New Hampshire Childcare Licensing Requirements: A Complete Guide

Overview: who regulates childcare in New Hampshire?

In New Hampshire, childcare licensing is administered by the Child Care Licensing Unit (CCLU) within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The CCLU is responsible for setting and enforcing licensing rules, processing applications, conducting inspections, and ensuring that children in licensed programs are in safe and healthy environments.

The primary regulation governing childcare licensing is He-C 4002, the NH Child Care Program Licensing Rules. The CCLU licenses seven categories of child care programs:

• Group Child Care Center: A facility that provides care for preschool-age children and up to five school-age children. This includes programs known as day nurseries, nursery schools, kindergartens, child development centers, Montessori schools, and similar operations.

• Family Child Care Home: An occupied residence providing care for fewer than 24 hours per day for up to 6 children from one or more unrelated families. The provider's own children are counted in the total.

• Family Group Child Care Home: An occupied residence providing care for fewer than 24 hours per day for 7 to 12 children from one or more unrelated families. A family group home requires an assistant in addition to the primary provider.

• Other program types: The CCLU also licenses School Age Programs, Child Care Nurseries, Night Care Programs, and Residential Child Care Programs, each with their own specific requirements.

How to apply for a New Hampshire childcare license

The licensing application process is managed by the CCLU. All licensing materials must be submitted together as a complete package; incomplete applications will be returned. Plan for the process to take several weeks to months depending on how quickly you meet all requirements.

1. 1

   Gather your application materials

   Download the required licensing forms and documentation checklist from the DHHS website. You will need to provide education and experience documents for your director and staff, including certificates, transcripts, diplomas, and resumes.

2. 2

   Complete background checks for all personnel

   All child care personnel and household members age 18 and older must complete background record checks through the NHCIS portal before having contact with children. This includes fingerprinting through the Department of Safety.

3. 3

   Ensure staff meet qualification requirements

   Submit documentation showing your director and staff meet the education, experience, and certification requirements for their roles. Current pediatric first aid and CPR certifications are required.

4. 4

   Submit your complete application package

   Mail the completed application with all required forms, documentation, and fees to the Child Care Licensing Unit at 129 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301. Incomplete packages will be returned.

5. 5

   Pass the licensing inspection

   A Licensing Coordinator will contact you to schedule a visit to review the licensing rules and inspect your facility. You must achieve compliance with all CCLU rules and statutes before a license can be issued.

6. 6

   Receive your license and maintain compliance

   Once all requirements are met, the CCLU will issue your license. You must maintain ongoing compliance for license renewal, including continuing inspections and keeping all documentation current.

New Hampshire staff-to-child ratio requirements

New Hampshire sets specific staff-to-child ratios and maximum group sizes based on children's ages. These ratios must be maintained at all times, including during transitions and outdoor play. When 11 or more children of any age are present, at least two child care personnel must be on site.

Center-based programs

Family child care homes

• Family Child Care Home (single provider): May care for up to 6 preschool children and 3 school-age children. No more than 4 children may be under 36 months, and no more than 2 of those may be under 24 months.

• Family Group Child Care Home (provider plus assistant): May care for up to 12 preschool children and up to 5 school-age children. No more than 4 children may be under 36 months.

These ratios are defined in He-C 4002. Verify current ratios with the CCLU, as they may be updated. For help planning your classroom staffing, try our ratio calculator.

Staff qualification requirements

New Hampshire has specific education, experience, and training requirements for childcare staff in licensed programs.

• Center director: Must have at least 1,500 hours of work experience with young children and the approved equivalent of an associate's degree in early childhood education. Directors are responsible for overseeing all aspects of program operations and compliance.

• Lead teacher: Must be at least 21 years old, hold a high school diploma, have a minimum of 1,000 hours of experience working with children in a licensed program, and have completed at least 18 credits in early childhood education, including 3 credits in child growth and development.

• CPR and First Aid: Current certification in pediatric first aid and CPR is required for staff and must be documented in the application and maintained throughout employment.

• Initial professional development: All directors, administrators, and child care staff responsible for the supervision of children must complete and document a minimum of 6 hours of professional development within 90 days of their first date of employment.

• Annual professional development: Under the updated He-C 4002 rules effective September 2025, child care staff must complete 12 hours of professional development annually (reduced from the previous 18-hour requirement). Training must cover topics such as child development, health and safety, behavior guidance, and family engagement.

Background check requirements

New Hampshire requires comprehensive background record checks (BRCs) for all individuals involved in childcare. These checks must be completed before a person has direct contact with children.

• Who must be checked: All child care personnel and household members age 18 and older (or upon turning 18) in licensed child care, license-exempt child care, and 24-hour residential programs.

• How to submit: Background checks are initiated through the NHCIS (New Hampshire Child Care Information System) portal. Fingerprinting is completed using Livescan through the Department of Safety CHRI Applicant Portal or at your local police department.

• Out-of-state checks: Individuals who have lived in other states within the past five years must also complete out-of-state abuse and neglect checks for each state of prior residence.

• Renewal cycle: A comprehensive background record check must be completed every five years from the initial check. A new check is also required if an individual has been separated from employment in a licensed program for more than 180 days.

• Timing: Background checks must be completed prior to an individual caring for or having regular contact with children. There is no grace period for this requirement.

Facility and space requirements

Your physical space must meet the standards defined in He-C 4002.22 before a license can be issued. Key requirements include:

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

• Outdoor space: A minimum of 50 square feet of outdoor play area per child, based on the program's license capacity. The outdoor play area should directly adjoin the indoor space of the facility. Alternative arrangements may be approved by the CCLU with a written plan.

• 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. A posted evacuation plan is required.

• Health and sanitation: Facilities must meet sanitation standards for food preparation areas, diaper changing stations, handwashing facilities, and general cleanliness. The facility must pass inspection before a license is granted.

Health and safety requirements

New Hampshire licensing rules include detailed health and safety requirements that programs must follow daily.

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

• Health assessments: Under the updated 2025 rules, children are no longer required to have an annual or biennial health assessment on file. An initial health assessment is still required upon enrollment.

• 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: Programs caring for infants must follow safe sleep guidelines as outlined in He-C 4002.26, including placing infants on their backs to sleep in approved cribs with no soft bedding or loose items.

• 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.

• 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

Licensed programs must maintain organized records that are available for review during inspections. Keeping these records current is one of the most important steps in maintaining 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 as required by the CCLU.

• Emergency information: Complete emergency contact information for each child, including authorized pickup persons, medical information, and allergies. The CCLU provides a standardized Emergency Information form.

• Staff records: Personnel files for every employee, including background check results, education and experience documentation, training records, and certifications.

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

• Professional development logs: Documentation of all professional development hours completed by staff, showing compliance with the annual training requirements.

Inspections and compliance

Once licensed, your program will be subject to ongoing monitoring by the CCLU to ensure continued compliance with He-C 4002 rules.

• Initial inspection: A Licensing Coordinator will visit your facility as part of the application process to verify compliance with all rules and statutes before a license is issued.

• Ongoing inspections: The CCLU conducts periodic inspections of licensed programs during operating hours. These may be announced or unannounced and can cover any aspect of your operation.

• License renewal: Maintaining compliance with all CCLU rules is required for license renewal. Programs must demonstrate continued adherence to staffing, safety, health, and record-keeping standards.

• Enforcement: Deficiencies found during inspections must be corrected within specified timeframes. Serious or repeated violations can result in adverse actions, including license suspension or revocation.

Granite Steps for Quality (QRIS)

Granite Steps for Quality is New Hampshire's voluntary Quality Recognition and Improvement System (QRIS) for licensed child care and out-of-school time programs. While not required for licensing, participation can benefit your program in several ways.

• Purpose: Granite Steps focuses on promoting a culture of continuous quality improvement in early care and education and out-of-school time programs, with the goal of improving outcomes for children and families.

• Quality initiatives: Programs opting into Granite Steps engage in staff credentialing, professional development, program coaching, practice-based coaching, assessments, and leadership team meetings.

• Financial incentives: Participating providers who achieve and maintain high standards are eligible to receive financial incentives from the state.

• Licensed Plus: New Hampshire also offers a Licensed Plus designation through DHHS, which recognizes programs that go beyond minimum licensing requirements.

Resources

Here are key resources for New Hampshire childcare providers:

• NH DHHS Child Care Licensing Unit: The official state agency for childcare licensing, including application forms, He-C 4002 rules, and contact information. Visit dhhs.nh.gov for the latest materials.

• NH Connections: New Hampshire's professional development system for the early childhood and out-of-school time workforce. Provides training resources, credentialing information, and quality improvement support at nh-connections.org.

• Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R): Local CCR&R agencies across New Hampshire provide training, technical assistance, and support to childcare providers in your area.

• Granite Steps for Quality: Information about New Hampshire's QRIS program, including how to enroll and what supports are available for participating programs.