Idaho Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Idaho?

In Idaho, childcare licensing is administered by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), working in partnership with the seven regional health districts across the state. DHW sets the minimum standards for childcare operations under IDAPA 16.06.02 (Child Care Licensing), and the local health districts conduct inspections and process applications in their respective regions.

Idaho requires licensing based on the number of children in your care. The type of license you need depends on how many children you serve:

• Daycare Center: A facility providing compensated daycare for thirteen (13) or more children. This is the standard license type for commercial childcare businesses and is subject to the most comprehensive set of regulations.

• Group Daycare Facility: A home, place, or facility providing compensated daycare for seven (7) to twelve (12) children. Group daycare facilities must be licensed and meet specific standards, though requirements are somewhat less extensive than for full daycare centers.

• Family Daycare Home: A home providing daycare for six (6) or fewer children. Family daycare homes are not required to be licensed in Idaho, but providers may voluntarily elect to become licensed through DHW. Licensing is required if the provider wants to accept the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) subsidy.

How to apply for an Idaho childcare license

The Idaho childcare licensing process is managed through your local health district in coordination with DHW. Plan for the process to take several weeks to a few months depending on your readiness.

1. 1

   Contact your local health district

   Idaho has seven regional health districts. Start by contacting your district's environmental health division. They will provide the application packet, explain local requirements, and guide you through the process.

2. 2

   Complete background checks for all required individuals

   All owners, operators, staff, and anyone age 13 or older with unsupervised access to children must complete a DHW criminal history and background check, including fingerprinting. Background check applications are submitted through the DHW online portal at chu.dhw.idaho.gov. The standard fee is approximately $65 per person.

3. 3

   Obtain CPR and First Aid certifications

   Idaho requires current certification in pediatric CPR (infant and child) and First Aid for all childcare providers. These certifications must be completed through a course with a certified instructor; online-only courses are not accepted. Certifications must be submitted with your license application.

4. 4

   Complete required training

   New providers must complete a 15-hour IdahoSTARS health and safety training before opening. This training covers child development, safe sleep practices, nutrition, and emergency preparedness. IdahoSTARS offers these courses through approved trainers statewide.

5. 5

   Submit your application and pass the inspection

   Submit your completed application with all supporting documentation to your local health district. An inspector will conduct an on-site visit to verify your facility meets all minimum standards for space, safety, equipment, and documentation. Deficiencies must be corrected before a license is issued.

6. 6

   Receive your license

   Once all requirements are met and your facility passes inspection, DHW will issue your childcare license. Your license must be posted in a visible location at your facility. Idaho childcare licenses are renewed annually.

Idaho staff-to-child ratio requirements

Idaho uses a unique point-based system to determine staff-to-child ratios, defined under IDAPA 16.06.02, Section 335. Each staff member is allocated a maximum of 12 points, and children are assigned point values based on their age. The younger the child, the more points they require per staff member.

Following the passage of HB 243, the updated point values (effective July 1, 2025) are:

The point system allows flexibility when you have mixed-age classrooms. To calculate your required staffing, multiply the number of children in each age group by their point value and add the totals. Divide by 12 to determine the minimum number of staff required.

For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification and training requirements

Idaho has specific requirements for providers and staff working in licensed childcare facilities under IDAPA 16.06.02.

• Minimum age: Childcare providers (owners and operators) must be at least 18 years old. Individuals aged 16 or 17 may provide care only when directly supervised by a qualified provider who is 18 or older.

• Background checks: All owners, operators, staff, and individuals age 13 or older who have unsupervised direct contact with children or are regularly on the premises must pass a DHW criminal history and background check, including fingerprinting. For individuals aged 13-17, juvenile justice records must be checked in all counties they have lived in.

• Background check transfers: A clearance completed within the last three years can be transferred to a new employer, provided the transferred clearance is an enhanced clearance and a new Idaho State Police name-based record check is also completed.

• CPR and First Aid: Current certification in infant and child CPR and First Aid is required for all providers. Certifications must be from a course offered by a certified instructor. Online-only courses are not accepted. These certifications must be renewed annually.

• Pre-service training: New providers must complete the 15-hour IdahoSTARS health and safety training before opening their facility. This covers topics including child development, safe sleep practices, medication administration, and recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect.

• Ongoing training: Each owner, operator, and staff member must complete a minimum of four (4) hours of ongoing training every 12 months after their date of hire. Training must cover child development areas related to childcare.

• Staffing during hours of operation: At least one adult staff member must be awake and on duty on the premises at all times during operating hours. Staff are responsible for direct care, protection, supervision, and guidance of children.

Facility requirements

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

• Indoor space: A minimum of 35 square feet of indoor gross floor area per child. This is measured as usable activity space and excludes kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and storage-only areas.

• Outdoor space: A minimum of 100 square feet of outdoor play area per child. This requirement may be waived if a public park abuts the property. Outdoor play areas must be enclosed by a six-foot fence that is secured against exit or entry by small children.

• Building exits: Your building must have a minimum of two clearly marked exits. Childcare cannot be provided in a basement or second story unless an officially approved fire escape is installed and accessible.

• Fire safety: All licensed facilities must be inspected by the local fire official or their designee. Fire extinguishers must be inspected annually. Facilities with more than fifty (50) children must have an approved fire alarm system installed.

• Smoke detectors: One smoke detector is required for each sleeping area, hallway, and floor level of the facility.

• 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.

Background check requirements

Idaho requires comprehensive background checks before any individual has unsupervised access to children in a licensed childcare operation.

• Who must be checked: Owners, operators, all staff, and every individual age 13 or older who has unsupervised direct contact with children or is regularly on the premises during operating hours.

• Fingerprint-based check: Background checks are processed through the DHW Background Check Unit and include fingerprint-based criminal history checks through the Idaho State Police.

• Juvenile records: For individuals aged 13 through 17, juvenile justice records must be checked in all counties where the individual has lived.

• How to apply: Create an account at the DHW background check portal (chu.dhw.idaho.gov), complete the application, print and notarize it, submit it online, and then schedule a fingerprinting appointment. The standard application fee is approximately $65.

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

Health and safety requirements

Idaho's minimum standards include daily health and safety requirements that all licensed operations must follow.

• 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 administration must be documented, including the medication name, dosage, time, and staff member responsible.

• Safe sleep practices: Infants must be placed on their backs to sleep in approved cribs. No soft bedding, pillows, bumper pads, or toys should be in the crib, in accordance with safe sleep guidelines.

• 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 be trained on procedures for fire, severe weather, medical emergencies, and other crises. Fire drills must be conducted and documented.

• Illness exclusion: Operations must have written policies for excluding ill children and procedures for notifying parents when a child becomes ill during the day.

Record-keeping requirements

Idaho licensing requires childcare operations to maintain detailed records that are available for review during inspections. Organized, current records are essential for maintaining compliance.

• Attendance records: Daily sign-in and sign-out records for every child, with times documented for each entry. These records must be retained and available for inspection.

• 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 clearances, training documentation, CPR and First Aid certifications, and employment history.

• Incident reports: Written documentation of any injuries, accidents, or unusual incidents, including details of what occurred and what actions were taken.

• Fire drill and emergency drill logs: Documentation of all drills conducted, including dates, times, number of participants, and evacuation times.

IdahoSTARS and the Steps to Quality program

IdahoSTARS is Idaho's leading resource for childcare quality improvement. It administers Steps to Quality (STQ), the state's voluntary Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) for childcare programs.

How Steps to Quality works

Steps to Quality is a six-step progressive system. Programs move through steps 1 through 6, implementing quality indicators at each level while maintaining the standards of previous steps. Each step is evaluated across six areas of quality called Quality Standards.

• Voluntary participation: Steps to Quality is a voluntary program open to licensed childcare centers and home-based programs. Participation signals a commitment to quality beyond minimum licensing requirements.

• Training and support: IdahoSTARS provides approved trainers statewide who offer a range of training opportunities, including multi-module basic trainings, intermediate-level courses, and essential trainings embedded in the QRIS framework.

• Benefits: Achieving Steps to Quality ratings can improve your program's visibility to families, demonstrate quality to parents, and may increase subsidy reimbursement rates for providers who participate in the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP).

Inspections and ongoing compliance

Once licensed, your operation will be subject to ongoing monitoring by your local health district and DHW.

• Routine inspections: Local health districts conduct inspections of licensed childcare operations. Inspections can be unannounced and may cover any aspect of your operation, from ratio compliance to record-keeping to facility safety.

• Annual renewal: Idaho childcare licenses must be renewed annually. Renewal requires continued compliance with all minimum standards, up-to-date background checks, and current certifications.

• Corrective action: If deficiencies are found during an inspection, you will be given a 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, or revocation. Violations that pose an immediate threat to children can result in emergency action.

• ICCP compliance: If your facility receives subsidy payments through the Idaho Child Care Program, you must also maintain compliance with ICCP regulations in addition to licensing standards.

Resources

Here are key resources for Idaho childcare providers:

• Idaho Department of Health and Welfare - Child Care: The official state agency website for childcare licensing, including application information, regulations, and provider resources (healthandwelfare.idaho.gov).

• IdahoSTARS: Idaho's childcare resource and referral network, offering training, the Steps to Quality QRIS program, licensing guidance, and provider support (idahostars.org).

• Idaho AEYC: The Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children provides business guides, professional development resources, and advocacy for childcare providers across the state.

• DHW Background Check Unit: The online portal for submitting background check applications and scheduling fingerprinting appointments (chu.dhw.idaho.gov).

• IDAPA 16.06.02: The full text of Idaho's Child Care Licensing administrative rules, available through the Idaho Administrative Rules website (adminrules.idaho.gov).