Louisiana Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, childcare licensing is administered by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE). The LDE oversees all early learning centers through regulations defined in BESE Bulletin 137, officially titled "Louisiana Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations." This bulletin is promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and covers everything from application procedures to health and safety standards.

Louisiana uses the term "Early Learning Center" (ELC) to describe licensed childcare facilities. The type of license or registration you need depends on the size and setting of your operation:

• Early Learning Center (Type I, II, III): A center-based facility that provides care for children. Type I centers serve 2-6 children, Type II serve 7-12, and Type III serve 13 or more. Type III is the most common license for commercial childcare operations.

• Family Child Care Provider: A home-based provider who cares for children in their own residence. Family child care providers are registered rather than licensed and have different requirements.

• In-Home Child Care Provider: An individual who provides care in the child's own home. In-home providers have their own set of registration requirements under Bulletin 139.

How to apply for a Louisiana childcare license

The Louisiana childcare licensing application process involves coordination with multiple state agencies. Plan for the process to take several weeks to several months depending on how quickly you meet all requirements.

1. 1

   Complete the Key Orientation Training Modules

   Louisiana requires new early learning center staff to complete Key Orientation Training Modules before or within the first days of operation. These self-paced, digital modules cover Bulletin 137 licensing regulations and include audio and closed captioning. You will receive certificates upon completion.

2. 2

   Submit your application through the LDE online system

   Applications are submitted electronically through the Louisiana Department of Education's online portal. You will need to provide information about your facility, ownership structure, staffing plan, and program details.

3. 3

   Complete Child Care Criminal Background Checks (CCCBC)

   All owners, employees, volunteers, and other covered individuals must complete a CCCBC. This is a fingerprint-based background check managed through the LDE's CCCBC system. Applicants have 10 days to obtain fingerprints at an approved site after receiving their TCN number.

4. 4

   Pass required inspections

   The LDE coordinates inspections from multiple agencies: the Office of State Fire Marshal, city fire departments (if applicable), the Louisiana Department of Health, and the LDE's own academic approval section. All inspections must be passed before your license is issued.

5. 5

   Receive your license

   Once all requirements are met and inspections are passed, the LDE will issue your early learning center license. The license must be posted in a visible location at your facility and renewed before the last day of the month in which it expires.

Louisiana staff-to-child ratio requirements

Louisiana sets specific child-to-staff ratios based on the ages of children in care. These ratios are defined in Bulletin 137, Section 1711 and must be maintained at all times. For centers with 11 or more children, the following minimum ratios apply:

For smaller centers with 10 or fewer children, different rules apply: one teacher is required for up to 10 children if no more than two are under age two. If three or more children are under age two, two teachers are required for 10 children.

These ratios are from BESE Bulletin 137, Section 1711. Always verify current ratios with the LDE, as they may be updated periodically. For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification and training requirements

Louisiana has specific qualifications for directors and staff working in licensed early learning centers.

Director qualifications

Louisiana offers several pathways to qualify as an early learning center director (Bulletin 137, Section 1709):

• National credential pathway: A national administrator credential plus one year of experience in teaching or care in a licensed early learning center or comparable setting, plus 6 credit hours or 90 clock hours of training in child care, child development, or early childhood education.

• Experience plus education pathway: One year of experience as a director or staff in a licensed child care center plus 12 credit hours in child care, child development, or early childhood education. Fifteen clock hours may be substituted for each three credit hours.

• Vocational program pathway: A diploma from a vocational childcare training program approved by the Board of Regents or equivalent, plus one year of supervised childcare experience in a licensed center or comparable setting.

Training requirements for all staff

• Orientation training: New staff must complete the Key Orientation Training Modules within the first days of hire. These self-paced digital modules cover Bulletin 137 regulations.

• CPR and Pediatric First Aid: Staff must complete CPR and Pediatric First Aid training through an LDE-approved course. Certification must remain current.

• Annual continuing education: All staff are required to complete a minimum of 12 clock hours of continuing education annually. This includes at least 3 hours from child care workshops or conferences and 3 hours dedicated to health and safety topics.

Facility and space requirements

Your physical space must meet Bulletin 137 standards before a license can be issued. Louisiana updated its indoor space requirements effective June 1, 2022.

• Indoor space (birth to age 4): A minimum of 35 square feet of usable indoor space per child for children ages birth through 3. This is measured as usable activity space, excluding kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and storage areas.

• Indoor space (age 4 and above): A minimum of 25 square feet of usable indoor space per child. However, if any child in the room is under age 4, the 35-square-foot requirement applies to every child in that space.

• Outdoor space: A minimum of 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the area at any one time. Outdoor areas must be fenced and free of hazards.

• Fire safety: Your facility must pass an inspection from the Office of State Fire Marshal. Working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are required. Fire drills must be conducted and documented regularly.

• Health inspection: The Louisiana Department of Health conducts a separate inspection covering sanitation, food preparation areas, diaper changing stations, handwashing facilities, and general cleanliness.

• Age-appropriate equipment: All furniture, cribs, and play equipment must be safe, in good repair, and appropriate for the ages of children enrolled. Cribs must meet current CPSC standards.

Background check requirements (CCCBC)

Louisiana requires Child Care Criminal Background Checks (CCCBC) for all individuals associated with early learning centers. The CCCBC process is managed through the LDE's online system and is outlined in Bulletin 137, Sections 1807 and 1809.

• Who must be checked: All owners, employees, volunteers, independent contractors, and certain visitors who have access to children must complete a CCCBC. This requirement is defined in Bulletin 137, Sections 1807 and 1809.

• Fingerprint-based screening: The CCCBC includes a fingerprint-based criminal history check. After receiving a TCN (Transaction Control Number) from the LDE system, applicants have 10 days to obtain fingerprints at an approved site.

• Registry checks: The background screening includes checks of the sex offender registry and the state central registry for child abuse and neglect.

• Results and notification: CCCBC results are sent to the early learning center owner or director. A person may not have unsupervised access to children until their background check has been cleared.

• CCAP providers: Providers certified through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) under BESE Bulletin 139 have additional background check requirements for family child care and in-home providers.

Health and safety requirements

Bulletin 137 includes detailed health and safety requirements that licensed early learning 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 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, Louisiana 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.

• Illness exclusion: Centers must have a written illness exclusion policy and procedures for notifying parents when their child becomes ill during the day.

Record-keeping requirements

Louisiana licensing requires early learning centers 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 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 CCCBC results, training documentation, certifications, orientation records, 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.

Quality Start: Louisiana's quality rating system

Quality Start is Louisiana's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), a voluntary program designed to recognize, support, and increase the quality of childcare throughout the state. The program is administered by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS).

• Five-star rating system: Quality Start uses a five-star rating scale. All licensed programs enter at one star, which represents meeting Louisiana's licensing standards. The four additional star levels recognize programs that exceed minimum licensing requirements.

• Rating components: Centers are evaluated on four areas: administration practices, family and community involvement, program quality, and staff qualifications. Each area has specific indicators that must be achieved to earn higher star ratings.

• Financial incentives: Centers that achieve higher star ratings are eligible for tiered bonus payments for children enrolled through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) and foster care. Higher quality ratings can mean significantly higher reimbursement rates.

• Training and support: Participating centers receive training and technical assistance to help improve their quality rating. The program provides resources and support to help programs move up the star scale.

• Parent visibility: DCFS maintains a Quality Start directory that allows parents to search for quality-rated child care centers by parish. This public visibility helps quality-rated centers attract more families.

Inspections and compliance

Once licensed, your early learning center will be subject to ongoing monitoring by the Louisiana Department of Education.

• Multi-agency inspections: LDE coordinates inspections involving the Office of State Fire Marshal, city fire (if applicable), the Louisiana Department of Health, and LDE licensing staff. Each agency evaluates different aspects of your operation.

• Unannounced visits: Licensing inspections can be unannounced and may cover any aspect of your operation, from staffing ratios to facility maintenance to record-keeping.

• Corrective action: If deficiencies are found during an inspection, the center is given a specified timeframe to correct the issues. The timeframe depends on the severity of the deficiency.

• Penalties: Repeated or serious violations can result in adverse actions, including fines up to $1,000 per day, license suspension, or license revocation. The most serious violations can result in immediate action.

Resources

Here are key resources for Louisiana childcare providers:

• Louisiana Department of Education - Child Care Facility Licensing: The official LDE page for childcare licensing, including application information, Bulletin 137 resources, and contact details.

• BESE Bulletin 137: The full text of Louisiana Early Learning Center Licensing Regulations, available through the LDE website and the Louisiana Administrative Code (Title 28, Part CLXI).

• CCCBC System: The LDE's online portal for managing Child Care Criminal Background Checks, accessible at cccbcldoe.la.gov.

• Quality Start: Louisiana's voluntary QRIS program administered by DCFS. Information about participation, ratings, and the parent search directory is available through the DCFS website.

• Well-Ahead LA: A Louisiana Department of Health initiative that provides provider training resources, including early childhood education roundtables and Bulletin 137 training materials.