Child day care centers in Alabama legally operate in one of two ways: Licensed or license exempt. All centers that require a license must be licensed by the Department of Human Resources and renewed every two years. The Department of Human Resources prescribes and enforces performance standards for licensing approval. Consultation is provided to assist providers and parents. Every licensed center must be in compliance with licensing regulations as prescribed by the State Department of Human Resources.
The Child Care Services Division, Office of Child Care Licensing is responsible for the following functions:
- Licensing day care/nighttime centers and homes.
- Visiting day care/nighttime centers and homes to verify compliance with performance standards.
- Maintaining information filed by churches choosing to be exempt from licensure.
- Investigating licensing violation complaints and recommending adverse action for day care centers and homes when non-compliance of standards warrant.
- Offering consultation to prospective and existing day care/nighttime center and home providers.
- Interpreting performance standards for day care/nighttime centers and homes.
More Information
- Statewide Day Care Directory
- Licensing Procedure
- Licensing Process Flowchart
- Information to be Submitted to the Department of Human Resources Before a Day Care Center is Licensed
- Information to be Submitted to the Department of Human Resources Before a Day Care Home is Licensed
- Application For A License to Operate a Day Care/Nighttime Center
- Application For A License to Operate a Day Care/Nighttime Home
- Instructions for Child Care Licensing Background Checks
- Child Care Licensing and Performance Standards for Day Care Centers and Nighttime Centers
- Child Care Licensing and Performance Standards for Family Day Care Homes and Family Nighttime Homes/Group Day Care Homes and Group Nighttime Homes
- Health and Safety Guidelines Requirements and Procedures for Out of School Time Facilities Participating in the Child Care Subsidy Program
- Health and Safety Guidelines Requirements and Procedures for Facilities Participating in the Child Care Subsidy Program
- License Exempt Day Care Requirements
Contact Information
