A child care license is required when providing care for children from birth to age 13 outside of their home on a regular, ongoing basis.
There are different types of licensed child care programs in Washington state, including child care centers, school-age, family home, and outdoor nature-based programs.
If you are a current licensed child care provider with application questions, please email dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov.
For questions about Outdoor Nature-Based child care licensing, email dcyf.outdoornaturebasedchildcare@dcyf.wa.gov.
Follow these steps to become licensed:
Step 1: Contact DCYF’s Pre-licensing Team
The Pre-licensing Team helps people who are interested in child care licensing by offering personalized support through the licensing process. Email dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov to get started.
Pre-licensors will cover:
- Licensing rules
- Funding opportunities
- Child care subsidy
- Business licenses
- Space/location
- Local considerations
- Building code requirements
- Facility or site plans
- Handbooks and policies
- Staff qualifications
Step 2: Register for a STARS ID in MERIT
Register for a STARS ID in MERIT.
MERIT is DCYF’s online workforce registry that tracks your education, training, and professional achievements.
Step 3: Create a DCYF Training Site Account
Visit the DCYF Student Portal. If this is your first time, you will need to register as a new user.
Step 4: Complete the Licensing Orientation
The early learning program licensing process includes an online orientation, where the information will be available based on facility type. The online orientation is available in English, Spanish and Somali.
After completing the orientation, you will understand:
- DCYF’s role in the licensing process
- Why high-quality early learning care is important
- The roles in the early learning community and different licensed facility types
- The ages served by early learning programs
- Washington's quality rating improvement system
- The difference between WAC and RCW and what this means for your facility
- The requirements to become licensed or certified
- Education requirements for different early learning provider roles
- Key factors to consider when starting your business
- What to expect during a licensing visit
- The application process and timelines
Go to the DCYF Training site and search for the orientation that matches your facility type:
- Licensing Orientation for Family Home Providers
- Licensing Orientation for Center Providers
- Licensing Orientation for School Age Providers
- Licensing Orientation for Outdoor Nature-Based Providers
Business Start-Up Series Registration Selection Tool
The Business Start-Up Series Registration Selection Tool helps you find the correct licensing orientation or other training for your facility type. It also helps connect you to DCYF programs as you start your business.
The tool is available in English, Somali, and Spanish.
Complete the orientation and save your certificate of completion.
The training site will automatically record your completed training in your MERIT Professional Record. You will need to submit your certificate with your application. Your certificate of completion will be available on the training site. If your completed training is not recorded in your MERIT Professional Record, contact MERIT@dcyf.wa.gov.
If you require a language besides English, Spanish, or Somali, or have another special accommodation, email dcyf.welcome@dcyf.wa.gov with the following information:
- Full name
- Phone number
- Email address
- Physical address of the early learning program
- Expected opening date for the program
Step 5: Reply to the Provider Portal Email
Step 6: Complete a Portable Background Check Application in MERIT
Step 7: Pre-licensing Services are Provided
Step 8: Licensing Application is Transferred to a Local DCYF Licensing Office
Step 9: Initial Licensing Inspection is Completed by a Licensor
Step 10: Complete Items on the Inspection Report
Step 11: License is Issued
