Maryland Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in Maryland?

In Maryland, childcare licensing is administered by the Office of Child Care (OCC), which operates within the Division of Early Childhood under the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). The OCC's Licensing Branch is responsible for inspecting and licensing all child care centers and family child care providers across the state.

The OCC maintains thirteen Regional Licensing Offices throughout Maryland. These regional offices process applications, conduct inspections, and serve as the primary point of contact for providers in their area. Childcare regulations are codified in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), with child care centers governed under COMAR Title 13A, Subtitle 16.

Maryland requires licensing for several types of childcare operations:

• Child Care Center: A facility that is not a residence and provides care to children. Centers are regulated under COMAR 13A.16 and must meet standards for staffing, space, health, safety, and program activities.

• Family Child Care Home: A home-based program registered to care for a smaller number of children. These operations are regulated under COMAR 13A.15.

• Large Family Child Care Home: A home-based program licensed to care for more children than a standard family child care, with additional staffing requirements. These are regulated under COMAR 13A.18.

How to apply for a Maryland child care center license

Obtaining a child care center license in Maryland involves multiple steps. The process can take several months, so plan accordingly and begin well before your intended opening date.

1. 1

   Contact your Regional Licensing Office

   Maryland has thirteen Regional Licensing Offices across the state. Contact the office for your area to learn about local requirements, ask questions about the licensing process, and request an application packet.

2. 2

   Complete required pre-service training

   Before a license can be issued, the director and staff must complete pre-service training requirements, including Medication Administration Training (MAT), a six-hour classroom course required by MSDE. CPR and First Aid certification appropriate for child age ranges must also be obtained.

3. 3

   Submit background checks for all staff

   All staff members must pass federal and state criminal background checks, including fingerprinting through the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), before the initial license can be issued.

4. 4

   Prepare your facility

   Your facility must meet all COMAR requirements for indoor and outdoor space, fire safety, sanitation, and equipment before your inspection. Review the licensing manual available from the Division of Early Childhood website to ensure your space meets every standard.

5. 5

   Pass the licensing inspection

   A licensing specialist from your Regional Licensing Office will conduct an on-site inspection to verify that your facility meets all COMAR requirements. Any deficiencies must be corrected before the license is granted.

6. 6

   Receive your license and maintain compliance

   Once all requirements are met, MSDE will issue your child care center license. Licensed centers receive annual inspections to verify ongoing compliance with health, safety, and staffing standards.

Maryland staff-to-child ratio requirements

Maryland sets specific staff-to-child ratios and maximum group sizes under COMAR 13A.16.08.03 (Group Size and Staffing). These ratios must be maintained at all times when children are in care. The age of a child is determined by the date of the child's most recent birthday.

Same-age groups

Mixed-age groups

When children of different ages are grouped together, the staff-to-child ratio is generally determined by the youngest child in the group. For mixed-age groups containing preschool children 3 years old or older (but no children under 2), the ratio is 1:10 with a maximum group size of 20. When 2-year-olds are present in a mixed group of 13 to 20 children, no more than six of those children may be 2 years old.

These ratios are defined in COMAR 13A.16.08.03. Always verify current ratios with your Regional Licensing Office, as regulations may be updated. For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification and training requirements

Maryland has detailed requirements for directors and teachers working in licensed child care centers, outlined in COMAR 13A.16.06.

Director qualifications

• Education: Directors must hold a high school diploma or certificate of equivalence, or have completed at least two accredited college courses. They must also complete 6 semester hours (or 90 clock hours) of approved pre-service training, or hold a Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credential.

• Administrative training: Directors must complete 3 semester hours or their equivalent of approved administrative training, plus 9 clock hours of approved pre-service training in communicating with staff, parents, and the public (or an equivalent college course).

• Health and safety training: Directors must complete approved basic health and safety training within 90 days of employment.

• Continued training: Directors must complete at least 12 clock hours of approved training per year, consisting of a minimum of 6 hours of core-of-knowledge training and a maximum of 6 hours of elective training.

Teacher requirements

• Pre-service training: Child care teachers must complete at least 24 clock hours of approved pre-service training covering six core-of-knowledge competency areas: child development, program curriculum, child health and safety, care of children with disabilities, professionalism, and community resources. Alternatively, 90 clock hours of approved training or its equivalent satisfies this requirement.

• Continued training: Teachers must complete at least 12 clock hours of approved training per year, with a minimum of 6 hours in core-of-knowledge areas and a maximum of 6 hours of elective training.

• CPR and First Aid: Current certification in approved basic first aid and CPR training must be maintained at all times. Certifications must cover the age ranges of children in your care.

• Medication Administration Training (MAT): All staff who may administer medication must complete MAT, a six-hour classroom-based course approved by MSDE. This is a pre-service requirement for obtaining a child care center license.

• SIDS training: Staff who provide care for children younger than 2 years old must complete Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) training.

Background check requirements

Maryland requires comprehensive background checks for all individuals working in licensed child care settings. These checks must be completed before the initial license can be issued.

• State criminal records check: Fingerprint-based criminal history checks are processed through the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), which maintains the state's central repository of criminal records.

• Federal (FBI) criminal records check: In addition to the state check, a federal FBI fingerprint-based background check is required for all staff.

• Sex offender registry: Checks against both the state and National Sex Offender Registry are required.

• Child abuse and neglect registry: Maryland maintains a Centralized Confidential Database of child abuse and neglect investigations. All child care staff are screened against this registry.

• Rap Back service: Maryland participates in the FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI) Rap Back Service, which provides ongoing notification of any subsequent criminal activity for individuals in positions of trust. This means background monitoring is continuous, not just a one-time check.

• Fingerprinting locations: Fingerprints can be taken at authorized Private Providers or Government Operated Service locations throughout the state.

Facility and space requirements

Maryland's physical space requirements for child care centers are defined in COMAR 13A.16.05 (Physical Plant and Equipment). Your facility must meet these standards before a license can be issued.

• Indoor space: A minimum of 35 square feet of indoor space per child is required. Centers licensed before December 1, 1971 are grandfathered at 30 square feet per child. This measurement applies to usable activity space and excludes kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and storage areas.

• Outdoor space: Centers must provide at least 75 square feet of outdoor play space per child using the area at a given time. For centers that submitted a notice of intent on or after January 1, 2009, the outdoor area must accommodate at least one half of the center's approved capacity (or each child if the capacity is 20 or fewer).

• Age-appropriate equipment: All furniture, cribs, and play equipment must be safe, in good repair, and appropriate for the ages of children enrolled. Equipment in the outdoor activity area must be approved for use by children in care.

• 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 meet standards for sanitation, food preparation areas, diaper changing stations, handwashing facilities, and general cleanliness. Health and safety inspections are part of the licensing process.

Health and safety requirements

Licensed child care centers in Maryland must follow detailed health and safety regulations to protect the children in their care.

• Immunization records: Up-to-date immunization records are required for all enrolled children and must be on file and available for inspection.

• Medication administration: Only staff who have completed Medication Administration Training (MAT) may administer medications. Written parent authorization is required, and all medication administration must be documented.

• Safe sleep practices: For infants, Maryland requires adherence to safe sleep guidelines. Infants must be placed on their backs to sleep, and cribs must be free of soft bedding, pillows, and loose items.

• Handwashing: Proper handwashing procedures must be followed by staff and children, including before and after meals, after diaper changes, after using the restroom, and after outdoor play.

• Emergency procedures: Written emergency plans must be posted and practiced regularly. Staff must be trained on procedures for fires, severe weather, medical emergencies, and facility lockdowns.

Record-keeping requirements

Maryland licensing requires child care centers to maintain detailed, organized records that are available for review during inspections. Keeping records current is one of the most important aspects of maintaining your license.

• 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 clearances, training documentation, certifications, and employment history.

• Incident reports: Written documentation of any injuries, accidents, or unusual incidents, including what happened, what actions were taken, and when parents were notified.

• Training logs: Documentation of all staff training hours, including pre-service and continued training, to demonstrate compliance with annual requirements.

Inspections and ongoing compliance

Once licensed, your center will be subject to regular monitoring by the Office of Child Care to ensure continued compliance with COMAR standards.

• Annual inspections: Licensed child care centers receive annual inspections from their Regional Licensing Office to verify compliance with health, safety, and staffing requirements.

• Unannounced visits: In addition to scheduled annual inspections, the OCC may conduct unannounced visits at any time during normal operating hours to monitor compliance.

• Complaint investigations: The Licensing Branch investigates complaints filed against licensed providers. Complaints may trigger additional inspections and corrective action requirements.

• Public records: Parents and the public can look up the licensing status and inspection history of any regulated child care provider in Maryland through the Check Child Care Maryland website (checkccmd.org).

• Corrective action: Deficiencies found during inspections must be corrected within specified timeframes. Repeated or serious violations can result in probation, suspension, or revocation of the license.

Maryland EXCELS: the state's quality rating system

Maryland EXCELS is the state's Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). It awards quality ratings from 1 to 5 to child care and early education programs that meet nationally recognized standards beyond the minimum licensing requirements.

• Voluntary participation: Maryland EXCELS is voluntary for all MSDE-registered child care providers, including family child care homes, licensed centers, and public prekindergarten programs.

• Required for subsidy providers: Participation in Maryland EXCELS is required for providers who accept children through the Child Care Scholarship Program (child care subsidy). This is an important consideration if you plan to serve families who receive state assistance.

• Quality standards: Providers increase their quality rating by demonstrating achievement in areas such as developmentally appropriate practice, professional development, family engagement, and administrative practices.

• Support and resources: Maryland EXCELS provides a road map, training, and incentives to help providers improve. Each provider is assigned a regional Quality Assurance Specialist for guidance through the quality improvement process.

• Remote evidence submission: Maryland EXCELS uses a remote-evidence submission system (developed by Johns Hopkins University's Center for Technology in Education), making it easier for providers to submit documentation and participate without extensive in-person requirements.

Resources

Here are key resources for Maryland childcare providers:

• MSDE Division of Early Childhood: The official state agency website for child care licensing, including regulations, licensing manuals, and application resources (earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org).

• COMAR regulations: The full text of Maryland's child care center regulations can be found in COMAR Title 13A, Subtitle 16, available through the Maryland Division of State Documents.

• Check Child Care Maryland: A public website (checkccmd.org) where parents and providers can look up the licensing status and inspection history of any regulated child care provider in the state.

• Maryland EXCELS: The state's Quality Rating and Improvement System website (marylandexcels.org) with information on quality standards, participation requirements, and provider support.

• Background checks and fingerprinting: Information on the background check process, including fingerprinting locations and forms, is available through the Division of Early Childhood website.