Registry check is also required.

• CPR and First Aid: Staff must maintain current pediatric CPR and First Aid certification.

• TB testing: All caregivers must provide proof of a recent tuberculosis (TB) test.

• Orientation training: New staff must complete Child Care Orientation Training offered by the DCCECE.

• Annual training hours: All caregivers who work directly with children must register with the Arkansas Professional Development Registry and obtain at least 15 clock hours of training in early childhood education each year. Directors must also complete 15 clock hours annually.

Background check requirements

Arkansas requires comprehensive background checks for all individuals working in licensed childcare facilities. A prospective staff member may not begin work until their background check results have been returned as satisfactory.

• Arkansas State Police criminal record check: Required for all staff. This is the primary criminal background check and must be completed before any employee begins working with children.

• FBI fingerprint check: A national/federal fingerprint-based background check through the FBI is required when the applicant has not been a resident of Arkansas for the five consecutive years preceding their application.

• Child Maltreatment Central Registry: A separate check of the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry is required for all staff. This check is not included in the criminal background check and must be requested separately through DCFS.

• National Sex Offender Registry: The online background check process includes a national sex offender registry check.

• Online submission: All providers must submit background checks online. The process includes scheduling a live fingerprint scan appointment, which typically takes less than 20 minutes.

Facility requirements

Your physical space must meet Arkansas Minimum Licensing Requirements before a license can be issued. Key requirements include:

• Indoor space: A minimum of 35 square feet of usable floor space per child for indoor activities. This measurement excludes bathrooms, kitchens, and hallways.

• Outdoor space: A minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child present on the playground at any given time. The outdoor play area must be enclosed by a fence or another appropriate barrier.

• 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.

• Fire safety: Working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers must be installed and maintained. Fire drills must be conducted and documented regularly. The facility must have a posted evacuation plan.

• Health and sanitation: Your facility must meet health and sanitation standards covering food preparation areas, diaper changing stations, handwashing facilities, and general cleanliness.

Health and safety requirements

Arkansas Minimum Licensing Requirements 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.

• Safe sleep practices: For infants, Arkansas 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. Staff must know what to do in the event of a fire, severe weather, medical emergency, or other crisis.

Record-keeping requirements

Arkansas 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 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 DCCECE Child Care Licensing Unit.

• Routine inspections: On-site inspections of child care centers are conducted by the Child Care Licensing Unit on a routine basis to determine a facility's continued compliance with the minimum licensing requirements.

• Capacity limits: A licensee shall not have more children in care at any one time than the maximum specified on the license. Exceeding your licensed capacity is a serious violation.

• 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: The DCCECE has the authority to grant, revoke, deny, or suspend licenses. Repeated or serious violations can result in probation, license suspension, license revocation, or other adverse actions.

Better Beginnings: Arkansas's quality rating system

Better Beginnings is Arkansas's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), a voluntary program that assesses, improves, and communicates the level of quality in early care and education programs. It is administered by the DCCECE's Licensing and Accreditation Unit.

Better Beginnings is available to all licensed and registered child care providers in the state, including center-based care, family child care, and school-age care programs. Participation is voluntary, but achieving a higher star rating signals higher quality to families and can bring additional benefits.

Star rating levels

Better Beginnings uses a "building block" approach, meaning programs must meet all requirements at one level before moving to the next:

• Level 1 (One Star): Requirements align with Minimum Licensing Requirements and help the director or primary caregiver begin the quality improvement process.

• Level 2 (Two Stars): Staff becomes more involved in quality improvement. The administrator and teaching staff participate in specific trainings, the program shares developmental information with families, and developmental screenings are provided for all children.

• Level 3 (Three Stars): The highest level sets even higher requirements across all components. Programs continue to build quality through self-assessment, maintaining samples of children's learning activities, participating in reviews of the program's quality, and sharing information with families.

More information about Better Beginnings is available at the official website: arbetterbeginnings.com.

Resources

Here are key resources for Arkansas childcare providers:

• DCCECE Child Care Licensing: The state agency responsible for licensing, inspections, and compliance. Contact the Licensing Unit at (501) 682-8590 for questions about the application process or current requirements.

• Office of Early Childhood (DESE): The Office of Early Childhood within the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education provides additional early childhood resources and policy information.

• Better Beginnings: Arkansas's voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for childcare providers who want to go beyond minimum licensing requirements and improve program quality.

• Arkansas Professional Development Registry: All caregivers who work directly with children must register with the Professional Development Registry to track training hours and professional development.