Colorado Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Colorado?

Childcare licensing in Colorado is administered by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC), which became operational on July 1, 2022. CDEC took over early childhood licensing responsibilities that were previously managed by the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Office of Early Childhood. Within CDEC, the Division of Early Learning, Licensing, and Administration (DELLA) handles the licensing of over 5,000 child care facilities across the state.

Colorado requires licensing for facilities that provide care for more than one unrelated child. The type of license you need depends on the size and setting of your operation:

• Child Care Center: A non-home facility that provides care for more than five children from birth to 18 years of age. This is the most common license type for commercial childcare operations.

• Family Child Care Home: A home-based program where the provider cares for children in their own residence. Family child care homes have separate licensing requirements and lower capacity limits.

• School-Age Child Care Center: A facility specifically serving children who are school-age, typically offering before-school, after-school, and summer programs.

• Preschool: A licensed program focused on children typically ages three to five, operating on a part-day schedule.

How to apply for a Colorado childcare license

The Colorado childcare licensing process typically takes 60 to 90 days from initial application to license issuance. Plan ahead, as background checks and inspections can add time if issues arise.

1. 1

   Review the rules and regulations

   Before applying, thoroughly review 8 CCR 1402-1, the licensing rules for child care centers published by CDEC. Understanding these standards before you begin will save significant time during the application and inspection process.

2. 2

   Create an account in the Provider Hub

   CDEC encourages applicants to use the online Provider Hub to submit applications for faster processing. You will need to create a username and password, then complete the online application and pay the required fee. Paper applications are also accepted but take longer to process.

3. 3

   Complete background checks

   All owners, directors, staff, and anyone with unsupervised access to children must complete both a criminal background check (through CBI and FBI) and a child abuse and neglect records check. The CBI/FBI fingerprint check costs $49.50 per person, and the child abuse and neglect check costs $35 per person.

4. 4

   Pass the licensing inspection

   A CDEC licensing specialist will conduct an on-site inspection of your facility to verify compliance with all health, safety, and space requirements. Any deficiencies must be corrected before your license can be issued.

5. 5

   Receive your license

   Once all requirements are met and your facility passes inspection, CDEC will issue your childcare license. The license must be posted in a visible location at your facility. Your facility will then appear in the Colorado Shines provider directory.

Colorado staff-to-child ratio requirements

Colorado sets specific staff-to-child ratios and maximum group sizes based on the ages of children in care. These ratios must be maintained at all times, including during outdoor play, nap time, and transitions between activities.

*For mixed-age groups, if more than 20% of the group is composed of younger children, the staff ratio for the youngest child in the group must be used.

These ratios are from 8 CCR 1402-1. Always verify current ratios with CDEC, as they may be updated periodically. For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification and training requirements

Colorado has specific education, experience, and ongoing training requirements for anyone working in a licensed child care facility.

• Director qualifications: Directors must meet education and experience requirements that vary based on the size and type of program. Requirements generally include a combination of formal education in early childhood education or a related field, along with supervised experience in a child care setting.

• Pre-service training: New employees must complete required training before working unsupervised with children. Training topics include building and physical premises safety, disaster preparedness and emergency response, and prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma.

• Annual training hours: All child care staff must complete a minimum of 15 hours of training annually. Training must include mandatory topics specified by CDEC, covering areas such as child development, health and safety, and guidance techniques.

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

• Medication administration training: Any staff member who administers medication to children must complete specific training in medication administration as required by Colorado regulations.

Background check requirements

Colorado requires two separate background check processes for all individuals involved in a childcare operation. Both must be completed before a person has unsupervised access to children.

• Criminal background check: A fingerprint-based criminal history check conducted through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for in-state records and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for national records. The combined cost is $49.50 per person.

• Child abuse and neglect records check: A separate screening of the state child abuse and neglect registry. This check costs $35 per person and must be completed in addition to the criminal background check.

• Who must be checked: All owners, directors, staff members, substitutes, volunteers with unsupervised access, and any person who will have regular contact with children during operating hours.

• Timing: Background checks must be completed and cleared before a person has unsupervised access to children. There is no grace period for this requirement.

Facility and space requirements

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

• Indoor space: A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor activity space per child based on the licensed capacity. For programs caring for infants, the requirement is higher at 50 square feet per infant. This measurement excludes kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and storage areas.

• Outdoor space: A minimum of 75 square feet of usable outdoor play space per child. The outdoor play area must be enclosed with a fence at least 42 inches high, with slats no more than 4 inches apart or an equivalent natural barrier.

• Shade and shelter: Access to a shaded or sheltered area must be available at all times during outdoor play to protect children from excessive sun and heat.

• 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 Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards.

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

• Health and sanitation: Facilities must comply with 6 CCR 1010-7, Colorado's health and sanitation standards for child care facilities, administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). This covers sanitation, food preparation, diaper changing, and general cleanliness.

Health and safety requirements

Colorado licensing rules include detailed health and safety requirements that licensed child care centers 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 review during inspections.

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

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

• Outdoor area safety: All outdoor play areas must be inspected before each use and kept free from hazardous materials, debris, dilapidated structures, and broken equipment. Staff must identify and make inaccessible any high-risk areas.

• Emergency procedures: Written emergency and disaster preparedness procedures must be posted and practiced regularly. Staff must be trained on procedures for fire, severe weather, medical emergencies, and other crises.

• 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.

Record-keeping requirements

Colorado licensing requires child care centers to maintain detailed records that are available for review during inspections. Keeping these records organized and current is essential for staying in compliance.

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

• 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 and emergency drill logs: Documentation of all drills conducted, including date, time, number of children and staff present, and evacuation time.

Colorado Shines: Quality Rating and Improvement System

Colorado Shines is the state's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for licensed early learning programs serving children from birth through age five. While participating in Colorado Shines beyond the basic level is voluntary, it provides a framework for programs to demonstrate and improve their quality.

Rating levels

• Level 1: Meets basic health and safety licensing requirements. All licensed child care programs automatically receive a Level 1 rating.

• Level 2: The program has completed preparatory activities that position it to advance toward the higher-quality ratings of Levels 3 through 5.

• Levels 3, 4, and 5: Indicate high-quality programming. A Quality Ratings Assessor evaluates programs at these levels across five categories: workforce qualifications, family partnerships, administrative practices, learning environment, and child health.

Benefits of higher ratings

Achieving higher Colorado Shines ratings can help your program stand out to families searching for quality care. Rated programs appear in the Colorado Shines provider directory, which families use when researching child care options. Higher-rated programs may also be eligible for quality improvement incentives and grants through CDEC.

Inspections and ongoing compliance

Once licensed, your child care center will be subject to ongoing monitoring by CDEC licensing specialists.

• Unannounced inspections: CDEC conducts unannounced inspections of licensed child care operations during normal operating hours. Inspections can cover any aspect of your operation and happen at any time.

• Corrective action: If deficiencies are found during an inspection, the operation will be 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 probation, license suspension, license revocation, or fines. Violations posing an immediate threat to children can result in emergency suspension.

• License renewal: Colorado child care licenses must be renewed periodically. The renewal process includes a review of compliance history, updated background checks if needed, and a facility inspection.

Resources

Here are key resources for Colorado childcare providers:

• Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC): The official state agency for child care licensing. Visit cdec.colorado.gov for application forms, rules and regulations, and contact information for licensing specialists.

• Provider Hub: The online portal for submitting license applications, managing your facility profile, and accessing licensing resources.

• Colorado Shines: The state's QRIS program. Visit coloradoshines.com to learn about quality ratings, find training opportunities, and access resources for improving your program quality.

• Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE): Responsible for health and sanitation standards for child care facilities under 6 CCR 1010-7. Contact CDPHE for questions about health inspections and sanitation requirements.